Фантастически сумасшедшим и до крайности депрессивным «The Downward Spiral» Трент укрепил свою суровую репутацию и подтвердил тот факт, что он явно подходит как один из кандидатов в список великих умалишённых. Диск является концептуальным альбомом, раскрывающим процесс разрушения человеческой личности от начала до конца в виде акта самоубийства. Самый известный трек альбома, «Hurt», был увековечен легендарным Джонни Кэшем.
ТРЕК-ЛИСТ:
1. "Mr. Self Destruct[a]" 4:30 2. "Piggy" 4:24 3. "Heresy" 3:54 4. "March of the Pigs" 2:58 5. "Closer" 6:13 6. "Ruiner" 4:58 7. "The Becoming[b]" 5:31 8. "I Do Not Want This" 5:41 9. "Big Man with a Gun[c]" 1:36 10. "A Warm Place[d]" 3:22 11. "Eraser" 4:54 12. "Reptile[e]" 6:51 13. "The Downward Spiral" 3:57 14. "Hurt" 6:13
БАНДА:
Trent Reznor - vocals, all instruments, drums (on "Piggy"), arranger, producer Mark "Flood" Ellis - producer, hi-hat (on "Closer"), ARP 2600 synthesizer (on "The Becoming") Chris Vrenna - drums (on "Hurt"), programming, sampling, additional drums (on "Burn") Adrian Belew - texture generating guitar (on "Mr. Self Destruct"), ring mod guitar (on "The Becoming") Danny Lohner - additional guitar (on "Big Man with a Gun") Andy Kubiszewski - drums (on "The Downward Spiral") Stephen Perkins - drum loops (on "I Do Not Want This") Charlie Clouser - programming, continuity John Aguto - engineer Brian Pollack - engineer Sean Beavan - mixing Bill Kennedy - mixing Alan Moulder - mixing Tom Baker - mastering Bob Ludwig - high-resolution mastering (reissue) James Brown - 5.1 mix (reissue) Neal Ferrazzani - assistance (reissue) Russell Mills - paintings David Buckland - photography Gary Talpas - package Rob Sheridan - package, additional photography (reissue)