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Nine Inch Nails' Pre-Plot Hits the Internet

Trent Reznor, the mastermind behind Nine Inch Nails, has unveiled an unusual Internet storyline for Year Zero, due out April 17th (Interscope). Reznor refers to it as a pre-plot to the record, but the story unfolds across the web with as much intricate detail as the Lost Internet campaign.

"Part one is Year Zero. Concept record. Sixteen tracks," Reznor explained. "What's it about? Well, it takes place about fifteen years in the future. Things are not good. If you imagine a world where greed and power continue to run their likely course, you'll have an idea of the backdrop. The world has reached the breaking point—politically, spiritually, and ecologically. Written from various perspectives of people in this world, Year Zero examines various viewpoints set against an impending moment of truth."

Needless to say, this won't be the feel-good album of the year. NIN fans have been compiling all the seemingly unconnected websites in the hopes of uncovering a "plot." Based on the random bits of information supplied by websites like BeTheHammer.org ("i killed people in post-iran after we dropped the bomb on tehran. they told me i was protecting america") and ChurchOfPlano.com ("What is the Presence? Is it of God or of the Devil? How does it relate to the End Times?"), fans have deduced that the story takes place in 2022, after America has waged war with Iran and the government is secretly drugging the population. The newest unveiled website, ArtIsResistance.com ("You have a voice. How are you going to use it?"), suggests that only through art will the oppressed citizens prevail.

Further clues to the project are also appearing in the real world, in the form of USB drives left in venue bathrooms after NIN concerts. These drives have contained "leaked" tracks from Year Zero and other hints at Reznor's dystopian vision.

Reznor's new project is actually quite impressive and ambitious. This is the sort of artistry we kinda admire. Now let's just hope that after all this, the album is actually good.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
02.23.07