Hesitation Marks
August 30th, 2013
Columbia Records
While not what many of the so-called hardcore Nine Inch Nails fans would consider a typical NIN release, Hesitation Marks is none the less an amazing body of work. Influences from Trent Reznor’s career can be heard through the release. Being Reznor’s eigth studio album, Hesitation Marks shows a distinctive musical evolution for Reznor.
Hesitation Marks brings the NIN back after nearly a 5 year hiatus. While Reznor maintains sole artistic control of Nine Inch Nails, there’s a definite 80’s pop/rock influence heard throughout the album, especially on the tracks he brought in guest collaborators on. Reznor pulled in some brilliant musicians to help craft his latest release, including Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham, Eugene Goreshter of Autolux, King Crimson’s Adrian Belew, Pino Palladino of The Who and touring members Joshua Eustis, Illan Rubin and Alessandro Cortini.
Hesitation Marks is more calm release than what we’re used to from Reznor. Tracks like Copy Of A, Disappointed and In Two are still laced with that industrial/metal aggression and frustration that Reznor has mastered but that anger and frustration on Hesitation Marks is now more focused than ever before. If you’re expecting a repeat of 2005’s With Teeth or 2007’s Year Zero, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Hesitation Marks is the perfect musical evolution for a man who’s been influencing multiple music genres for over two decades and shows no signs of stopping any time soon. Reznor has once again proven himself as the most vital artist in music today.
