BOOK REVIEW: INTO THE NEVER BY ADAM STEINER

13/6/2022

like The Downward Spiral, this is a potent combination of obsessive research and carefully constructed discussion underpinned by a deep passion for the source material.

Into The Never is an exploration, dissection, and discussion concerning the seminal Nine Inch Nails album The Downward Spiral. In this scholarly, meticulous book, Steiner presents a chapter by chapter breakdown of both the album itself, and the cultural and personal moments that surrounded, and fed into and off of, the album.

The Downward Spiral is unquestionably one of the great albums of the 90’s; in fact, it’s arguably one of the great artistic achievements of that decade full stop, and one of those rare cases of a genuinely uncompromising piece of outsider art achieving notable mainstream success; as such, it’s a work worthy of a full book-length exploration, and Steiner delves into the task with precision, meticulous research, and a clear passion for the subject matter.

The format of the book is almost that of a dual narrative, in that the chapters alternate between focussing on the track listing in order and discussing wider matters pertaining to the work, such as Reznor’s prior work with NiN, cultural events happening before and during the recording, and other albums and artists that were also causing shockwaves during the era.

It’s a smart approach; it allows Steiner to weave a wider commentary about the cultural moment whilst retaining a deep focus on the album itself. The song chapters are superb; taking in the themes of the lyrics, the often intricate and complex methods of both recording and production (music nerds will delight in Steiner’s grasp of this technical minutiae, though I never felt it was overwhelming proceedings), and of course the overall feelings the songs evoke, as well as their placement in the running order. Whilst it’s clear Steiner finds the album impressive, this is no simple fan service; the author isn’t afraid to interrogate the darker aspects of the often troubling source material, and for me, some of the strongest passages were when the author was almost visibly wrestling with his admiration for the artistry alongside a concern over what was being expressed. I also especially enjoyed the exploration of Rezbor’s own push/pull relationship with perfectionism and the desire for mess, distortion, chaos - all forces clearly at work in an album that is, amongst other things, a spectacular achievement in terms of production.

The bridging chapters are similarly well written and researched, and provide vital context, both for Reznor’s career and the culture at large. I especially enjoyed the frequent references to Nirvana's Nevermind, an album from a different musical tradition that nonetheless had some resonance with The Downward Spiral, in terms of being an expression of profound alienation. There’s also discussion of Reznor’s earlier album work, his infamous music videos, the inevitable post-Columbine backlash, and much more. Throughout both chapter formats, there are frequent quotes from Reznor himself, taken from various sources over his decades of public interviews, as well as collaborators and, where appropriate, critics, all of which adds to the feeling of reading a piece of journalism with real weight.

The book also closes strongly, with a whirlwind tour through Reznor's post-Spiral output; I personally could have stood to read a deal more of the excellent work Steiner put in here about the immediate NiN followup album, The Fragile, though I do begrudgingly accept that would have been, by definition, outside of the scope of his project.

Overall, I found Into The Never to be a worthy companion to the seminal album that is it’s subject; like The Downward Spiral, this is a potent combination of obsessive research and carefully constructed discussion underpinned by a deep passion for the source material.

KP
3/2/22

Further reading

THE REAL HORRORSHOW: INFLUENCE OF HORROR ON THE MUSIC OF TRENT REZNOR BY ADAM STEINER

Into The Never: Nine Inch Nails And The Creation Of The Downward Spiral

Ushering in a new era of confessional music that spoke openly about experiences of trauma, depression, and self-loathing, Nine Inch Nails' seminal album, The Downward Spiral, changed popular music forever bringing transgressive themes of heresy, S and M, and body horror to the masses and taking music technology to its limits. Released in 1994, the album resonated across a generation, combining elements of metal, industrial, synth-pop, and ambient electronica, and going on to sell over four million copies. Now, Into the Never explores the creation and cultural impact of The Downward Spiral, one of the most influential and artistically significant albums of the twentieth century, or ever. Inspired by David Bowie s Low and Pink Floyd's The Wall, the album recounts one man's disintegration as he descends into nihilism and nothingness. Blurring the lines between autobiography and concept album, creation and decay, it is also the story of Trent Reznor (the man who is Nine Inch Nails) as he pushed himself to the edge of the abyss, trapped in a cycle of addiction and self-destruction. The Downward Spiral also presents a reflection of America and a wider culture of violence, connecting the Columbine High School shooting, the infamous Manson family murders, and the aftermath of Vietnam and the Gulf War.