Released: 2008

Genres: Alternative Rock, Industrial Rock, Electro-Industrial

The Musiquarium’s The Slip Review Score: 3.5/5

Arriving only two months after the fully-instrumental Ghosts I-IV, The Slip provides a more conventional album experience for fans wanting a proper follow-up to the previous year’s Year Zero.

The ambient 999,999 leads into a surprisingly upbeat 1,000,000. The danceable Discipline (the only single from the album) is another upbeat number; Trent Reznor now unencumbered by major labels or drug addictions. Letting You and Head Down have killer drum loops.

Lights in the Sky is a desolate piano piece with whispered vocals, before segueing into the ghostly instrumental, Corona Radiata. Another instrumental follows, The Four of Us Are Dying, but is a far more structured piece compared to the preceding two tracks. Elsewhere, Echoplex and the closer, Demon Seed, both provide similar thrills to a track like Discipline.

Considering it’s their fourth album in three years, The Slip is another solid NIN album, even if it’s not one of their best.

For credit breakdowns and historic release details, view Nine Inch Nails on Discogs.

Back to the 2008 Album Reviews Guide or the Nine Inch Nails Reviews page.

Written by Brett Nippard