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NIN’s Trent Reznor Takes Us To “Year Zero”

Nine Inch Nails’ new album, Year Zero, has something more to offer NIN fans. More than just music, it’s a multimedia concept album that drops hints about a dark and ugly future. The bands’ fans have been following the clues and unraveling the dystopian world the album describes.

It started with the tour shirts. One was black with white & red lettering, the other was tan with brown lettering. Both shirts had bolded characters in them, spelling out secret messages. The black shirt spelled out “I AM TRYING TO BELIEVE”; the tan shirt had a phone number: 1-(310)-295-1040. Call the number & you’ll hear a strange message, mixing a “news report” with audio of a man comparing society to a prison. Reports say this is a clip from Year Zero’s first single, “Survivalism.” “I AM TRYING TO BELIEVE” was a mystery until someone found a Website with the same name. The site has futuristic news reports and references to a drug called parepin. This drug is poured into the water supply, supposedly to defend against biological attacks & to boost immune systems. Or is it? According to this message on Consolidated Mail Systems, it’s a super-addictive drug that causes religious visions. Who are “Consolidated Mail Systems?” Apparently they’re the mail service in the world of Year Zero. They’re also hardcore censors; click anywhere on the site and see for yourself.

There’s also THIS rather strange Website, which is related somehow. Click & drag anywhere on the front page to ‘erase’ the front page. Topping things off, two songs from Year Zero, “Survivalism” and “My Violent Heart,” were leaked when they were found on flash drives that were ‘left on the restroom floor.’ Both songs have been played on the radio.

That’s where we stand with this thing so far. It’s a fun way for bring NIN fans into the dark, paranoid world Trent Reznor wants to create for us. We’ll keep following this story and see how far into Year Zero it takes us.

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