The Downward Spiral details the self-destruction of a man and his misanthropic “downward spiral,” leading to his suicidal breaking point. The Downward Spiral has layers of metaphors that leave an opportunity for wide interpretation. The album presents a prominent theme of nihilism, self-abuse, and self-control. It is considered a semi-autobiographical concept album. The overarching plot follows the protagonist’s descent into madness from his own solipsistic world through a “downward spiral.” The albums’ themes consist of religion, dehumanization, violence, disease, society, drugs, sex, and suicide. Reznor detailed the concept as consisting of “someone who sheds everything around them to a potential nothingness, but through career, religion, relationship, belief and so on.”

Closer is one of the biggest songs produced by Nine Inch Nails in his album The Downward Spiral. Lyrically, Closer is about self-hatred and obsession, the song is widely misinterpreted as a lust anthem due to its chorus, much to Reznor’s dismay. There are different interruptions of Closer, most commonly it is viewed as a song describing the dependence on sex as a coping mechanism for self-hatred. The song often sounds more like a cry for help, past its sexually suggestive lyrics. It is themed in guilt, desire, trust, and betrayal.

Hurt is another hit from The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails. Hurt is the conclusion to the protagonist. He goes from a rebellious addict to someone who is finally coming to terms with the harm they have brought onto others in their own self-destructive behavior. Hurt manages to be a multi-faceted work that provides two narratives. The first arc details the protagonist and his struggles with mental illness and eventually commits suicide. It acts as a recollection of his life where he grapples with the thoughts of everyone he’s let down. Another interpretation hones in on the addiction(s) the protagonist wrestles with. The protagonist believes that feeling something, even if it is the dangerous effects of drugs, is better than feeling nothing. Lyrics in the song allude to in both narratives, the protagonist using suicide as an outlet for the pain. The temporary relief from drugs, or self-destructive behavior, no longer exists.

Nine Inch Nails returned with his Peel It Back tour and his new album for the movie Tron: Ares.