Just before the holidays, Trent Reznor announced the imminent arrival of a new Nine Inch Nails EP, Not The Actual Events. This was after two previous reports teased that such a project was in the works, and would be released in 2016. NIN made good on the promise over the weekend, when Not The Actual Events hit streaming services like Apple Music and Spotify (the latter of which is the one this reporter has access to, hence the embed below).
Reznor and Atticus Ross have taken a more aggressive approach in their follow-up to Hesitation Marks, which sounds in line with the former’s description of it as “an unfriendly, fairly impenetrable record that we needed to make. This abbreviated outing is nonetheless full of industrial-standard NIN fare, with the desperate entreaties and pounding rhythms of “Dear World” recalling 2005’s With Teeth. Dave Grohl and Dave Navarro feature on “Idea Of You” and “Burning Bright (Field On Fire),” respectively, and How To Destroy Angels’ Mariqueen Maandig (who’s married to Reznor) contributed on “She’s Gone Away.”
If this isn’t enough for you black-clad aficionados, Reznor now promises even more developments are on the horizon. In an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Low (via Pitchfork), the NIN frontman said there are two “major” projects planned for 2017. But those hoping for live performances of these new tracks will be somewhat disappointed to learn that the material won’t find its way into rotation anytime soon.