The Trilogy's End (speculation)

[Jordan]

I hope the 3rd EP is released in its entirety with little to no warning, like NTAE was. Listening to NTAE for the first time start to finish was really cool. I felt that having heard almost half of AV when it was released subtracted from the initial experience.

As far as a full album release with all 3 EP's containing slightly different versions of the songs, I have mixed feelings. I originally thought that NTAE didn't receive a CD release because AV wouldn't either and the 3rd EP would be released on CD as a full album with the other two, an idea I thought was cool. But since the first two have later been released on CD (a strange and inadequate way to release product that seemed nothing but disorganized IMO), I no longer see a need for a full album release.
That said, I would happily welcome a full album of EP's if it had something different and unique to offer.

[katara]

Sounds from the interview that they may re-record the songs for the LP.

Please can we see a return of the creative and awesome remixes we had in the 90s? Except this time, everything by NIN rather than guests. Imagine a full album of stuff like The Art of Self Destruction, Part One. YES.

[HWB]

Everytime I see this thread's name I think 3rd EP is out.

[Jordan]

Everytime I see this thread's name I think 3rd EP is out.

When we know the official title I'll change it.

[Halo Infinity]

so this cute little bird on twitter said a few weeks back:
https://twitter.com/ninlive/status/929183629393006592

i'm not sure if this is inside info or just teasing with the speculations.

did get my eye, though

@ninlive - I hope around the corner means way before April then, or no later than mid April, considering when that was posted and all. I still hope it's the former though. I just dare to dream.

Everytime I see this thread's name I think 3rd EP is out.

I wish. I'd also like to admit that as much as I've become far more interested and concerned about how albums hold up after they're released, this has gotten me a bit more hyped up than usual. It makes it seem like a very memorable way to close the 2010s as far as NIN goes. I should even be (And I really am.) thankful that I got this much new NIN in under 5 years since Hesitation Marks came out, but knowing that this is a trilogy just left me with a cliffhanger vibe/mindset.

[Kyle]

The correct title is "JUST KIDDING BEFORE THIS IS THE ONE THAT IS COCKLIKE!"

[fillow]

EP3 is obviously titled Impossible Pain

[snaapz]

I often wonder what TR is trying to achieve via NIN, as of late, and if he is intentionally producing noisy and oddly structured tracks; or if this is just how it's coming out when he produces for NIN.

He and AR are producing truck loads of beautiful, quiet, descriptive, slow tracks... is NIN his anger outlet? I feel like previous NIN albums were a bit more diverse and balanced (aggressive, accessible, abstract, instrumental, catchy..)

Are his other projects taking away from NIN? Are other project producing NIN? (Hey that's a cool sound but doesn't belong in Vietnam, store it in the NIN folder).

NIN is his business, he could easily produce some 4/4; upbeat; poppy; radio friendly songs that get good rotation on the radio that lasts longer than a week... but he doesn't. And I respect that.


But I've tasted TDTTWA QUIET, and ever since 1999 I've been waiting for something equally as dark and beautiful and structured as that song... and as I type this 'The Background World' hits the 10:00 mark and nears 52 loops and I realize this dark world is no longer dark and beautiful; and is no longer structured.


So what is it?

[cashpiles (closed)]

I often wonder what TR is trying to achieve via NIN, as of late, and if he is intentionally producing noisy and oddly structured tracks; or if this is just how it's coming out when he produces for NIN.

He and AR are producing truck loads of beautiful, quiet, descriptive, slow tracks... is NIN his anger outlet? I feel like previous NIN albums were a bit more diverse and balanced (aggressive, accessible, abstract, instrumental, catchy..)

Are his other projects taking away from NIN? Are other project producing NIN? (Hey that's a cool sound but doesn't belong in Vietnam, store it in the NIN folder).

NIN is his business, he could easily produce some 4/4; upbeat; poppy; radio friendly songs that get good rotation on the radio that lasts longer than a week... but he doesn't. And I respect that.


But I've tasted TDTTWA QUIET, and ever since 1999 I've been waiting for something equally as dark and beautiful and structured as that song... and as I type this 'The Background World' hits the 10:00 mark and nears 52 loops and I realize this dark world is no longer dark and beautiful; and is no longer structured.


So what is it?

This is a thought-provoking post. Here is my take:

The purposeful constraints/parameters theory:

Trent often applies sets limits, constraints, and parameters to his projects. Perhaps Trent has an over-arching “structure” or “format” for NIN. “Format” is too strong of a word, but there could be sonic parameters to NIN. We know one of his lyrical parameters is to write from his “truth” or heart.

The unconscious beliefs theory:

Trent is operating under a set of possibly unconscious beliefs that shape the sound of NIN. Presumably, these beliefs are different than the ones he holds for his other projects.

————-

As for the lack of quiet and beautiful instrumental tracks on recent releases..... I would love to hear a gorgeous interlude following a particularly aggressive song.... but I want it to be weird as hell.

[joplinpicasso]

This is a thought-provoking post. Here is my take:

The purposeful constraints/parameters theory:

Trent often applies sets limits, constraints, and parameters to his projects. Perhaps Trent has an over-arching “structure” or “format” for NIN. “Format” is too strong of a word, but there could be sonic parameters to NIN. We know one of his lyrical parameters is to write from his “truth” or heart.

The unconscious beliefs theory:

Trent is operating under a set of possibly unconscious beliefs that shape the sound of NIN. Presumably, these beliefs are different than the ones he holds for his other projects.

————-

As for the lack of quiet and beautiful instrumental tracks on recent releases..... I would love to hear a gorgeous interlude following a particularly aggressive song.... but I want it to be weird as hell.

^^^ Splendid.

I personally think TR did dip into quiet(ish) territory with The Lovers and This Isn't The Place. And A Minute To Breathe proves he can still write an arrestingly quiet lyrical song.

I would quite like a track on the third EP echoing the sounds of Vietnam War/TGWTDT.

[streetman]

Trent has been pretty quiet lately. Do you think he's working on this third EP or something else happening?

[HWB]

Trent has been pretty quiet lately. Do you think he's working on this third EP or something else happening?

I would dare to say that he is indeed working, probably on the EP.

In a recent interview Gary Numan said how Trent is always working.

[PhoenixML]

I took Hesitation Mark, made it a 5-song EP. Best EP ever.

[HWB]

I took Hesitation Mark, made it a 5-song EP. Best EP ever.

What tracklist did you give it?

[sonic_discord]

I took Hesitation Mark, made it a 5-song EP. Best EP ever.

What tracklist did you give it?

If it's not this, you did it wrong.

1. All Time Low
2. Satellite
3. Various Methods of Escape
4. I Would For You
5. In Two

[SM Rollinger]

If it's not this, you did it wrong.

1. All Time Low
2. Satellite
3. Various Methods of Escape
4. I Would For You
5. In Two

Close....
1. Eater of Dreams/Copy of a
2. Find my Way
3. All Time Low
4. In Two
5. While Im Still Here/Black noise

That being said, i wasn't much feeling NTAE untill AV came out, now I just listen to them together in a playlist, on shuffle. Once 3 comes out , then ill try and sequence all three of the EPs together.

[Jordan]

https://twitter.com/SongExploder/status/935970834866417664

News about EP#3???

[PhoenixML]

Well.. it's obliviously personal. Copy of A (Tension Live version), Came Back Haunted, VMOE, All Time Low, In Two.

(I have oversell it, but I was just happy to listen to some Hesitation Marks again, since I don't tend to listen to it really, but I really love the two new EP)

[sonic_discord]

I often wonder what TR is trying to achieve via NIN, as of late, and if he is intentionally producing noisy and oddly structured tracks; or if this is just how it's coming out when he produces for NIN.

He and AR are producing truck loads of beautiful, quiet, descriptive, slow tracks... is NIN his anger outlet? I feel like previous NIN albums were a bit more diverse and balanced (aggressive, accessible, abstract, instrumental, catchy..)

Are his other projects taking away from NIN? Are other project producing NIN? (Hey that's a cool sound but doesn't belong in Vietnam, store it in the NIN folder).

NIN is his business, he could easily produce some 4/4; upbeat; poppy; radio friendly songs that get good rotation on the radio that lasts longer than a week... but he doesn't. And I respect that.


But I've tasted TDTTWA QUIET, and ever since 1999 I've been waiting for something equally as dark and beautiful and structured as that song... and as I type this 'The Background World' hits the 10:00 mark and nears 52 loops and I realize this dark world is no longer dark and beautiful; and is no longer structured.


So what is it?

"beautiful, quiet, descriptive, slow tracks" I'd say those words can also be used to describe several of the newer NIN tracks as well (The Lovers, This Isn't the Place). I consider the new EPs to be pretty diverse (AV more so than NTAE, but still). There are really only four tracks that I'd say fit your "anger outlet" descriptor (Branches/Bones, The Idea of You, Burning Bright, Not Anymore). This isn't the Place is pretty close to being an instrumental (thank God it isn't because those vocals are amazing). There are industrial elements sprinkled all over the place. And then there's Less Than, which I think it's safe to say is both accessible and catchy... so I think I have to disagree with you here. And NIN has never been about producing radio-friendly songs that get good rotation. Once in a while that happens because the song is catchy, but I don't think the guy has ever set out to make a song with that intention.

As for the question you posed about whether their score work is inspiring or detracting from their NIN work, I believe it's the former and I think these new EPs are the proof. As TR stated during the radio interview from Chicago, I think they've become reinvigorated and inspired to create more experimental and engaging NIN music again because when they shift their focus to NIN, they're freed of the constraints placed on them while producing music for a movie/director that ultimately serves and contributes to a larger project that they're just a small part of.

Sorry for the double-post...

[Quantum550]

If it was up to me decide of an EP out of Hesitation Marks, that would run as:

1. A Copy of A.
2. Various Method of Escape
3. Find My Way.
4. Satellite
5. I Would for You

6. Untitled Hidden Track (Black Noise)

I prefer the more epic, melodic-wise songs from this album.

[henryeatscereal]

I don't care if Trent releases it next year as long as it's out

I want another 5 track EP; so in the end we'll get 15 tracks and 60+ minutes of music with the finished trilogy....

[Quantum550]

Perhaps we won't get a name...

0 & 1

[eversonpoe]

Perhaps we won't get a name...

0 & 1

...what?

[sheepdean]

Perhaps we won't get a name...

0 & 1

Even untitled albums have names, look at Peter Gabriel

[tremolo]

Even untitled albums have names, look at Peter Gabriel

U mean melt, car and scratch?
Aren’t those names given by the fans/media based on the covers to differentiate them?

[henryeatscereal]

Perhaps we won't get a name...

0 & 1

"Just zeros and ones"

[Quantum550]

So funny to speculate names...

"I bet you didn't know this last EP was even out."

[katara]

[snaapz]

This senseless banter wouldn't have happened on the spiral; the EP name would have already been figured out and MP3 leaks would be available... we were a very organized group.


Just kidding


The ARG brought me here....

[Halo Infinity]

The overall anticipatory hype and curiosity is just far too real for me right now. I suppose it's because it was revealed to be a trilogy to begin with, otherwise I wouldn't have thought of it as much. (Or say, more than I'd wait for a regular NIN LP to come out.)

I know I should still be grateful to be able to listen to Not The Actual Events and Add Violence while I wait though. (Which is what I'll do from this point forward until it comes out. I guess I just wanted to state this one last time. Threads like these have also always ended up fueling my hype and curiosity anyway.)