Nine Inch Nails “prioritising” working on new music: “The fuse has been lit”

Nine Inch Nails are reportedly working on new music.

The band’s last album was 2020’s double LP ‘Ghosts V-VI’, which was surprise-released as a free download during the pandemic.

• READ MORE: ‘Tron: Ares’ review: Nine Inch Nails’ pulsating score saves this muddled sci-fi sequel

Since then, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have been busy working on various film scores, including Challengers, Empire of Light and this year’s TRON: Ares, as well as being on the road with their huge ‘Peel It Back’ tour.

Now, Reznor has revealed that the live shows, along with their work on TRON: Ares, has inspired him and Ross to work on further NIN music.

Speaking to Consequence, Reznor said: “We are working on new stuff and we’re excited to work on it, and we are prioritising working on Nine Inch Nails over just taking on every single thing that comes up in the other category.”

NME gave ‘Ghosts V-VI’ four stars in a review that read: “It’s impossible to absorb both sides of the record without viewing the record as a soundtrack to a global pandemic. Here’s some good news for panicked times. Part 1, ‘Together’, is a collection of music more soothing than balm.”

He went on to add: “So, beyond that, I can’t say much, but the difference between now and a year ago is the fuse has been lit and the desire is there.”

Back in October, Reznor and Ross debuted tracks from TRON: Ares at the film’s world premiere.

They performed the single ‘As Alive As You Need Me To Be’, which they had previously been showcasing on their North American tour dates, below the hovering Recognizer robot from the film.

They also debuted two further songs from the soundtrack – ‘Forked Reality’ and ‘Shadow Over Me’ – and also performed their 2007 track ‘The Warning’ with Boys Noize.

In other news, Nine Inch Nails have been involved in this year’s rock drummer switch-up, effectively swapping drummers with Foo Fighters over the summer.

It came after Josh Freese, who stepped in as a touring drummer for the Foos back in 2023 following the death of Taylor Hawkins, announced that he had departed the band after they “decided to go in a different direction with their drummer”, and added that he was caught off-guard by the move and left “shocked”.

Dave Grohl then later official confirmed Ilan Rubin – who had previously been the live drummer for Nine Inch Nails – had joined Foo Fighters at a recent gig, telling the crowd: “Everybody else has said it, I finally get the opportunity to say, ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome, the most badass motherfucker, Ilan Rubin, is playing drums in the Foo Fighters. It’s official.”

Freese then joined Reznor and co. for the remainder of NIN’s huge ‘Peel It Back’ world tour dates.

The tour marked the band’s first live shows since 2022. The performances were split across two stages, with the main stage seeing them perform their biggest hits and the smaller platform in the middle of the audience used to deliver deep cuts, acoustic renditions and remixes.

You can check out photos from the shows here.

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