How to Destroy Angels, the rumored new music project from Trent Reznor and his wife Mariqueen, has released their first single to the Internet giving us our first taste of what’s to come from this new group. It has been confirmed that HTDA is made up of TR and Q but a new promo photo released with the new track also features Atticus Ross (who is featured in one of the teaser clips posted on the band’s official website) so perhaps this new band is a 3-piece rather than a duo:
I understand this new single, A Drowning, was produced by longtime Nine Inch Nails producers Alan Moulder and, as you may recall, the song matches a tracklisting of the HTDA EP that previously leaked to last.fm.
Now the track … it’s a slower song which, to me, echoes the sounds that TR created for the NIN album The Fragile and could’ve been right at home on the album With Teeth. Mariqueen provides quiet vocals on the track and the song clocks in at just over 7 minutes. I have to say, I’ve been hopeful that TR would start featuring more female vocals in his music since The Fragile days and it would seem that that time has finally come. If this first song is any indication of what’s to come, I think that NIN fans will be very pleased with this new sound. I very much love what I’m hearing and cannot wait to hear more. The song was made available exclusively at Pitchfork and you can listen to it in full there or check it out after the jump. Give it a listen and let me know what you think. I am really looking forward to hearing more, are you?
UPDATE: After the jump, check out an image that was extracted from the MP3 file of A Drowning which was discovered by NINwiki …
TR is notorious for embedding images and coded messages in MP3 files that he releases online. This image is a great find and is very likely the single cover artwork.
New music from Trent Reznor, are you dying? This is so exciting. Can’t WAIT to hear/see more!
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To be honest? It just sounds like a NIN song with someone else doing the vocals, but doing them in the very same style that Trent would have, if he’d sung them.
I’ve been a fan for many, many years, but I think it’s a bit boring. This stuff was cutting edge, you know, in 1994.
Bummer.
eh–i agree. Sounds very dated and the song is way too long
I kinda agree with Viola, but I would LOVE to have heard TR singing on this!
my initial response is: it’s not bad. it’s pretty. its nin with a chick singer.
i think i was expecting something different from mariqueen based on her WIG stuff. I wasn’t too keen on her vocals for that stuff but here she’s actually singing and it sounds lovely.
that embedded image is hilarious tho. gave me a good chuckle.
call me, trent. let’s make some artwork!
From everything else I have listened to, I don’t really think Mariqueen is a great singer and had no interest in supporting her leeching off of Trent’s talent.
That being said, the song isn’t bad, but it’s definitely a little boring. I might play it before I go to sleep.
I hope Trent is ready for the media backlash from everyone saying his wife used him to enhance her career.
This just makes me miss NIN more :(
It definately reminds me of something from the Fragile. I’m not in love with it but it’s not bad. Mariqueen has great vocals but this song makes me want to hear something grittier from her. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m just used to hearing Trent’s voice with his music or if it’s just too slow of a song for me. I will always miss NIN but I’m very excited to hear this new chapter in Trent’s life. I’m just hoping for more of a variety on the EP.
I think I’d like it better with Trent Reznor’s vocals or none at all.
SQUEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
It sounds like a bit of Plumb and a bit of Massive Attack with NIN undertones. it’s a very simplistic tune, but very pretty. great for smoking a bowl and completely zoning out.
I love it. I think Mariqueen’s voice goes nicely with the music. I also like that the music itself still have that trademark NIN tension in it. You know what I mean? That tense build up of energy that almost all NIN songs have that makes you feel like you might explode. I love that! I like that it is a little more calm sounding than NIN, its NIN with a feminine edge. I can’t wait to hear all of it!
Hmm… I think I actually like it. I agree with some of the comments of wanting to hear TR sing the song but maybe it’s b/c we’re used to hearing his voice and not a female. I can’t wait to hear what else will be on the album.
I agree with everyone else, it’ just NIN, Fragile era, with a woman singer, nothing more, but it’ nice I suppose. I would rather hear Trent, and I wish he would go back to his heavier days, but alas people get older and he’s not full of angst anymore. I’m also not a fan of him forming a new project with his wife either, doesn’t she have her own band? I understand working together I guess, but I think she’s only with him because of what he can do for her, just my thoughts. I have a feeling he’s made a mistake.