Released less than a year after the first installment of a proposed trilogy of EPs, Add Violence builds upon the intrigue and mystique of Not the Actual Events, providing sonic allusions to various nine inch nails eras while injecting new life to the band's catalog. The second official NIN effort with Atticus Ross as an official member with Trent Reznor, Add Violence benefits from the duo's film score experiences, with deeply layered production creating evocative scenery and atmospherics. "The Lovers" pulses through claustrophobic burrows as Reznor whispers "I can hear you breathing," while "Not Anymore" clangs and cracks along a martial beat that recalls the paranoia of Year Zero colliding with the tension and fury of The Fragile. Those albums receive plenty of callbacks here, whether it's through the twang of organic Fragile guitar strums or Reznor's vulnerable vocal delivery on the swelling meditation, "This Isn't the Place," which merges the mood and lyrical content of "The Great Below" with Zero's apocalyptic despair. Highlights include the synthwave-y lead single "Less Than," one of NIN's stronger pop anthems, which joins the pack of late-era danceable gems like "The Hand That Feeds," "Discipline," and "Copy of A." However, it's closing track "The Background World" that provides the biggest reward. A nearly-12-minute exercise in patience and payoff, it's not only the longest song in the NIN catalog to date, but also one of its most surprising. The first half fits nicely into the focused niche occupied by the late-era albums and Reznor's work with How to Destroy Angels (Mariqueen Maandig even joins on backing vocals), while the latter portion boldly goes off the rails in a seven-minute descent of slow degradation. As the track dissolves into static oblivion, it deteriorates an otherwise polished effort into messy, uncomfortable decay. Provoking anxiety, "The Background World" is just one piece of an unfolding puzzle that should be engrossing for longtime fans willing to get lost in the maze of clues and references to periods like Year Zero, The Fragile, the mythical Bleedthrough, and even this EP's sibling, Not the Actual Events. With Ross as a foil, Reznor's usual indulgences become focused and refined, making Add Violence a satisfying addition to NIN's less-essential, non-album output. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Label:
Capitol Records – B002726701, The Null Corporation – B002726701
Series:
NIN – HALO THIRTY ONE
Format:
Vinyl, 12", 33 ⅓ RPM, EP
Country:
US
Released:
Nov 17, 2017
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Industrial
A1        Less Than
Vocals [Additional Vocals] – Allison Iraheta, Sharlotte Gibson
3:30
A2        The Lovers    4:10
A3        This Isn't The Place    4:44
B1        Not Anymore    3:07
B2        The Background World    11:44
Lacquer Cut At – Golden Mastering
Mastered At – Record Technology Incorporated – 28411
Manufactured By – Capitol Records
Distributed By – Capitol Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – The Null Corporation
Copyright © – The Null Corporation
Mastered At – Baker Mastering
Published By – Downtown DMP Songs
Published By – Form And Texture
Published By – Kobalt Songs Music Publishing
Published By – Songs In The Key Of Mink
Art Direction – John Crawford (6)
Booking – WME
Booking [For WME] – Marc Geiger
Concept By [Additional Concept Development] – Church Lieu
Design [Additional Design] – Corey Holms
Engineer [Engineering] – Chris Holmes (3), Chris Richardson (14), Dustin Mosley, Geoff Neal, Jun Murakawa
Graphics [World Integration & Execution] – 42 Entertainment
Lacquer Cut By – JG*
Legal – Katten Munchin Rosenman LLP*, Ross B. Rosen & Associates, LLC
Legal [For Katten, Munchin, Rosenman LLP] – Zia Modabber
Legal [For Ross B. Rosen & Associates, LLC] – Ross Rosen
Management – Silva Artist Management
Management [Business Management for Gelfand, Rennet & Feldman] – Michael Walsh (6), William Harper (2)
Management [Business Management] – Gelfand, Rennet & Feldman*
Mastered By [Mastering] – Tom Baker (3)
Mixed By [Mix] – Alan Moulder
Written-By, Arranged By, Producer [Produced By], Programmed By, Performer [Performed By], Band [Nine Inch Nails] – Atticus Ross, Trent Reznor
From sticker:
"NIN
ADD VIOLENCE
HALO THIRTY ONE
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: JULY 21, 2017"
with Capitol logo and cat# B002726701

This original release date refers to the digital version of Add Violence.

From back cover:
℗© 2017 The Null Corporation. Manufactured & Distributed by Capitol Records, 1750 North Vine Street, Hollywood, CA. 90028.
All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is a violation of applicable laws. Printed in the U.S.A. B002726601.

From sleeve:
Published by Form and Texture (ASCAP) / Administered by Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, Songs In the Key of Mink (BMI) / Administered by Downtown DMP Songs.

Printed inner sleeve contains lyrics and credits.
Barcode (Text): 6 02557 89795 1
Barcode (Scanned): 602557897951
Matrix / Runout (Side A Runout - Etched): B0027267-01-A JG 28411.1(3)...
Matrix / Runout (Side B Runout - Etched): B0027267-01-B JG 28411.2(3)...
Matrix / Runout (Side B Label): B002726701-B
Matrix / Runout (Sides A & B - Stamped): GOLDEN
Rights Society: ASCAP
Rights Society: BMI

• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: METAL
• RSD Date: n/a
• Format Type: 12"
• Released: 11/17/2017