Year Zero is the fifth studio album by the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released through Interscope Records on April 17, 2007. Conceived while touring in support of the band’s previous album, With Teeth (2005), the album was recorded in late 2006. It was produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and was the band’s first studio album since 1994’s The Downward Spiral that was not co-produced by long-time collaborator Alan Moulder. It was the band’s last album for Interscope until the Tron: Ares soundtrack in 2025, following Reznor‘s departure after the album’s release due to a dispute regarding overseas pricing.
In contrast to the introspective style of songwriting featured on the band’s previous work, the record is a concept album that criticizes contemporary policies of the United States government by presenting a dystopian vision of the year 2022. It was part of a larger Year Zero project, which included a remix album, an alternate reality game of the same name, as well as a conceived television or film adaptation. The game expanded upon the album’s storyline, using websites, pre-recorded phone messages, murals, among other media in promotion of the project. The album was promoted by two singles: “Survivalism” and “Capital G“.
Year Zero received positive reviews from critics, who complimented its concept and production, as well as the accompanying alternate reality game. The album reached number 2 in the United States, number 6 in the United Kingdom, and the top 10 in some other countries.
Tracklist:
SIDE ONE
- Hyperpower!
- The Beginning of the End
- Survivalism
- The Good Soldier
- Vessel
- Me, I’m Not
SIDE TWO
- Capital G
- My Violent Heart
- The Warning
- God Given
- Meet Your Master
SIDE THREE
- The Greater Good
- The Great Destroyer
- Another Version of the Truth
- In This Twilight
- Zero-Sum
Credits:
Trent Reznor: vocals, writer, instrumentation, production, engineering and art direction
Atticus Ross: production and engineering
William Artope: trumpet on “Capital G”
Brett Bachemin: engineering
Matt Demeritt: tenor sax on “Capital G”
Josh Freese: drums on “Hyperpower!” and “Capital G”
Jeff/Geoff Gallegos: brass and woodwind musical arrangement, baritone sax on “Capital G”
Brian Gardner: mastering
Steve Genewick: engineering assistant on “Hyperpower!”
Hydraulx: artwork
Elizabeth Lea: trombone on “Capital G”
Alan Mason: engineering
Alan Moulder: engineering and mixing
Rob Sheridan: artwork and art direction
Doug Trantow: engineering
Saul Williams: backing vocals on “Survivalism” and “Me, I’m Not”
