Year Zero (album)

Year Zero
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 17, 2007 (2007-04-17)
RecordedSeptember–December 2006
Genre
Length63:42
LabelInterscope
Producer
Nine Inch Nails chronology
With Teeth
(2005)
Year Zero
(2007)
Year Zero Remixed
(2007)
Nine Inch Nails studio album chronology
With Teeth
(2005)
Year Zero
(2007)
Ghosts I–IV
(2008)
Halo numbers chronology
Halo 23
(2007)
Halo 24
(2007)
Halo 25
(2007)
Singles from Year Zero
  1. "Survivalism"
    Released: March 13, 2007
  2. "Capital G"
    Released: June 11, 2007

Year Zero is the fifth studio album by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released by Interscope Records on April 17, 2007.[1] 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, following Reznor's departure the same year 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.

  1. ^ Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved October 31, 2023