With shadowy beauty and searing intensity, Nine Inch Nails—the long-running project of multi-instrumentalist/producer/songwriter Trent Reznor—expanded the scope of mainstream music. Scrutinizing humanity, relationships, and society, Reznor shapes deeply internalized thoughts into accessible, exciting sound. 1989’s u003ciu003ePretty Hate Machineu003c/iu003e brought this introspective curiosity and synth-heavy industrial rock to a broad audience, while landmark releases u003ciu003eThe Downward Spiralu003c/iu003e and u003ciu003eThe Fragileu003c/iu003e stunned with coarse guitars and striking ferocity. Nine Inch Nails is continuously evolving—experimenting with new formats and ideas, including the turbulent 2007 concept album u003ciu003eYear Zerou003c/iu003e, about a dystopian futuristic USA, and the textured minimalism of 2013’s u003ciu003eHesitation Marksu003c/iu003e. Unbounded by convention, Reznor has upended relationships with labels in order to safeguard his artistic freedom and forged creative alliances with outsider champions like David Bowie, Saul Williams, and David Lynch, while longtime collaborator Atticus Ross became the only other official member of Nine Inch Nails in 2016.