2017 "Definitive Edition" reissue - The Downward Spiral positioned Trent Reznor as industrial's own Phil Spector, painting detailed, layered soundscapes from a wide tonal palette. Not only did he fully integrated the crashing metal guitars of Broken, but several newfound elements -- expanded song structures, odd time signatures, shifting arrangements filled with novel sounds, tremendous textural variety -- can be traced to the influence of progressive rock. So can the painstaking attention devoted to pacing and contrast -- The Downward Spiral is full of striking sonic juxtapositions and sudden about-faces in tone, which make for a fascinating listen. More important than craft in turning Reznor into a full-fledged rock star, however, was his brooding persona. Grunge had the mainstream salivating over melodramatic angst, which had always been Reznor's stock in trade. The left-field hit "Closer" made him a postmodern shaman for the '90s, obsessed with exposing the dark side he saw behind even the most innocuous façades. In fact, his theatrics on The Downward Spiral -- all the preening self-absorption and serpentine sexuality -- seemed directly descended from Jim Morrison.
| A1 | Mr. Self Destruct |
| A2 | Piggy |
| A3 | Heresy |
| A4 | March Of The Pigs |
| B1 | Closer |
| B2 | Ruiner |
| B3 | The Becoming |
| C1 | I Do Not Want This |
| C2 | Big Man With A Gun |
| C3 | A Warm Place |
| C4 | Eraser |
| D1 | Reptile |
| D2 | The Downward Spiral |
| D3 | Hurt |
