| Year Zero is the fifth studio album by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on April 17, 2007 by Interscope Records. Frontman Trent Reznor wrote the album's music and lyrics while touring in support of the band's previous album With Teeth (2005). In contrast to the introspective style of songwriting Reznor used on previous albums, Year Zero is a concept album that criticizes contemporary policies of the United States government by presenting a dystopian vision of the year 2022.
The album is part of a larger Year Zero project which includes a remix album, an alternate reality game and a potential television or film project. The Year Zero alternate reality game expanded upon the album's fictional storyline by using media such as websites, pre-recorded phone messages, and murals. However, disputes arose between Reznor and Universal Music Group, the parent company of Interscope Records, over overseas pricing of the album. In October 2007, Reznor announced that Nine Inch Nails had fulfilled its contractual commitments to Interscope, effectively ending the band's relationship with the label; thus Year Zero was the last Nine Inch Nails studio album released on the Interscope label. Upon its release in April 2007, Year Zero sold over 187,000 copies in its first week and reached number two on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album also received generally positive reviews, many of which were also favorable toward the accompanying alternate reality game. Year Zero spawned the singles "Survivalism" and "Capital G". (more...) |
