u/cuateaguacate86

For some it's a new thing and for us that we have been listening to this song since the 90's this isn't a mystery at all (kind of)

For those that doesn't know what I'm talking about, at the 4:01 on the left side speaker you'll hear a hidden voice sort of doing a speech or just talking, it's well deep in the mix barely noticeable but it's there. It doesn't take much time, just a fast muffled sound and that's it, it goes quick.

And yes, this topic has been well talked about enough of times here but not quite recently because there's a post from 12 yrs ago that dissects what's behind of this mystery. But that was 12 yrs ago, back then there weren't that many and good audio capabilities to isolate something from a song.

So, does anyone has done a recently inspection to this mystery using up-to-date methods to find out what that voice is saying?

Thanks to the trooper who can help with this!

This is a appreciation post

NIN is full of sound textures and audio snips on songs that for me are quite unusual and adds more to the experience by hearing it every single time that I've got with this band. Details that are not mostly well talk about or even not at all mention, that deserves it recognition.

I'd truly and fully enjoy listening to music that has minimal details in it. Details that are most of the times are a just one hit on a snare or synth texture or a production decision during a recording session or live performance or a decision in the mix to keep it low and ominous.

Let me be more clear in what I'm trying to say and present and maybe you can also present your examples that can match on how I feel about certain things in about NIN music, here's my examples:

Halo 30 - The Fragile (Deviations) - "+appendage"

This song is full of examples but my favorite is at 1:40, that drone-y low feq sound polluting, invasive and menacing punching through it's incredible and if you have a great sub woofer or a good quality earphones/headphones it can totally punch you in the gut.

Halo 30 - The Fragile (Deviations) - "No, You Don't"

That massive and nasty distorted guitar at 0:16. You are for a treat and it's a dangerous one. Pretty sure NIN hasn't done that guitar tone since this the release of this song

Halo 30 - The Fragile (Deviations) - "The Wretched"

All that build up that is happening from the start and from 0:14 to 0:55. Chills...and that second airy layer appearing at 0:30, brother...that's so unusual.

Halo 30 - The Fragile (Deviations) - Somewhat Damaged "

At 2:52...again a low feq drone-y menacing sound, is far behind in the mix it can be heard adding a floor for the aggressiveness of this song.

Halo 31 - Add Violence - "The Lovers"

At 0:17 this low pressure of sound blasting force urging to move all around you, delicious!

Halo 14 - The Fragile - "Please"

Love the snare tone and the different and inconsistent snare hits during the song. My favorite is at 0:39 and at 2:08 that snare small built up.

Halo 10 - Further Down the Spiral - "The art of self destruction, Pt. 1"

That compressed distorted guitar starting at 3:18 and adding a variation of the chugged guitar at 3:51. That's evil and so damn good. The bass tone throughout the whole starting at 0:39 a tickle and almost damaging your ears. Genius

Halo 17 - And All That Could Have Been (Live) - "Terrible Lie"

Trent scream is just the best and managing his vocal cord doing a chest scream at 4:46. Intense and chill to the bone. Never heard him scream like that ever.

Halo 17 - And All That Could Have Been (Live) - "Gave Up"

Aggressiveness hitting the tip of the bar. Trent doing another chest scream trapped at 3:21. Yes, grab to your sits it gets more and more powerful after several repeats of this monstrous scream.

Halo 17 - And All That Could Have Been (Live) - "Wish"

Wish is intense but those details that are part just for a single second or even less are a treat, heard that note slide on guitar (probably Robin) at 2:54 cruising for just a moment meanwhile Trent does a closing the chorus perfectly with another tight raw vocal delivery. Also at 1:19 that "Fist Fuck" ...he's pissed and you know it.

Halo 19 - With Teeth - "You know what you are"

That sudden bass punch at 1:30, nasty

Halo 19 - With Teeth - "The hand that feeds"

This one it's a little bit tricky to demonstrate, at 2:09 to 2:15 there's a low volume layer of Trent singing "na na na..." It can be easily detect listening to the surround mix version because on the stereo mix is quite lay down in the mix. Trust me it's there.

Halo 17 - And All That Could Have Been (Live) - "March of the pigs"

"Shove it up inside, surprise, lies..." At the end of every single word delivery at this phrase at 1:41Trent grotesque and almost growler vocal performance. Hear that last word in this paragraph being deliver and leaving his throat reaching it's peak grittiness.

Halo 08 - The Downward Spiral - "The becoming"

At 4:07 the main thing in the mix is Trent destroying his voice but that guitar chugged rhythm and very compressed is definitely a perfect companion for Trent raw and dissonant moment.

Halo 08 - The Downward Spiral - "I do not want this"

At 1:22 that cut off piano note dropping just for a single moment it's a bang for just to grab your attention for what's next.

That rhythmic guitar feedback pulling in and out at 4:11.

Yes guitars feedback can make you move like a dangerous sliding snake if you are up for it.

Halo 03 - Head Like A Hole - "You know who you are"

1:07 Crack the shit up to that bass synth sudden manifestation

Halo 07 - March Of The Pigs - "A violent fluid"

That abrasive and syncopated beat going throughout the whole song.

I'm curious what are you favorite moments in NIN music that are this specific in details