VARIOUS ARTISTS
The Downward Spiral Redux
MAGNETIC EYE
Trent Reznor’s classic album gets an underground reimagining
Magnetic Eye’s Redux series continues with a salutation to one of industrial rock’s most controversial, expressive, adventurous, transgressive and, unsurprisingly, popular albums. For years, The Downward Spiral covers have been knocked out by all corners of the industry – cue Johnny Cash’s rendition of Hurt as part of his American series – and you can hardly tune into a TV drama or sip a strip club beer without hearing Closer. With that in mind, Magnetic Eye have done a solid by collecting a wide variety of underground extremists putting their own twists on the already twisted material. Black Tusk’s pummelling rendering of Mr. Self Destruct, High Tone Son Of A Bitch barbecuing Ruiner, Dreadnought running The Becoming through a doom-meets-beatnik filter and BTBAM’s layered take on Hurt demonstrates the broad swath of inspiration The Downward Spiral has had, and how its influence remains robust to this day. ■■■■■■■■■■