Nine Inch Nails
USA, 1988–now
Trent Reznor's project. The Downward Spiral is an industrial rock landmark, fusing electronics, noise and introspective lyrics.
MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced Nine Inch Nails and 7 artists Nine Inch Nails influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Nine Inch Nails?
- David Bowie — Reznor has named Low the direct model for The Downward Spiral; Bowie and NIN toured together in 1995.
- Depeche Mode — Reznor is a documented Depeche Mode devotee who has repeatedly cited them among the electronic acts that shaped his path — NIN and Depeche Mode were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together in the synth-led 2020 class.
- Throbbing Gristle — Reznor has named TG among the foundations of the industrial genre NIN carried into arenas.
Which artists did Nine Inch Nails influence?
- Slipknot — Iowa-era Slipknot cited NIN's industrial textures — Reznor's layering audibly shapes their studio sound.
- Linkin Park — Nine Inch Nails' dense, static-smeared industrial production and emotional complexity were a key inspiration for Linkin Park's sound.
- Breaking Benjamin — Nine Inch Nails' industrial darkness colours Breaking Benjamin's moody post-grunge.
- Papa Roach — Nine Inch Nails' industrial intensity informs the darker textures of Papa Roach's nu-metal.
- Evanescence — Nine Inch Nails' industrial darkness is among Amy Lee's cited influences, colouring Evanescence's heavier, electronic textures.
- Fear Factory — Nine Inch Nails' industrial textures are a key part of Fear Factory's machine-metal sound.
- Twenty One Pilots — Nine Inch Nails' dark electronic textures inform the moodier, industrial-tinged side of Twenty One Pilots.