Year Zero - NIN

Ok, Year Zero is the new Nine Inch Nails album that is coming out some time next month, I think.
Before I say any more, just watch this - Year Zero trailer

I only heard about it earlier tonight, but, it is so messed up. From what I've seen, its an album, but there is also supposed to be a film, or something...And the theme is that it is the year 20-something, the world has come to an end, America is reborn and is on some sort of crusade, and four-fingered hands are reaching down from the sky. ..........

There's also been a lot of promotion for it, having to do with these USB drives that have been randomly turning up all over the world, with songs and..strange things on them.

Also, the words, "I am trying to believe" appear often...in pictures, videos..along with the hands, called, "The Presence".

Anyways, if anybody has more info, or can make any sense of it, please share. It has me very weirded out.

Its a concept album, basically set in a near-future US where things like the PATRIOT act, the war on terror, and Christian Fundamentalism have converted America into a totalitarian state. The "presence" is just a gimmick really, but the story seems to be fairly straightforwardly Orwellian.

Musically, its a very electronic album. The songs i've heard didnt have many guitar parts, which is odd for NiN.

A good example of how drugs are bad, crazy old trent.

Anyway, the album will probably be decent, im not so keen on the viral advertising though, it always seems tacky to me.

After "With Teeth", Its definitly a good thing that Trent seems to have got back some anger, even if he's had to construct a sci-fi reality to channel it. Thats the problem with writing songs about hating yourself and being depressed; once you've made millions, are critically acclaimed and have a model for a girlfriend, it kinda becomes a bit "insincere" to write about those things (hence "With teeth" being so disjointed and sub-par).
If this concept album manages to inject a bit of venom back into NiN's music, then that can only be a good thing.
Plus, I like concept albums, so its a win-win situation from my point of view

From what I have heard on youtube it sounds more Industrial than we've had for ages. More broken machines please!

So it seems like they're going back to their industrial roots.

If you watch the hi res version of the teaser at the nin website ( www.nin.com )and you stop it as the blue sign goes past it says "I am trying to believe". Awesome.