Difference between revisions of "Heresy"
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| BPM = 115 | | BPM = 115 | ||
| versions =Heresy<br>Heresy (Instrumental)<br>Heresy (Version)<br>Heresy (Blind)<br>Heresy (Demo) | | versions =Heresy<br>Heresy (Instrumental)<br>Heresy (Version)<br>Heresy (Blind)<br>Heresy (Demo) | ||
| − | | live = [[Self Destruct Warm-up]]<br>[[Performance 2007]]<br>[[Wave Goodbye Tour]]<br>[[NIN 2022]] | + | | live = [[Self Destruct Warm-up]]<br>[[Performance 2007]]<br>[[Wave Goodbye Tour]]<br>[[NIN 2022]] through present |
}}'''"Heresy"''' is the third track on ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].'' In 2004, a demo version was included with the Tenth Anniversary 2-disc SACD of ''The Downward Spiral.'' | }}'''"Heresy"''' is the third track on ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]].'' In 2004, a demo version was included with the Tenth Anniversary 2-disc SACD of ''The Downward Spiral.'' | ||
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==Meaning== | ==Meaning== | ||
| − | In an interview with U. Magazine published April 1994, Trent Reznor spoke about the meaning behind the lyrics of this song: | + | In an interview with ''U. Magazine'' published April 1994, Trent Reznor spoke about the meaning behind the lyrics of this song: |
<blockquote>I was trying to explore some of the paranoia I have as a sexually active person in the age of AIDS. I guess I feel cheated for not growing up in a more liberated era. At the same time, what gets me mad is the way the right wing has used the 'convenience' of this epidemic in helping to promote their own agenda. [http://nothing.nin.net/int30.html]</blockquote> | <blockquote>I was trying to explore some of the paranoia I have as a sexually active person in the age of AIDS. I guess I feel cheated for not growing up in a more liberated era. At the same time, what gets me mad is the way the right wing has used the 'convenience' of this epidemic in helping to promote their own agenda. [http://nothing.nin.net/int30.html]</blockquote> | ||
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===Seeds=== | ===Seeds=== | ||
*''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]'' | *''[[The Definitive NIN - Deep Cuts]]'' | ||
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==Versions== | ==Versions== | ||
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'''''Running Time: 5:19''''' | '''''Running Time: 5:19''''' | ||
| − | This remix [[samples]] "In Suburbia" and "Television Believers" from Aron Ranen's ''Religion In Suburbia''. | + | This remix [[samples]] "In Suburbia" and "Television Believers" from Aron Ranen's ''Religion In Suburbia''. At various points in the track, there are glitch effects splicing up Reznor's voice. |
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| + | In a post on Gearspace[https://gearspace.com/board/showpost.php?p=12465767&postcount=703], [[Charlie Clouser]] explained how the vocal manipulation was achieved: | ||
| + | <blockquote>On some other remixes like "Heresy" and "Ruiner" I used a cheap Boss RPS-10 pitch shifter / delay that had a reverse delay - I'd reverse the vocal, run it through the RPS, then edit the result. The way in which the reverse delay determined its buffer sizes is where most of the glitches came from, and with a reversed vocal going in, then the output was reversed by the RPS so the result was frontwards again. Just lots of chopping and cutting manually as audio tracks in the DAW.</blockquote> | ||
====Song Credits==== | ====Song Credits==== | ||
| − | * Manipulation: | + | * Manipulation: Charlie Clouser |
===Heresy (Blind)=== | ===Heresy (Blind)=== | ||
| Line 58: | Line 58: | ||
==Live== | ==Live== | ||
| − | This song has been played very faithfully to the album version since 1994. However, it can be considered a setlist rarity because it has only been played on the [[Self Destruct Warm-up]] tour (twice), [[Performance 2007]] tour, [[Wave Goodbye Tour]] | + | This song has been played very faithfully to the album version since 1994. However, it can be considered a setlist rarity because it has only been played on the [[Self Destruct Warm-up]] tour (twice), [[Performance 2007]] tour, [[Wave Goodbye Tour]], the [[NIN 2022]] tour, and the [[Peel It Back Tour]]. |
==Lyrics== | ==Lyrics== | ||
Latest revision as of 10:30, 19 June 2025
Heresy (Instrumental)
Heresy (Version)
Heresy (Blind)
Heresy (Demo)
Performance 2007
Wave Goodbye Tour
NIN 2022 through present
"Heresy" is the third track on The Downward Spiral. In 2004, a demo version was included with the Tenth Anniversary 2-disc SACD of The Downward Spiral.
Contents
Song Credits
- Production: Trent Reznor
- Mixing Engineer: Alan Moulder
Meaning
In an interview with U. Magazine published April 1994, Trent Reznor spoke about the meaning behind the lyrics of this song:
I was trying to explore some of the paranoia I have as a sexually active person in the age of AIDS. I guess I feel cheated for not growing up in a more liberated era. At the same time, what gets me mad is the way the right wing has used the 'convenience' of this epidemic in helping to promote their own agenda. [1]
Appearances
Halos
- The Downward Spiral
- Further Down The Spiral (UK)
- Closer To God
Seeds
Versions
Heresy
Best described lyrically as a scathing attack on religion (particularly Western Christianity), "Heresy" contains synthesized bass, simple and powerful drum loops, and distorted guitar riffs backing aggressive vocals and moody atmospherics. The lyrics are ripe with Nietzschean concepts and allude to the infamous "God Is Dead" statement. Like many other songs on the album, the song's bridge contrasts heavily with the verses and choruses by being considerably quieter. This is also the second song on the album to contain "The Downward Spiral Motif" and is played (in power chords at Drop D tuning) by the guitars during the chorus as follows:
Heresy (Instrumental)
Released by Reznor through his remix.nin.com account, this is an unmastered and vocalless version of the album cut.
Heresy (Version)
Running Time: 5:19
This remix samples "In Suburbia" and "Television Believers" from Aron Ranen's Religion In Suburbia. At various points in the track, there are glitch effects splicing up Reznor's voice.
In a post on Gearspace[2], Charlie Clouser explained how the vocal manipulation was achieved:
On some other remixes like "Heresy" and "Ruiner" I used a cheap Boss RPS-10 pitch shifter / delay that had a reverse delay - I'd reverse the vocal, run it through the RPS, then edit the result. The way in which the reverse delay determined its buffer sizes is where most of the glitches came from, and with a reversed vocal going in, then the output was reversed by the RPS so the result was frontwards again. Just lots of chopping and cutting manually as audio tracks in the DAW.
Song Credits
- Manipulation: Charlie Clouser
Heresy (Blind)
Running Time: 5:32
This version splices up the bass track and the drums to create a dancier beat (like the "Slate" remix of "Head Like A Hole"). The choruses are much less layered. On June 22, 2011, Joseph Bishara commented on the creation of the remix on his facebook page: "It was a great time - working at Bryan Adams studio in Vancouver with Dave Ogilvie and Anthony Valcic - programmed around the tracks, and we recorded hours of live at the console mixes, later edited into Heresy and Reptile remixes."
On the DJ promo vinyl for Closer To God, the track runs roughly 5:38, fading out at the end.
Song Credits
- Manipulation: Dave Ogilvie, Anthony Valcic, Joseph Bishara
Heresy (Demo)
This demo version is found on the 2-disc Deluxe Edition of The Downward Spiral. The vocals in the verses are solely whispered, rather than both whispered and sung in Reznor's high register as on album version. As well, the tempo is slower (105 instead of 115 BPM), and the structure is altered, featuring a differently-arranged introduction.
Live
This song has been played very faithfully to the album version since 1994. However, it can be considered a setlist rarity because it has only been played on the Self Destruct Warm-up tour (twice), Performance 2007 tour, Wave Goodbye Tour, the NIN 2022 tour, and the Peel It Back Tour.
Lyrics
He sewed his eyes shut because he is afraid to see
He tries to tell me what I put inside of me
He's got the answers to ease my curiosity
He dreamed a god up and called it Christianity
Your God is dead and no one cares
If there is a Hell I will see you there
He flexed his muscles to keep his flock of sheep in line
He made a virus that would kill off all the swine
His perfect kingdom of killing, suffering and pain
Demands devotion atrocities done in his name
Your God is dead and no one cares
Drowning in his own hypocrisy
If there is a Hell I will see you there
Burning with your god in humility
Will you die for this?
The penultimate line of the final chorus as printed in the liner notes is not sung on the final album cut. The last line, rather than being sung at the end of the song, is repeated during the bridge, as evidenced in live performances.
External Links
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