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→Spiraling Down
''The Downward Spiral'' was released in March of 1994 and had a significantly different sound. Reznor was much more experimental, creating soundscapes and improvising in the studio rather than having something written beforehand. It was touted as a concept album, describing someone throwing away everything in his life in hopes of finding some sense of peace. The album was a personal and commercial success, but with the increasing exposure, Reznor's personal problems began to multiply. He found himself turning to drugs and alcohol often as an escape from the pressure put on him by the media, the label, and even himself. The extensive touring behind the album didn't help his problems, either.
It would be the mud-soaked [[1994/08/13 Saugerties, NY|Woodstock '94]] performance that would thrust Reznor into the national consciousness. Broadcast on Pay-Per-View, the visceral performace performance would make Reznor a superstar among the many bands and musicians who were active at the time. However, the sudden national fame and recognition only accelerated Reznor's increasing problems.
By the end of the touring cycle (known as the [[Self Destruct Touring Cycle|Self-Destruct]] tour), Reznor was miserable. He had sunk into addiction, and pressure from the label to begin work on a follow-up to ''The Downward Spiral'' took its toll. He stepped back for a little while and took time to sort things out.
===Fragile===