How to Destroy Angels [EP]

How To Destroy Angels | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 6, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: The Null Corporation
• ASIN: B003N7GATM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,981 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Space in Between

2. Parasite

3. Fur-Lined

4. BBB

5. The Believers

6. A Drowning

Editorial Reviews

The first post NIN project of Trent Reznor featuring vocals from wife and ex-West Indian Girl Mariqueen Maandig and his regular collaborator Atticus Ros

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good debut, room for improvement... July 6, 2010

By Richard Shaheen

Format:Audio CD

If there is one thing I was hoping for with the release of the eponymous EP from How To Destroy Angels it was for something completely beyond the norm for Trent Reznor. I'm a HUGE Nine Inch Nails fan, so as far as I am concerned, anything the man touches is solid gold (and I haven't been let down yet). HTDA is no exception; it's a quality record from a quality group of musicians. My only complaint would be that it does sound a little too NIN-ish. Some of these tracks sound like they could have been b-sides or unreleased tracks from Year Zero, which wouldn't have been a bad thing if this was a Nails release. It sounds as though Trent is trying to get out of his comfort zone here but just can't seem to get all the way out. Some tracks are stellar standouts that offer a lot of hope that some amazing things are in the works; "Fur Lined" in particular has a very unique feel that sets it apart from Reznor's previous work. "The Space In Between" is a bit out there for him, but still manages to toe that line of comfortability. The addition of Mariqueen Maandig-Reznor certainly adds an interesting element to the equation, her vocals are haunting and breathy which does wonders for the music; Reznor singing would have not made quite the impact.

All in all, this is a good record; not a great one, but a good one. If Trent and company can find a way to get themselves out of their comfort zone, they could deliver a truly amazing album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars How To Castrate a Legend January 4, 2013

By S. Greco

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let me start by saying that im a huge Nine Inch Nails/Trent fan. I own everything he/they've done and have seen them live more times than i can count. And that my be the/my problem. I'm comparing. This coul've/should've been a NIN album. The music is fantastic, the production incredible and lush, the lyrics amazing (especially 'A Drowning'), the vocal melodies are perfectly how Trent would sing, phrasing and all...its just that Mariqueen's vocals are...nice. Too nice. Sweet and perfect and...ultimately passionless. Almost spoken most of the time. No grit, no emotion no. I know this is unfair...this isn't supposed to be NIN. I know this. It just sounds like the Muzak version of Nine Inch Nails...the "Honey, here are some songs i wrote but you can sing them" version. Sonically and lyrically this would/should be one of the better NIN albums in the past few years. Instead it comes off as a less passionate/intense version of the band. There is NOTHING wrong with the CD and i love listening to it...it's just as dissapointing because of what it could've been with Trent singing. No impact...no emotional value. Again i know that is unfair. I wish that i had no idea Trent was involved because it's a ghost of things that could've been.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "Try to fill the spaces in between." June 25, 2010

By Matt Jacobs

Format:MP3 Music

This is the self-titled debut EP by How to Destroy Angels, a group formed by Trent Reznor, his wife Mariqueen Maandig, and producer Atticus Ross. It sort of sounds like Nine Inch Nails release The Slip if a woman was singing. It will be released physically early next month, but you can still download it online for free if you want. So yeah, it's pretty enjoyable electronic/industrial stuff, and it's hard to go wrong when you don't have to pay. My two favorite tracks happen to be the opener and closer, "The Space in Between" and "A Drowning". The former has a perfect, ominous sound countered by Mariqueen's pleasant voice that nicely introduces you to their style, and the latter has a nice build up and release for the record's climax. The other tracks are totally fine too, with my third favorite probably being "The Believers". I'm not sure how dedicated any of them really are to the future of this project, but their first effort is fairly strong and might be worth some further development.