Came Back Haunted: The Return of Nine Inch Nails

After announcing his plans to resurrect Nine Inch Nails in February this year, Trent Reznor confirmed a string of tour dates with the new band, comprised of former Jane's Addiction bassist Eric Avery, King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew, sometime NIN collaborator Alessandro Cortini and Josh Eustsis of Puscifier and Telefon Tel Aviv on keys, and Ilan Rubin, also of Lostprophets on drums. Avery and Belew later had to withdraw from their commitments, with a longterm collaborator Robin Finck stepping into the breach. 

Then Reznor dropped another bombshell – an all-new Nine Inch Nails album was complete, having been recorded and mixed down by Reznor with the help of his The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and How To Destroy Angels collaborator Atticus Ross, and veteran producer Alan Moulder.

On Tuesday last week, Reznor stated on his website: "I’ve been less than honest about what I’ve really been up to lately. For the last year I’ve been secretly working non-stop with Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder on a new, full-length Nine Inch Nails record, which I am happy to say is finished and frankly fucking great. This is the real impetus and motivation behind the decision to assemble a new band and tour again. My forays into film, HTDA and other projects really stimulated me creatively and I decided to focus that energy on taking Nine Inch Nails to a new place. Here we go!”

In the final piece of the puzzle to be revealed, for now at least, today saw the release of the first new Nine Inch Nails song since 2008's The Slip, and the instrumental Ghosts I-IV. The track, Came Back Haunted, sees Reznor invoking elements of key stages in Nine Inch Nails' career so far, with synth-pop beats nodding to Pretty Hate Machine, and a driving, anthemic chorus reminiscent of tracks on Year Zero.

The track is available to download today from the usual outlets, and provides a glimpse of the new Nine Inch Nails we can expect to see when they begin their tour in July. They will be appearing at the Leeds and Reading Festivals on 25 August – currently their only UK dates. 

Some fans have reacted negatively to news of the reunion, feeling short-changed after paying top dollar for tickets to see the much-hyped 'last ever' Nine Inch Nails tour in 2009, under the banner 'Wave Goodbye.' Others have reacted with delight and excitement at the prospect of seeing Reznor back at the helm of his original band. Further controversy and speculation has been brewing online over Reznor's decision to release the new album via Columbia Records – given that he took a very anti-industry stance over the last few NIN records, self-releasing them via his own Null Corporation label, he is liable for criticism over his decision to take NIN and How To Destroy Angels to one of the major labels.

What do you think – is Came Back Haunted vintage Nails, or does it fall short of greatness? Are you happy to see Reznor taking the band back out on the road, or did you stop caring after the Wave Goodbye tour? Was signing to a major again a sell-out, or a smart move? Tell us what you think in the comments below! Follow NIN on Twitter and Tumblr for more updates.