First things first...I'm reviewing the UK version of this album. Further Down The Spiral. FDTS is a remix album of the popular 1994 album The Downward Spiral. The style is definitely different to that of TDS, giving it a more electronic sound, but still retaining some of the riffs and vocals.
1. Piggy (Nothing can stop me now)
A very odd intro, with a nearly slow-mo voice, underneath Trents, and a muffled sounding drum beat. The chorus is very different to the orignal Piggy, much heavier, and catchier in my opinion. After the first chorus the song breaks down into a dance-like tune with a fast beat and keyboard. The song ends with a powerful riff featured in the chorus, followed by something similar to the intro. 7/10
2. The Art of Self Desturction (Part One)
The song starts with Trent whispering "I control you" over a distorted ambient sound and drum beat. The verse sounds like the one in Mr Self Destruct, with the same lyrics, but much quieter and more industrial sounding. Feedback is used a lot throughout the song, as is a lot of quiet electronic noises. Over some parts of the song, it sounds like an extremely distorted solo. Towards the end of the song, the familiar riff from Mr Self Destruct is introduced, along with some powerful drums and lots of feedback and distortion; before breaking down into a little quiet techno tune. 6/10
3. Self Destruction (Part Three)
Part Two was on the American FDTS if you didn't know. The intro to this song sounds very similar to that of Mr Self Destructs. In fact, the original, and this version are very similar indeed, with a different interlude. This version seems to use more feedback, and some more little electronic sounds. 6/10
4. Heresy (Version)
A very good remix in my opinion. Starting off with a heavily proccessed voice, followed by a great techno guitar riff, and the sampled screams recognisable from the original. Further on through, the voice is more recognisable from the original Heresy, although, it sounds like it has some kind of Reverb/Echo effect. Nearing the end of the song, the chorus from the original song can be heard "God is dead, and no-one cares, if there is a hell, I'll see you there" followed by a voice, possibly Trents, saying "Do you believe in miracles...? Not really". The highest point on the album. 9/10
5. The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)
A very atmospheric song. It begins with the lyrics from the original song whispered over some electronic echo-ish sounding effects, quite creepy in fact. There is then a *Very* loud screaming noise, which really makes you jump if you're not expecting it! The next few minutes is a slow techno riff, with some voices and electronic noises. The song then breaks into the very strange acoustic strumming from the original, with a loud descending distorted guitar over the top of it. The song then ends with the strumming again, but very quietly. 7/10
6. Hurt (Live)
I actually prefer this to the original version, it's played on the keyboard instead of guitar, which I think sounds better. Also, Trents voice seems more powerful in this version. There isn't a lot to say about this song really... 8/10
7. At The Heart Of It All
An original song, perhaps a B-Side? It could be a remix of A Warm Place a well... It's an industrial ambience song, with added use of an orchestra...or part of one, I'm not sure. It's suprisingly catchy as well. Around half way through, it becomes quiet, giving some variation to the song, before going back to the original beat. It ends on a few strung-out horn sounds, which are pretty creepy. 7/10
8. Ruiner (Version)
The beggining of this song bares little resembalance to the original, but indeed a good sounding electronic tune. After about two minutes, the lyrics start and, it bares a lot more resembalance to the original. This is a very good remix, it doesn't hit so hard, and while the solo on the original is cool the first few times, it becomes grating after a while. 8/10
9. Eraser (Denial;Realization)
The intro sounding like something out of a sci-fi movie, this song is heavy, resembling the end of Eraser (When Trent starts screaming over the heavy riff). Although not sounding a whole lot like Eraser, apart from the frequent cries of, "Kill me!" this is a very good song. The synthesised tune sounds good with the guitar. Towards the end of the song the original haunting, echoing tune can be heard, over some feedback, until reverting back to "Kill me!", slowly fading away with the buzzing noise from the original. 8/10
10. Self Destruction (Final)
Starting with what sounds like a violin behind some feedback, then introducing the drums, the original song springs into mind. The riffs are drawn out over a long period of time until it is slowed down into a very cool sounding buzzing noise, before returning to the riff again. Electronic noises and feedback are used throughout the mid-part, similar to Self Destruction (Part Three). The end part introduces the lyrics again, ending with drumming and the riff again. A fairly good outro to the album 7/10
There you go, a track by track of Further Down The Spiral [UK]. I rate it at a 7/10, pretty good, but not amazing. An interesting take on the original album, I would only really reccomend this to people who own and enjoy The Downward Spiral
To summarise:
+Interesting takes on some great songs
+Live version of Hurt, which is very cool
+Different style to TDS, but still relatively good
-The electronic sound is not to everyones taste
-If you haven't heard the originals, some of the songs sound quite strange
-Self Destruction mixes are repetetive
