The Fragile

The Fragile (also known as Halo 14) is a concept double album by American Industrial rock act Nine Inch Nails, released in 1999 on Reznor’s Nothing Records. The album is Nine Inch Nails’ fourth major label release and the fourteenth halo. The album continues the plot of The Downward Spiral, despite the complete change in sound and style of the album. Instead of heavily distorted instruments, and gritty industrial sounds, the album relies much more on soundscapes, electronic beats, ambient noise, and heavy metal-laden guitar, such as in the single “Starfuckers, Inc.” Trent Reznor describes the album’s plot and story as “a theme of things falling apart.” Reznor has also said the album is bleaker than The Downward Spiral, despite the more aggressive, depressing tone of that album. Many songs on the album borrow bass, guitar, and keyboard lines from other songs on the album; most notably “The Frail” piano becoming “The Fragile” guitar and the bassline used in “La Mer” reappearing in “Into the Void”.

The album was not as much of a commercial success as The Downward Spiral, most likely accredited to Interscope Records’ lack of promotion of the album, and the lack of a stand-out single. Despite a strong start at #1 on the Billboard Top 10, the album quickly slipped out of the Billboard Top 10 only a week after its release, and Reznor was forced to provide funding for the subsequent North American tour out of his own pocket. The cover artwork was designed by David Carson.