It's hard to deny the influence of
Trent Reznor on
How to Destroy Angels, the group featuring the
Nine Inch Nails mastermind, his wife
Mariqueen Maandig, and his longtime collaborator
Atticus Ross but
HTDA isn't quite
NIN fronted by a female.
Maandig's presence isn't incidental; having her as the focal point shifts the tone considerably, giving the music a dreamy quality even when things get quite gnarled and ugly, as they do on
"Parasite." Draped in twisted, processed guitar gunk,
"Parasite" is recognizably
Reznor's, as is the electro-throb of
"Fur Lined," and the ominous undertow of
"BBB," but
HTDA's debut EP doesn't consist of dressed-up leftovers from
The Slip: some of
Reznor's obsessions remain recognizable, but having collaborators opens up the music and
Maandig softens it, giving this EP a different feel despite some familiar sounds. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
