Following leaked tour dates, Nine Inch Nails confirmed they’d finally be going on the road again. The industrial-rock veterans’ Peel It Back world tour marks their first live outing since 2022 — and hopefully that means new music on the way as well, given the prolific nature of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as of late. Because of the news, we started thinking about the band’s expansive catalog and asked our readers to vote on Nine Inch Nails’ best songs of all time. Their answers didn’t disappoint, surfing through their many eras over the decades and coming up with some interesting (and obvious) tracks. Find the top fan picks ranked below.
Read more: Every Nine Inch Nails album ranked
5. “Head Like a Hole”
“Head Like a Hole” shot Nine Inch Nails forward, earning heavy radio play during the early ’90s, countless covers, and a reimaging in a Black Mirror episode in 2019. As the Pretty Hate Machine song revs into its main verse, you can hear sharp chanting, and the source is pretty unique. Turns out the band sampled English composer David Fanshawe’s 1975 “Samburu Warriors’ Initiation,” which recorded local Kenyan artists, on the thrashy industrial song, which remains a high point of their catalog.
4. “Somewhat Damaged”
One of Nine Inch Nails’ greatest attributes is their ability to tap into deep emotion, evoking dizzying levels of rage and despair that feel utterly cathartic to sing along to. “Somewhat Damaged” is a perfect example, featuring Reznor at the top of his lyrical game and exposing the rawest parts of his inner psyche (“Broken, bruised, forgotten, sore/Too fucked up to care anymore/Poisoned to my rotten core”). Brilliantly layered and complex, we couldn’t imagine another song kicking off and ultimately setting the tone of 1999’s The Fragile.
3. “Closer”
This Downward Spiral cut is unavoidable at this point. Whether it’s being parodied by Limp Bizkit, sampled by Thirty Seconds to Mars, or covered as a children’s lullaby, “Closer” is hard not to love. Essentially acting as a pop song, its earworm disco beat and widely known chorus (“I wanna fuck you like an animal”) make it easy to sing along to — quickly becoming one of the band’s most celebrated songs. Let’s not forget its music video, either, which featured a nude woman wearing a crucifix mask, a monkey on a cross, and Reznor with a ball gag.
2. “Reptile”
Equal parts sleazy and ominous, “Reptile” remains one of Nine Inch Nails’ hallmark songs. To fit the mood of the Downward Spiral song, the band sample the classic horror film Texas Chain Saw Massacre (specifically the part where Teri McMinn’s character asks “Anybody home?” prior to all the bloody chaos), which is just the cherry on top. Rhythmically intriguing, terrifying, and drawn out, it’s no wonder our readers called it one of their greatest tracks.
1. “Wish”
Clearly our readers have great taste. Nine Inch Nails’ catalog is filled with genuinely catchy songs, but “Wish” stands out at the very top. With buzzsaw riffs and a soaring chorus, this song from their Broken EP (seated between Pretty Hate Machine and The Downward Spiral), is memorable for a reason. Featuring drumming from Martin Atkins (Public Image Ltd, Ministry), a Grammy win, and dance-worthy intensity, “Wish” remains a crowning achievement in any era.