Album Out via Interscope Records; Nine Inch Nails Wraps Sold-Out North American Leg of Their Peel It Back World Tour Tonight at the Kia Forum
TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), the long-awaited score by Nine Inch Nails for the third installment of the iconic TRON franchise, is available now via Interscope Records. The album marks a milestone for the pioneering industrial group, as it is the first-ever film score by Nine Inch Nails, composed entirely by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. As part of their evolving creative vision, TRON: Ares offers an intense, genre-defying departure from their previous film work, with Reznor and Ross serving as Executive Producers on the movie, set to release in U.S. theaters on October 10.
The TRON: Ares soundtrack is a relentless departure from the orchestral scores Reznor and Ross have become known for in their celebrated film work. Fans who have come to associate the duo’s haunting melodies with more traditional orchestral structures will find TRON: Ares a thrilling sonic experiment. Here, Nine Inch Nails’ signature pulsating synths, distorted textures, and melancholic melodies collide with the digital dread of the TRON universe, creating an unrelenting, immersive experience that pulses with urgency, menace, and momentum. This time, there are no orchestras — just raw industrial energy and a sense of imminent doom that only Nine Inch Nails can conjure.
In anticipation of the film, the lead single “As Alive As You Need Me to Be” has already captured the imagination of fans and critics alike. The track—hailed by The New York Times as “a return to the buzz-bomb synthesizers, stomping march beat, stereo ricochets and gut-wrenching vocals of the band’s heyday”—perfectly sets the tone for the larger TRON: Ares album. With its pulsating rhythm, anxious energy, and soaring vocals from Reznor, “As Alive As You Need Me to Be” acts as both a throwback and a reinvention of Nine Inch Nails’ most explosive sonic territory. Notably, the song debuted at No. 1 on both the Official Physical Singles and Vinyl Singles charts in the UK earlier this month. Stateside, the track has ascended into the top 10 of Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart, giving Nine Inch Nails the distinction of charting hits across four decades — from the 1990s to the 2020s.
The official video for “As Alive As You Need Me to Be” adds an extra layer to the song’s tension. Directed by Maxime Quolin, the video centers on an intense close-up performance from Trent Reznor, using cutting-edge visual effects to bend space and warp reality. Rolling Stone notes, “For all the mesmerizing technical wizardry on display, there’s something distinctly tactile about the look of the video, especially as the tension in the visuals builds alongside the music.”
Tonight, Nine Inch Nails wrap up the sold-out North American leg of their Peel It Back world tour with a highly anticipated performance at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. The tour, which began in June at Dublin’s 3Arena, has been a seismic return for the band, marking their first live outing since 2022. The live performances have received rave reviews, with Brooklyn Vegan calling it a “marvel of sight and sound,” while The Times described the show as “a thrilling onslaught that combined angst, sincerity, and a nightmarish otherworldliness.” Alongside Reznor and Ross, Nine Inch Nails’ touring lineup includes Robin Finck, Alessandro Cortini, and Josh Freese, while Boys Noize provides support.
For those eager to dive deeper into Nine Inch Nails’ sonic world, Reznor and Ross have curated Future Ruins, a one-day music festival set for November 8 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, the tickets are already available for sale. The festival celebrates the composers and sound artists reshaping the landscape of modern cinema and television. The event will feature live performances across three stages, including select sets with a full orchestra.
Founded in 1988, Nine Inch Nails remains one of the most influential and innovative acts in modern music. Known for their signature fusion of industrial, electronic, rock, and ambient sounds, Reznor and his bandmates have consistently pushed the boundaries of music and technology. With two GRAMMY Awards and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, Nine Inch Nails have left an indelible mark on both the music and film industries. TRON: Ares serves as the next chapter in this legacy, reshaping what a film score can be, blending the haunting and the kinetic in a way that only Nine Inch Nails could achieve.
Watch the official music video for As Alive As You Need Me to Be here.
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