At some gigs leading up to the election, the face of Bush slowly morphed during the song into the face of John McCain. Blister: The knockback from Blister is stronger than from 8 Inch Nails, and knockback boosts do not stack. However, after 9 years of studio sessions, no material was ever officially released from the group, and it was confirmed to be no longer active in 2005.

This footage was never officially released, but instead appeared covertly among tape trading circles. The remix album was Nine Inch Nails' final release on a major record label for over five years, as the act had completed its contractual obligation to Interscope Records and did not renew its contract.

in a 2003 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, [299] and by the following year ranked Nine Inch Nails at No. The other important thing that happened when I went to college was I finally had access to college radio. Rolling Stone 's Michael Azerrad described the album as "industrial-strength noise over a pop framework" and "harrowing but catchy music"; [24] Reznor proclaimed this combination "a sincere statement" of "what was in [his] head at the time".

The inspiration for the harder sound came from the way the live band played during concerts such as Lollapalooza. Reznor announced on October 8, 2007, that Nine Inch Nails had fulfilled its contractual commitments to Interscope Records and was now free to proceed as a "totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label".

The source that broke the story was quoted as saying, "These fucking idiots are going after a campaign that the label signed off on.