Perhaps only Trent Reznor could mix synthesized sounds, violins, cellos and ukuleles with a deafening scream and a poignant whisper and turn the noise into art.

In true Nine Inch Nails creative fashion, Reznor is back. It has been five years since his last studio album, “The Downward Spiral,” but Reznor has been keeping busy, and the poetry is evident in his latest release, “The Fragile.”

On this double-disc, Reznor splits 23 songs and more than 100 minutes of scathing rock with a classic NIN soft touch from the piano.

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During the past few years, Reznor produced soundtracks for David Lynch’s “Lost Highway” and Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers.” His hard work paid off with his new album as he satiates the rock fan’s long-awaited angst by emphasizing every syllable of his lyrics.

Reznor may have cut his hair short since his last studio album, but he dances gracefully on the edge of insanity and doesn’t stumble while he combs poetically through this album from his own label, Nothing Records.

“The Fragile” contains songs such as “The wretched” (Track 4) and “The day the world went away” (Track 2) on the “Left” disc that are sure to surpass the popularity of “Closer.”

On the other hand (or disc), Reznor excellently builds his way through a deep bass, a drum beat and distorted vocals in “I’m looking forward to joining you, finally” (Track 8). Possibly the best song on the album, which may never make it to the radio airwaves because of its explicit lyrical content, “Starf***ers, Inc.” (Track 6) from the “Right” disc, matches the strength and angst of previous albums in its high-powered, ear-piercing beats and infectious chant.

“Pilgrimage,”(Track 9, “Left” disc) perhaps the best instrumental song on the album, contains tech beats, grinding with guitar screeches reminiscent of “March of the Pigs” from “The Downward Spiral.” While the song is bereft of lyrics, it still incorporates huffs, moans and the inevitable Reznor, tiger-like shriek.

The album is sure to reunite some NIN fans who may have slipped away after the five year album-drought. The two discs leave the listener with only one dilemma which disc to slide in the player.

Four stars out of five

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