NINE INCH NAILS' DANNY LOHNER Offers Update On TAPEWORM Project

NINE INCH NAILS man Danny Lohner has spoken to Metal Hammer magazine about his TAPEWORM project, the semi-mythical supergroup that has, in five or so years since its inception, featured contributions from NIN mastermind Trent Reznor, A PERFECT CIRCLE/TOOL frontman Maynard Keenan and PANTERA's Phil Anselmo.

According to Lohner, the band has undergone a complete metamorphosis after he discarded all the old material and replaced it with a more focused sound as well as the four key members. The group is now made up of Lohner, Reznor, Keenan and ex-12 ROUNDS drummer Atticus Ross. The group was originally set to mix an album last Christmas. However legal disputes over Reznor and Keenan being signed to different labels have once again put the project on hold. At least, until after Lohner has completed his current NIN duties.

"I've gotta get back with Trent and figure out when we can actually do it," Lohner explained. "We have very little work to do to finish it"

Although he reckoned "musically it's hard to describe," Lohner said TAPEWORM is "fairly well rounded with lots of different instrumentation — the things you've come to expect from the NIN camp but not strictly a guitar tock thing. With Maynard and Trent working together on the vocals there's been a lot of attention given to having hooky, anthemic choruses."

With regards to the eagerly awaited new NINE INCH NAILS album, Lohner said it is likely to be completed by the end of the year, followed by a world tour shortly after. Whetting fans' appetites, he said. "The new material is much more stripped down and raw than 'The Fragile'. It's like the antithesis of the last record, it's much more immediate, direct and aggressive."