we arrived about 2 years early

I recognize the last few years have seemed difficult, sometimes bordering on impossible (or unbelievable). But in the last week, it seems like we’ve actually reached Year Zero. We’re just a couple years ahead of schedule.

This record began as an experiment with noise on a laptop in a bus on tour somewhere. That sound led to a daydream about the end of the world. That daydream stuck with me and over time revealed itself to be much more...it takes place about fifteen years in the future. Things are not good. If you imagine a world where greed and power continue to run their likely course, you’ll have an idea of the backdrop. The world has reached the breaking point – politically, spiritually and ecologically. Written from various perspectives of people in this world, Year Zero examines various viewpoints set against an impending moment of truth.
— Trent Reznor (2007)