Hesitation Marks

In February 2009, Trent Reznor stated, "I've been thinking for some time now it's time to make NIN disappear for a while", indicating the possible end of the act.{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/34635-trent-reznor-announces-possible-end-of-nine-inch-nails-tour-with-janes-addiction/ | title=Trent Reznor Announces Possible End of Nine Inch Nails, Tour With Jane's Addiction | work=Pitchfork | date=February 16, 2009 | access-date=May 17, 2013 | author=Phillips, Amy}} Nine Inch Nails then entered a hiatus after touring with Jane's Addiction and performing on a few subsequent shows.{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1605194/nine-inch-nails-go-on-hiatus.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910095934/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1605194/nine-inch-nails-go-on-hiatus.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 10, 2013 | title=Nine Inch Nails To Go On Hiatus After Tour With Jane's Addiction? | date=February 17, 2009 | access-date=May 17, 2013 | author=Montgomery, James| website=MTV }}{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/36420-nine-inch-nails-reschedule-cancelled-wave-goodbye-shows/ | title=Nine Inch Nails Reschedule Cancelled "Wave Goodbye" Shows | work=Pitchfork | date=July 14, 2009 | access-date=May 17, 2013 | author=Breihan, Tom}} Afterwards, Reznor clarified that the band was done with touring for the foreseeable future, but that he would continue to make music under the moniker.{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/35923-trent-reznor-explains-the-state-of-nin/ | title=Trent Reznor Explains the State of NIN | work=Pitchfork | date=July 14, 2009 | access-date=May 17, 2013 | author=Breihan, Tom}}

In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Reznor indicated that he would be writing for the majority of 2012 with Nine Inch Nails "in mind".{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45103-trent-reznor-writing-new-nin-material/ | title=Trent Reznor Writing New NIN Material | work=Pitchfork | date=January 13, 2012 | access-date=May 17, 2013 | author=Battan, Carrie}} In 2012, Reznor confirmed that he was working on new Nine Inch Nails material and would possibly be performing live again.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/48513-new-nine-inch-nails-material-definitely-in-the-works/|title=New Nine Inch Nails Material Definitely in the Works|last=Pelly|first=Jenn|work=Pitchfork|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=May 17, 2013}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/trent-reznor-nine-inch-nails-working-on-new-music-possible-tour-20121107|title=Trent Reznor: Nine Inch Nails Working on New Music, Possible Tour|last=Doyle|first=Patrick|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=May 17, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/nine-inch-nails/67060|title=New Nine Inch Nails material 'in the works'|work=NME|date=November 7, 2012|access-date=May 17, 2013}} In February 2013, Reznor announced the return of Nine Inch Nails and revealed tour details.{{cite web | url=https://consequence.net/2013/02/trent-reznor-relaunches-nine-inch-nails-with-new-lineup-extensive-tour-planned/ | title=Trent Reznor relaunches Nine Inch Nails with new lineup, extensive tour planned | work=Consequence of Sound | date=February 25, 2013 | access-date=May 17, 2013 | author=Young, Alex}} The album was first acknowledged by Trent Reznor on May 28, 2013, in a post on nin.com:

{{blockquote|I've been less than honest about what I've really been up to lately. For the last year I've been secretly working non-stop with Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder on a new, full-length Nine Inch Nails record, which I am happy to say is finished and frankly fucking great. This is the real impetus and motivation behind the decision to assemble a new band and tour again. My forays into film, HTDA and other projects really stimulated me creatively and I decided to focus that energy on taking Nine Inch Nails to a new place. Here we go!"{{cite web |last=Reznor |first=Trent |url=http://nineinchnails.tumblr.com/post/51585462200/ive-been-less-than-honest-about-what-ive-really |title=nine inch nails - i've been less than honest about what i've really... |publisher=Tumblr |date=May 28, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2013}}}}

The album began life as a couple of tracks that were meant to be included in a forthcoming greatest hits package for Interscope Records. The sessions gave way to more songs and ended up yielding an entire album.{{cite web|url=http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/06/24/trent-reznor-on-new-nine-inch-nails-album-im-doing-something-a-bit-different-exclusive-interview/|title=Trent Reznor On New Nine Inch Nails Album – 'I'm Doing Something A Bit Different' [Exclusive Interview]|website=kroq.cbslocal.com|date=June 24, 2023|access-date=March 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628041809/http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/06/24/trent-reznor-on-new-nine-inch-nails-album-im-doing-something-a-bit-different-exclusive-interview/|archive-date=June 28, 2013|url-status=dead}} The two songs originally written and recorded for the hits package were revealed to be "Everything" and "Satellite".{{cite news|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|title=The nine lives of Trent Reznor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/08/the-nine-lives-of-trent-reznor|newspaper=The Guardian|date=August 8, 2013}}

On August 12, 2013, Amazon UK officially made the album's second track "Copy of a" available for free to download. On August 22, 2013, a radio rip of "Find My Way" was uploaded to YouTube.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/52011-listen-nine-inch-nails-find-my-way-plus-conversation-with-trent-reznor/|title=Listen: Nine Inch Nails: "Find My Way", Plus Conversation With Trent Reznor|work=Pitchfork|date=August 23, 2013 |access-date=June 29, 2017}} On August 27, 2013, the album was streamed on iTunes after it was leaked online.{{cite web | url=https://consequence.net/2013/08/stream-nine-inch-nails-new-album-hesitation-marks/ | title=Stream Nine Inch Nails' new album, Hesitation Marks | work=Consequence of Sound | date=August 27, 2013 | access-date=August 27, 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.craveonline.com/music/articles/559551-album-stream-nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks | title=Album Stream: Nine Inch Nails 'Hesitation Marks' | publisher=CraveOnline | date=August 27, 2013 | access-date=August 27, 2013 | author=Firecloud, Johnny}} The album was made available in two different masters for digital download; a "standard" version and an "audiophile mastered" version, the latter of which having extended dynamic range not meant to be competitive in the loudness war.

Each version of the album has its own cover with artwork by Russell Mills{{cite web|url=http://nineinchnails.tumblr.com/post/55697135231/each-version-of-hesitation-marks-will-have-its-own|title=nine inch nails|website=nine inch nails|access-date=June 29, 2017}} whose art was previously used 19 years earlier on The Downward Spiral, its accompanying singles, and the double VHS set Closure.

About the cover arts, Mills said:

{{blockquote|This renewed collaboration very quickly suggested massive potential for the strange and the familiar to collide and collude in works that I hoped would encapsulate, by allusion, suggestion, metaphor and association, the conceptual ideas imbued in the album as well as in the undertow of its sonic world. I've tried to make works that obliquely allude to the essence of the subject matter, to its emotional core. I hope that they will invite multiple readings.{{cite magazine |last=Greenwald |first=David |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/2266999/nine-inch-nails-drop-four-covers-for-hesitation-marks |title=Nine Inch Nails Drop Four Covers for 'Hesitation Marks' |magazine=Billboard |date=July 17, 2013 |access-date=July 18, 2013}}}}

Mills also explained that the works explore ideas of "catharsis, of being into dissolution into being, both on a personal and sociological level." Mills said that the works allude to ideas about chaos and order. He also described the artworks as a "cross between the forensic and a pathology of the personal in which only fragments remain, in which minimal clues can suggest events that may have occurred."{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nine-inch-nails-plan-four-different-covers-for-hesitation-marks-20130717 | title=Nine Inch Nails Plan Four Different Covers for 'Hesitation Marks' | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=July 17, 2013 | access-date=July 18, 2013 | author=Blistein, Jon}}

During the creation of the cover arts, Mills used traditional materials such as oils, acrylic paints, varnishes and wires as well as miscellaneous objects which were subject to various chemical processes, including burning, bleaching, calcification and erosion.{{cite web | url=https://consequence.net/2013/07/nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-features-four-different-album-covers/ | title=Nine Inch Nails' Hesitation Marks features four different album covers | work=Consequence of Sound | date=July 17, 2013 | access-date=July 18, 2013 | author=Young, Alex}} Blood was used for standard CD cover and digital cover.{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/news/51566-new-nine-inch-nails-album-will-have-four-different-covers-check-them-out-now/ | title=New Nine Inch Nails Album Will Have Four Different Covers, Check Them Out Now | work=Pitchfork | date=July 17, 2013 | access-date=July 18, 2013 | author=Pelly, Jenn}}

{{main|Twenty Thirteen Tour}}

In February 2013, Reznor announced a tour in support of the album, it began in Summer 2013 and concluded in 2014. The initial line-up was Reznor, Eric Avery, Adrian Belew, Alessandro Cortini, Josh Eustis and Ilan Rubin but Avery and Belew would later leave before the tour began meanwhile Robin Finck was added to the line-up.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1549870/nine-inch-nails-returns-band-announces-2013-14-tour | title=Nine Inch Nails Returns: Band Announces 2013-14 Tour | magazine=Billboard | date=February 25, 2013 | access-date=January 28, 2018 | author=Jason Lipshutz}}{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/nine-inch-nails-60-1266335 | title=Trent Reznor opens up about guitarist Adrian Belew quitting Nine Inch Nails | work=NME | date=June 25, 2013 | access-date=January 28, 2018 | author=Jenny Stevens}}{{cite web | url=http://loudwire.com/robin-finck-rejoins-nine-inch-nails/ | title=Robin Finck Rejoins Nine Inch Nails | work=Loudwire | date=May 17, 2013 | access-date=January 28, 2018 | author=Graham Hartmann}} The band's first show was in July at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. A North American arena leg dubbed "Tension" ran from September until November, the leg added Pino Palladino, Lisa Fischer and Sharlotte Gibson to the line-up.{{cite web | url=http://loudwire.com/nine-inch-nails-2013-north-american-arena-tour-dates/ | title=Nine Inch Nails Announce 2013 North American Arena Tour Dates | work=Loudwire | date=June 6, 2013 | access-date=January 28, 2018 | author=Spencer Kaufman}}{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nine-inch-nails-unveil-new-touring-lineup-97168/ | title=Nine Inch Nails Unveil New Touring Lineup | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=June 6, 2013 | access-date=January 28, 2018 | author=RJ Cubarrubia}} Nine Inch Nails continued the tour as a 4-piece band in 2014 with Reznor, Rubin, Cortini and Finck in the lineup.{{cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2013/12/nine-inch-nails-trent-reznor-ama-2014-tour-lineup/ | title=Nine Inch Nails Will Tour With a New Lineup in 2014 | work=Spin | date=December 5, 2013 | access-date=January 28, 2018 | author=Chris Martins}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.3/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/5794/Nine-Inch-Nails-Hesitation-Marks.aspx|title=Hesitation Marks by Nine Inch Nails reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=December 31, 2019}}

| MC = 77/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/hesitation-marks/nine-inch-nails|title=Reviews for Hesitation Marks by Nine Inch Nails|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=September 3, 2013}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hesitation-marks-mw0002555061|title=Hesitation Marks – Nine Inch Nails|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=May 29, 2019}}

| rev2 = The A.V. Club

| rev2score = B+{{cite web|last=Zaleski|first=Annie|url=https://www.avclub.com/nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-1798177841|title=Nine Inch Nails: Hesitation Marks|work=The A.V. Club|date=September 3, 2013|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531055746/https://music.avclub.com/nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-1798177841|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3score = B+{{cite magazine|last=Anderson|first=Kyle|url=https://ew.com/article/2013/08/30/hesitation-marks-review/|title=Hesitation Marks Review|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=August 30, 2013|access-date=August 30, 2013}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|last=Simpson|first=Dave|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/aug/29/nine-inch-nails-hesitation-review|title=Nine Inch Nails: Hesitation Marks – review|work=The Guardian|date=August 29, 2013|access-date=September 1, 2013}}

| rev5 = Los Angeles Times

| rev5score = {{rating|2.5|4}}{{cite web|last=Roberts|first=Randall|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2013-aug-30-la-et-ms-review-nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-20130830-story.html|title=Review: Nine Inch Nails' musically shimmering 'Hesitation Marks'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=August 30, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2015}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Pattison|first=Louis|url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/nine-inch-nails/14731|title=Nine Inch Nails – 'Hesitation Marks'|work=NME|date=August 29, 2013|access-date=September 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906071114/http://www.nme.com/reviews/nine-inch-nails/14731|archive-date=September 6, 2013|url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 7.0/10{{cite web|last=Berman|first=Stuart|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18443-nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks/|title=Nine Inch Nails: Hesitation Marks|work=Pitchfork|date=September 3, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2013}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Nine Inch Nails: Hesitation Marks|magazine=Q|issue=327|date=October 2013|page=108}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Fricke|first=David|author-link=David Fricke|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/hesitation-marks-20130903|title=Hesitation Marks|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 3, 2013|access-date=September 3, 2013}}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = 9/10{{cite web|last=Weingarten|first=Christopher R.|url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-trent-reznor-columbia-acid/|title=Nine Inch Nails' Rhythmic Jack Move 'Hesitation Marks' Makes It Rain Acid Beats|work=Spin|date=August 30, 2013|access-date=September 1, 2013}}

}}

Critical reception for the album has been generally positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average of 77, based on 40 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". AllMusic critic and senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine stated: "Hesitation Marks makes it quite clear that Trent Reznor is no longer an angry young man but rather a restless, inventive artist who is at peace with himself, and the result is a record that provides real, lasting nourishment."

Jason Pettigrew of Alternative Press described the album as "both business as usual and remarkably prescient."{{cite web|last=Pettigrew|first=Jason|title=Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks|url=http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/nine_inch_nails_hesitation_marks|work=Alternative Press|access-date=August 29, 2013}} Dave Simpson of The Guardian wrote: "Hesitation Marks is a very different beast to an intense industrial classic such as 1994's The Downward Spiral, but the darkness remains in lyrics that address self-doubt and the struggle for identity with honesty and candour." Writing for Kerrang!, George Garner inferred that "Hesitation Marks would provide Nine Inch Nails with a future every bit as promising as their illustrious past."{{cite magazine |last=Garner |first=George |title=Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks |magazine=Kerrang! |issue=1481 |location=London |date=August 28, 2013 |page=52 |issn=0262-6624}} NME critic Louis Pattison stated: "This is the sound of a cleaner, smoother Nine Inch Nails, one that delights in complexities of rhythm more than caustic blasts of rage."

Stuart Berman of Pitchfork wrote that the album is "much more in tune with the spartan grooves of the xx and the elastic electro of the Knife than his [Reznor's] usual arena-rattling influences." David Fricke of Rolling Stone described the album as "one of Reznor's best", stating that "it combines the textural exploration on the 1999 double CD The Fragile, and the tighter fury of his 1994 master blast, The Downward Spiral." Christopher R. Weingarten of Spin regarded the album as "the most important artistic statement from NIN leader Trent Reznor since the late '90s." Nevertheless, Philip Cosores was mixed in his assessment of the album and thought: "For the album itself, the good ideas seem to have been wasted on trying to revive something that killed itself years ago."{{cite web|last=Cosores|first=Philip|title=Album Review: Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks|url=https://consequence.net/2013/08/album-review-nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks/|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=September 1, 2013|date=August 30, 2013}}

"I was expecting Trent to come back angrier than ever," remarked Gary Numan. "He did something more unexpected than that. He comes back with something which doesn't seem that angry at all. Sonically, it's phenomenal. The quality of the sound and the recording are just absolutely amazing – so beautifully done… That's really brave: to come back with all those expectations and do something different, and make it work."{{cite magazine|title=The best thing I've heard all year|magazine=Mojo|date=January 2014|issue=242|page=73}}

The audiophile mastered version of the album has been the subject of discussion on several audio-related websites which claim that its "audiophile" credentials are debatable since its dynamic range is not much higher than the standard version due to audio compression.{{cite web|url=http://productionadvice.co.uk/nine-inch-nails/|title=Nine Inch Nails' "Hesitation Marks" – Audiophile, or AudioFAIL ?|publisher=Production Advice|date=September 4, 2013|access-date=September 8, 2013| author=Shepherd, Ian}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metal-fi.com/terrible-lie/|title=Terrible Lie|publisher=Metal-Fi|date=September 4, 2013|access-date=September 8, 2013}}

Hesitation Marks was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5819883/grammy-awards-2014-full-nominations-list-complete-nominees|title=Grammy Awards 2014: Full Nominations List|website=billboard.com|access-date=June 29, 2017}} Rolling Stone,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2013-20131202/nine-inch-nails-hesitation-marks-19691231|title=50 Best Albums of 2013|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 2, 2013 |access-date=June 29, 2017}} Stereogum,{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1567541/the-50-best-albums-of-2013/list/attachment/nin_hesitationmarks/|title=Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks (Polydor) Stereogum|website=Stereogum|date=November 15, 2013 |access-date=June 29, 2017}} and Spin included it in their best albums of 2013 lists.

Hesitation Marks debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 with 107,000 copies sold in its first week, Nine Inch Nails' fifth top five album.{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5687364/ariana-grande-debuts-at-no-1-on-billboard-200 |title=Ariana Grande Debuts At No. 1 On Billboard 200 |magazine=Billboard |date=September 11, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2013}} As of December 2013, the album had sold 187,000 copies.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5819876/nine-inch-nails-split-up-with-manager |title=Nine Inch Nails Split Up With Manager |magazine=Billboard |date=December 6, 2013 |access-date=December 7, 2013}} In Canada, the album debuted atop the Canadian Albums Chart with first-week sales of 12,000 copies, becoming the band's first number-one album on the chart.{{cite web|last=Tuch |first=Paul |url=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67270545/Canadian%20Newsletters/nielsen_music_canadian_update_Sep11_2013.pdf |title=Nine Inch Nails Score First Number One Album |publisher=Nielsen Company |date=September 11, 2013 |access-date=September 12, 2013 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The album was certified Gold in Canada on September 26, 2013. The album sold 12,286 copies to enter the UK Albums Chart at number two, earning the band its highest-charting album yet in the United Kingdom.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Alan |url=http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/official-charts-analysis-the-1975-see-debut-album-land-at-no-1-after-31k-sales/055990 |title=Official Charts Analysis: The 1975 see debut album land at No.1 after 31k sales |work=Music Week |date=September 9, 2013 |access-date=September 14, 2013 |url-access=subscription }}

The full track listing was announced on June 21, 2013, along with the credits.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nine-inch-nails-unveil-hesitation-marks-tracklist-and-credits-20130621 | title=Nine Inch Nails Unveil 'Hesitation Marks' Tracklist and Credits | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=June 21, 2013 | access-date=June 21, 2013 | author=Blisten, Jon}} The deluxe edition features three additional remixes and an interview with Trent Reznor. The interview also includes three untitled demo songs from the album sessions, along with a demo sample of the song "All Time Low":{{cite web | url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/hesitation-marks-deluxe-version/655150306 | title=Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks deluxe edition on Itunes | website=iTunes | access-date=June 9, 2013}}

All songs written by Trent Reznor, except "The Eater of Dreams" by Trent Reznor and Alessandro Cortini. "While I'm Still Here" contains a lyrical interpolation from "Weary Blues from Waitin{{' "}} written and performed by Hank Williams.

{{Track listing

| title1 = The Eater of Dreams

| length1 = 0:52

| title2 = Copy of a

| length2 = 5:23

| title3 = Came Back Haunted

| length3 = 5:17

| title4 = Find My Way

| length4 = 5:16

| title5 = All Time Low

| length5 = 6:18

| title6 = Disappointed

| length6 = 5:44

| title7 = Everything

| length7 = 3:20

| title8 = Satellite

| length8 = 5:03

| title9 = Various Methods of Escape

| length9 = 5:01

| title10 = Running

| length10 = 4:08

| title11 = I Would for You

| length11 = 4:33

| title12 = In Two

| length12 = 5:32

| title13 = While I'm Still Here

| length13 = 4:03

| title14 = Black Noise

| length14 = 1:29

| total_length = 61:50

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus track

| extra_column =

| total_length =

| title15 = Everything

| note15 = Autolux Remix

| length15 =4:29

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks

| extra_column =

| total_length =

| title15 = Find My Way

| note15 = Oneohtrix Point Never Remix

| length15 = 4:47

| title16 = All Time Low

| note16 = Todd Rundgren Remix

| length16 = 5:49

| title17 = While I'm Still Here

| note17 = Breyer P-Orridge 'Howler' Remix

| length17 = 7:03

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes Store bonus track

| extra_column =

| title18 = Trent Reznor in Conversation With...

| length18 = 41:58

}}

• Trent Reznor – vocals, electronics, guitar {{small|(tracks 2–14)}}, percussion {{small|(tracks 2–10, 12, 13)}}, bass {{small|(tracks 3–13)}}, wurlitzer {{small|(track 5)}}, dulcitone {{small|(track 9)}}, wheelharp {{small|(track 10)}}, piano {{small|(track 11)}}, saxophone {{small|(track 13)}}, production

• Alessandro Cortini – electronics {{small|(tracks 1, 3)}}
• Pino Palladino – bass {{small|(tracks 2, 5, 9, 13)}}
• Ilan Rubin – toms {{small|(tracks 2, 3)}}, live drums {{small|(track 11)}}
• Lindsey Buckingham – guitars {{small|(tracks 2, 12, 13)}}
• Adrian Belew – guitars {{small|(tracks 4, 5, 9, 12)}}, electronics {{small|(track 7)}}, backing vocals {{small|(tracks 7, 11)}}
• Eugene Goreshter – strings {{small|(track 6)}}, electronics {{small|(tracks 6, 11, 12)}}, violin {{small|(track 11)}}, bass {{small|(track 12)}}
• Daniel Rowland – electronics, guitar, additional sound design {{small|(track 7)}}
• Joshua Eustis – backing vocals {{small|(track 11)}}

• Atticus Ross – production, engineering
• Alan Moulder – production, mixing, engineering
• Tom Baker – mastering
• Russell Mills – artwork
• Rob Sheridan – art direction
• Jun Murakawa – engineering
• Dustin Mosley – engineering
• Ghian Wright – engineering
• Michael Patterson – engineering, mixing {{small|(track 1)}}
• Joe Barresi – drum recording
• Mike Fasano – drum technician

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Nine Inch Nails|title=Hesitation Marks|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2013|date=September 26, 2013|refname="MC"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Nine Inch Nails|title=Hesitation Marks|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2013|certyear=2013|id=201337|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922071720/http://www.artistas-espectaculos.com/noticias/en/topafp.htm|archivedate=22 September 2013|access-date=July 13, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Nine Inch Nails}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesitation Marks}}

Category:2013 albums

Category:Albums produced by Alan Moulder

Category:Albums produced by Atticus Ross

Category:Albums produced by Trent Reznor

Category:Columbia Records albums

Category:Nine Inch Nails albums

Category:The Null Corporation albums

Category:Polydor Records albums

Category:Albums with cover art by Russell Mills (artist)