Pitchfork has confirmed that in an email sent along to fans of Nine Inch Nails, head-honcho Trent Reznor revealed that Not the Actual Events is in fact the first EP in a three-part series. In the email, he teases fans by asking, “DID YOU KNOW NOT THE ACTUAL EVENTS WAS THE FIRST PART OF A TRILOGY OF RELATED EPS” and outlining their release schedule. Each mini-album will come out between six and eight months from the previous record. Reznor’s email states the EP will come before their first shows, which begin with a headlining spot at FYF Fest in Los Angeles on July 23. The band will also be headlining at Riot Fest.

Back in early February of 2017, Reznor said in an interview that Nine Inch Nails was working on new stuff and were planning on releasing it as soon as it was ready – however he stipulated that he didn’t think it would be this year (2017).

The statement, which was posted to Reddit here, includes other information, including an apology to fans for the delayed release schedule, blaming it on a change in the band’s fulfillment partner. He describes a frustrating situation with previous partner Firebrand, assuring fans that there’s been “an extraordinary amount of screaming on my end” as the group transitions to Sandbag. He further apologizes for the physical release delays associated with Not the Actual Events, Deviations and the band’s reissues. The updated timeline is that Deviations will ship in June and all other titles in August.

More information on this will be coming from the band shortly, so Nine Inch Nails fans should get ready for a 2017 that is filled with new music from Reznor and company.

The physical component of Not the Actual Events left fans with a bit of a dirty surprise. The packaging was filled with some translucent projector sheets and a charcoal powder that got all over the place

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat