NIN t-shirts were in abundance in the aisles and hall of theAccor Arena in Paris on Monday, July 7, 2025. The famous American band, founded by the talented Trent Reznor, was in France for its " Peel it Back Tour". Seven years after their concert at the Olympia, fans couldn't wait to see Nine Inch Nails live again in the French capital. In fact, the show was sold out. It has to be said that NIN know how to electrify crowds and make their concerts as ebullient as they are overexcited. We're going to experience this for ourselves later in the evening.
But first, let's get down to the opening act. When we enter the Accor Arena just after 8pm, the pit is packed to the rafters. We discover three very distinct stages: the main stage at the back of the hall, a small square stage in the middle of the pit, and the last stage, just behind the sound and light console. It's here that electro artist Boys Noize has been busy behind his turntables for the past few minutes. A surprising opening act, some might say. Well, not really. Because Alexander Ridha, the German DJ and producer behind Boys Noize, has produced a special mix of the soundtrack to Luca Guadagnino's film"Challengers". Music composed by... Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, for which they won a Golden Globe in 2025. In the huge hall of theAccor Arena, the German artist played a series of powerful and brutal mixes, creating a few wiggles in the pit and in the stands.
After an hour (a little too long for our taste), Boys Noize stopped playing, giving way to Nine Inch Nails at 9pm, without an intermission. And then, surprise, it's on the B-Stage, the famous little stage in the middle of the pit, that Trent Reznor starts the show, solo behind his keyboard. The set got off to a gentle start with the sublime " Right Where It Belongs ". Rather daring to begin with, but profoundly beautiful. The American singer-songwriter and producer is then joined by two musicians, including Atticus Ross, to perform " Ruiner " in a rather acoustic version. Again, it's a real gut-buster. A third musician joins them on the small stage for " Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) ". Trent Reznor then drops his keyboard, grabs his microphone and starts gesticulating and jumping around in front of euphoric fans, happy to see the artist up close.
As Trent Reznor sings " Nothing Can Stop Me Now " one last time, the lights go down and the drum beats echo powerfully through the hall. Images of the drummer in action are projected onto a curtain hiding the main stage. The crowd's roars become even more insistent, and the concert takes on a new dimension. The curtain gradually lifts, revealing NIN behind a tulle veil. On stage, the 5 musicians are accompanied by a cameraman, filming what's going on all the time. The images are then retransmitted live onto the transparent veil. The lights, mainly in white, are ultra-polished. In short, it's a visual slap in the face. Sound quality is also top-notch from the stands. A nice surprise, as this is not always the case in this Parisian venue.
NIN 's industrial metal echoes loudly throughout the venue, getting the crowd tapping their feet and shaking their heads. The beats are hard-hitting, the riffs heavy. As for Trent Reznor, he impresses. Dressed all in black, the artist strings tracks together with disconcerting ease, bewitching the audience with his voice, powerful and fiery one moment, soft the next. The evening's hits included " March of the Pigs ", " Reptile ", " Gave Up " and " Copy of A ", a track in which Trent Reznor 's shadow is repeatedly projected onto the tulle veil. The illusion is perfect.
And the hyperactive Trent Reznor still has a few surprises in store for his fans. He once again joins the B-Stage in the pit for a series of four tracks, including the excellent " Vessel " and " Came Back Haunted ". For the occasion, Trent Zenor is surrounded byAtticus Ross and Boys Noize. The versions are more electro, but oh so striking and catchy, while the white and red lights amplify the intensity of the moment.
It's just past 10pm when Nine Inch Nails begin the fourth and final part of their incredible show. Back on the main stage. The famous veil has disappeared, revealing the impressive lighting installation. The 5 musicians begin to play the powerful " 1,000,000 " in front of a crowd even more excited than before. The temperature goes up a notch. And that's far from the end of it, as NIN go on to play a number of other songs that have made their reputation, including the unmissable " Closer ", the unmistakable " The Perfect Drug " and, of course, the thunderous " Head Like a Hole ", giving rise to a number of slams and pogos.
Trent Reznor chose to end his memorable set of around 1h40 with a rendition of the sublime and long-awaited " Hurt ", popularized in 2002 by the legendary Johnny Cash. Unsurprisingly, the phones in the room were ringing off the hook to immortalize the moment. One by one, the members of NIN leave the stage to the fresh applause of the audience. As the curtain comes down, revealing the three initials of NIN, the song " Laura Palmer's Theme ", from the"Twin Peaks" soundtrack, echoes through the room, paying homage to David Lynch, with whom Trent Reznor had the good fortune to collaborate.
Part 1: B-Stage
Part 2: Unpeeled Main Stage
Part 3: B-Stage with Boys Noize
Part 4: Peeled Main Stage
Location
Accor Arena
8 Boulevard de Bercy
75012 Paris 12
Access
Metro line 6 or 14 "Bercy" station
Official website
www.accorhotelsarena.com























