Beginning immediately with Dave Grohl’s quick drumming, the song is differentiated as the only studio NIN song featuring prominent double bass technique. Joined by panning noise loops, a distorted guitar riff and echoing synthesizers, Reznor delivers each verse in yells, a delay effect bouncing his voice throughout the mix.

The chorus opens up considerably, simplifying the drum rhythm and featuring loud, distorted bass frequencies. The bridge maintains the quick intensity of the verses but builds up using a new bassline and the repeated mantra, “Remember where you came from. Remember what you are.”

The final chorus is even louder than the first two, culminating in a wah guitar ending that gives way to quiet synthesizer chords accompanying the chorus piano line. The end of the last musical phrase segues into The Collector.