Nine Inch Nails’ Score is the Best Part of the Latest ‘Tron: Ares’ Trailer

Disney’s Tron: Ares is gearing up to rebootRebootA fresh start of an existing film, series, or franchise that retells its story with new casting, a modern look, or a different tone, often ignoring earlier continuity. Reboots chaseGo to Reboot Glossary the franchise’s legacy with a visceral punch, marking the third instalment since 2010’s Tron: Legacy. But beyond the neon-lit battles and digital warfare, what truly fuels this cybernetic saga is its music, a tradition upheld once again, this time by industrial titans Nine Inch Nails, who helm the score.

The Tron franchise was defined by its sonic identity as much as its visuals. In 1982, Wendy Carlos’ pioneering Moog synthesizer compositions gave the original film its otherworldly atmosphere, blending orchestral grandeur with early electronic experimentation. Then, in 2010, Daft Punk redefined the soundscape with Tron: Legacy, merging their signature French-house beats with cinematic swells that paid homage to Carlos while pushing electronic music into new, expansive territory. Their score became the film’s heartbeat, turning light-cycle duels into symphonic clashes.

Now, Nine Inch Nails are stepping into the Grid, bringing their signature industrial abrasion. Known for their harsh percussion, distorted synths, and layered, mechanized soundscapes, their involvement suggests a darker, grittier evolution for Tron. The trailer alone hints at this shift, with its pulsing, aggressive rhythms that feel more like a warning than an invitation. Industrial music’s raw, unpolished energy could redefine what a Tron soundtrack means, which is no longer just sleek futurism but something more visceral and dangerous.

What makes the music of Tron so enduring isn’t just its innovation, but its inseparability from the world it builds. Carlos’ score was the Grid in 1982. Daft Punk’s synths were the digital frontier in 2010. Now, Nine Inch Nails’ sonic assault might just be the sound of the Grid fighting back. If the trailer is any indication, we’re not just returning to the digital world — we’re hearing it rev up across the digital horizon.

Elijah Pareño

Music Writer

Elijah Pareño is the Music Writer of Rolling Stone Philippines. He writes daily music news, features, reviews, and radar stories of the website.

In addition to music writing, Pareño has written about the behind-the-scenes writers and producers from the P-pop scene, interviewed hip-hop artists like Shanti Dope and Zae, and featured up-and-coming artists for the Music Forecast 2026. Aside from music, Pareño has written about the state of affairs that affects pop culture. He wrote a movie review for 'Mortal Kombat II' and reported and interviewed photojournalists at the September 21, 2025 protests in Luneta and Mendiola.

Prior to working in Rolling Stone Philippines, Pareño was a freelance writer for 3 years and independent live music promoter

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• In This Article:
• Nine Inch Nails
• Tron