Last week, Trent Reznor announced that Ilan Rubin would be taking over drum duties for Josh Freese on NIN’s 2009 tour.

Now, I had never heard of Ilan Rubin, and I think many of us NIN fans were expecting one of the usual rotating industrial or hard rock drummers that may be between jobs. So, in checking out the worthiness of this new guy who would be banging away to some of my most favorite songs behind my biggest music idol, I’ll have to say I like what I’m hearing.

At 20 years old, it’s scary to think that Ilan was born at the same time that Purest Feeling was. But irregardless of age, Ilan has similarities to Reznor that will make him a good fit for NIN.

Take his recently released solo album, Coup, under the name The New Regime. He wrote and played every instrument and vocal on the album….a very Reznor-like undertaking. The sound is definitely genre bending- touching on industrial and hard rock while maintaining pure Chris Corner-like vocals.

I can’t wait to see the kid in action…but until then I will be listening to The New Regime.