For the third time in the last six months NIN frontman Trent Reznor has taken a swipe at Universal Music Australia, condemning the label for its high priced CDs.

At the NIN’s Sydney concert at the Hordern Pavilion, Reznor labelled the record label “greedy fucking assholes” and suggested fans steal his new CD.

“Steal it. Steal away. Steal, steal and steal some more and give it to all your friends and keep on stealing,” offered an empassioned Reznor. “Because one way or another these mother fuckers will get it through their head that they’re ripping people off and that’s not right.”

Currently NIN’s latest release, Year Zero sells for more than $30 – a price Reznor says is far higher than albums from other artists.

In his previous visit to Australia earlier this year, Reznor lambasted Universal on his website complaining that the label was selling his album for $34.95 compared with an Avril Lavigne CD selling for $21.99. When he questioned the label about it a Universal Music rep reportedly said that the price was so high because Nine Inch Nails fans would buy the record regardless of its cost.

Earlier this month Reznor urged fans at Beijing Pop festival to download his band’s CDs rather than purchase pirated copies.

According to Reznor NIN will make one further CD with Universal to fulfil contractual agreements then they will sell their CDs directly to fans via the internet for possibly as little as $4 an album.