Broken

by

Nine Inch Nails

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When Nine Inch Nail's debut album "Pretty Hate Machine" (1989) was first released, it was greeted with little fanfare or commotion. Over time, however, through word-of-mouth, the album caught on. In the early 90s it became an underground and college favorite. Through constant touring and the emergence of the popularity of alternative rock in the early 90s, Nine Inch Nails started to take off. While fans eagerly awaited Trent Reznor's proper follow-up, they eagerly devoured the stop-gap EP "Broken" (1992).

While "Pretty Hate Machine" went for straight-forward industrial beats, "Broken" is far heavier, more aggressive, with more guitars. While the club/techno crowd may have been more receptive to the debut, "Broken" is an EP that would just as likely appeal to metal fans. Equal parts metal and industrial beats, "Broken" can be seen as a prelude, or a sneak preview of what Reznor would unveil two years later with his masterpiece "The Downward Spiral" (1994).

Clocking in slightly past the half-hour mark, with eight songs (two tracks are hidden, two are instrumentals) "Broken" is pretty short. But the EP is so angry, so aggressive, with no reprieve; the shortness in length probably works for the best.

"Broken" features the NIN classics and concert staples, "Wish," "Gave Up," and (the hidden track) "Suck." The lesser known "Last," "Happiness in Slavery," and a cover of Adam Ant's "Physical" (also hidden) are no less memorable. Instrumentals "pinion" and "Help me I am in Hell" help round out the CD.

Back in 1992 when CDs were relatively new to consumers, having ninety-one silent, second-long tracks separate the final two songs from the first six may have been cool and inventive. Now, however, it seems kind of pointless. Still, it's no big deal.

If you are a fan of NIN, "Broken" is just as essential to own as any of the studio albums.

While 1992's "Broken" is easily the most aggressive NIN album to date (that being early-mid 2005), it lacks the presence and structure that really carry the full lengths, namely "The Downward Spiral" and "The Fragile". However, this is not to say that "Broken" is a poor album, but in comparison to its predecessor (the synth-pop-rock opus "Pretty Hate Machine" and its successor ("The Downward Spiral"), "Broken" seems to fall on its face a bit.

Pinion opens the album with a decent buildup, consisting of about 40 second of one guitar riff getting louder. Not bad, keep in mind though, of the 8 tracks on this EP, this is one of them. Wish is much better, with Reznor's advanced lyrics shining through, easily surpassing those of "Pretty Hate Machine" (who else cringes every time he daintily sings "rain rain, go away" on Down in It?). Some decent guitar work here, nice to see that Reznor notices that the addition of a guitar makes an album somewhat more aggressive ;-). Last is a much stronger piece, commanding the listener's attention with a powerful lead in riff, followed by other powerful guitar parts, namely the post-chorus single string blitz.

Here, things go downhill for a bit. There is Help Me I am In Hell, which is basically another throw away track (not bad, but not really enjoyable) and Happiness in Slavery, the ultimate gothic-industrial anthem. Ugly and commanding, this track doesn't really do it for me, especially with the power of Last and Wish still ringing in my ears. Luckily, the album picks up with its best track, the enormous Gave Up. Depressing lyrics abound, the track is carried by an incredible chorus riff after some electronic drums steady the verse into it. A real headbanger and also a sing-along, Gave Up takes the cake.

After about 92 tracks of silence, Physical and Suck come in, one being a cover, and nothing special or memorable at all. Suck is a bit better, but more stuck in the "Pretty Hate Machine" era, and not really fitting well on the album, albeit it is a good track.

"Broken" is a good album, but if you're new to NIN, do yourself a favour and check out "The Downward Spiral" first. If tracks like March of the Pigs, Heresy and Big Man with a Gun appeal to you, this just might be your calling.