Nine Inch Nails "Broken"

 
Nine Inch Nails "Broken" 8/10

This EP is a nuclear bomb.  It follows the debut NIN album, "Pretty Hate Machine" and packs all of the loud guitars and left over industrial rock tropes that were left on the cutting room floor from the first record.  Whereas "Pretty Hate Machine" did add a few doses of metal and heavy guitar lines, this record really is the heaviest piece Trent Reznor has done before or since.

Fresh off of the tour, Trent wanted to get that sound he got with his live band.  So, we get big riffs, angry laments, and a record that hits the gas and never lets up.  This definitely showed Trent Reznor's angrier side.

A thing of urban legends (which happens to actually be true) is that there is an accompanying film to this EP.  It does exist.  If you do manage to catch a torrent of it before it is taken down, download it.  If not, you will be relegated to finding a 6th generation VHS copy.  Essentially,  there is a music video for every song on the EP (except for "Last" and the "hidden tracks") and interspersed between videos is a very realistic mock snuff film.  It is not for the feign of heart.

1) "Pinion"

This song is basically just a big fade in tk set the stage.  Think "Eruption" before "You Really Got Me" on "Van Halen I."  It sets the tone, and leads us up into...

2) "Wish"

This song is pure rage.  It sounds like a one-sided fight, where Trent is doing all of the talking.  Trent Reznor once said he wanted "born, said 'fist fuck,' died" written on his tombstone.  

3) "Last"

I don't know why this is the most overlooked track from the album.  It has a great groove, great guitar line, could even be used as a dance track.  It sounds like the most snarling, piss and vinegar break up song ever.

4) "Help Me I Am in Hell"

A quick and quiet instrumental interlude.  This gives you about a minute to breath before the pedal hits the floor again.

5) "Happiness in Slavery"

This is probably the most convincing and metal laden ode to Skinny Puppy Trent Reznor ever did.  Sure, he basically ripped their song "Dig It" to create "Down in It," but this sounds like a more original homage.  Weird drum machine parts, and a sound collage that is glued back together with a bass guitar *just* before it seems like it will come apart at the seems.

6) "Gave Up"

An anthem for the angry teens of the early 90s.  This song feels like it oozes with Hot Topic t shirt quote sensibilities in the best ways.

...."hidden" tracks

7) "Physical"

Here we get a heavier take on an Adam Ant song.  It is a song that playfully pulls back on an over eager lover.  A more true to form cover would have probably fit better on "Pretry Hate Machine," but this heavier send up is likely more interesting.

8) "Suck"

Sort of a cover.  Trent Reznor did this song with Martin Atkins in Martin's supergroup Pigface.  The spirit of Pigface is that whoever wants to join is welcome to come in and out of the band, with Martin being the only consistent member.  So, if the song was originally released as a Pigface track featuring Trent and Martin, and this version features them as well, is it really a cover or a redux?  Either way, it is a solid closer to ease us all out of the sonic force of this record. 

With this album, Trent Reznor proved his versatility both on and off the stage.  One of the most convincing one man band releases ever created.  It is bare bones, heavy, and straight to the point.  It feels like it was designed to full big arenas with loud guitars.