EP Review: Nine Inch Nails – Broken

Nine Inch Nails released the Broken EP in 1992.  In comparison to the not-exactly-easy-listening Pretty Hate Machine, this is an outright aural assault.  After the barely there instrumental Pinion, the insistent beats that open Wish lay the path for bludgeoning riffs that slay all before them as Trent Reznor howls his angsty lyrics.

The rockisms of Last give way to the moody instrumental piece Help Me I Am In Hell which creates a dystopian atmosphere.  This mood is shattered by the distorted torment of Happiness In Slavery which pounds and pounds for five minutes before the breakneck beats and anguished shouting of Gave Up.

There are 2 further ‘bonus tracks’, an industrial version of Adam Ant’s Physical, and a Pigface (?) cover – Suck, both of which dial the distortion down a little but are still riff-heavy tracks.  Suck sees a slight return to the electro-style of their debut album.

It’s the sound of a man screaming and raging against the world.  Great, if you’re in that kind of mood.