Ava Monroe
Broken, also known as Halo 5, is the first extended play (EP) and second major release by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. It was released on September 22, 1992, by Nothing, TVT, and Interscope Records. The EP consists of eight songs, with most CD copies containing 91 silent, one-second tracks (numbered 7 through 97) followed by two bonus songs. The total runtime of the EP is 33 minutes. Broken was produced by frontman Trent Reznor and Flood and helped propel Nine Inch Nails into mainstream popularity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release date | 22 September 1992 |
| Format | CD, vinyl, cassette |
| Genre | Industrial rock |
| Record label | Nothing, TVT, Interscope Records |
| Producer | Trent Reznor, Flood |
| Number of songs | 8 |
| Run time | 33 minutes |
| Track listing | 1. "Pinion" 2. "Wish" 3. "Last" 4. "Help Me I Am In Hell" 5. "Happiness In Slavery" 6. "Gave Up" 7. "Physical" 8. "Suck" |
| Certifications | Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) |
| Awards | Two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance ("Wish" and "Happiness in Slavery") |
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What You'll Learn
The EP's release and reception
Broken, the first extended play (EP) and second major release by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, was released on September 22, 1992, by Nothing, TVT, and Interscope Records. The EP was produced by frontman Trent Reznor and Flood, and recorded in secret to avoid interference from TVT Records. Broken consists entirely of new material, replacing the synth-pop style of the band's 1989 debut album Pretty Hate Machine with a considerably heavier sound. The lyrical themes of Broken are in line with those of the band's succeeding work, with lyrics that critique society and explore themes such as angst, control, and dependency struggles.
The release of Broken was promoted with music videos for five of the eight songs, which were censored due to their violent content. These music videos, along with a short film of the same name that was leaked as a bootleg, contributed to the build-up of anticipation for the EP. Despite the censorship issues, Broken received positive reviews from critics, who praised the raw and aggressive nature of the music. The EP reached number seven on the US Billboard 200 and eventually received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The songs on Broken have been described as musically brutal, with intense and abrasive sounds that set it apart from the band's previous work. The EP has been hailed as a pure expression of emotion, with each song considered awesome by fans. "Wish," the second promotional single from the EP, includes explicit lyrics that reflect the intense nature of the music. Another song, "Pinion," is one of the shortest Nine Inch Nails songs, clocking in at roughly one minute. It features distorted guitar power chords and atmospheric loops, including a reversed sample of David Bowie's "It's No Game."
The recording of Broken helped propel Nine Inch Nails into mainstream popularity, and the EP received two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance for the songs "Wish" and "Happiness in Slavery". The success of Broken firmly established Reznor's reputation and set the stage for his subsequent masterwork, The Downward Spiral, released in 1994. The sound on the EP was influenced by the band's 1991 live band, and Reznor has credited them for their impact on the EP's sound.
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Tracklist
Broken is the first extended play (EP) and second major release by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. It was released on 22 September 1992, by Nothing, TVT, and Interscope Records. The EP consists of eight songs, with the first six being original tracks and the last two being covers. The CD version of the EP includes 91 silent, one-second tracks before the final two songs, "Physical" and "Suck". Here is the tracklist for the Broken EP:
- "Pinion" (1:02)
- "Wish" (3:46)
- "Last" (4:44)
- "Help Me I Am In Hell" (1:56)
- "Happiness In Slavery" (5:21)
- "Gave Up" (4:08)
- "Physical"
- "Suck"
"Physical" is a cover of the Adam and the Ants song "Physical (You're So)", originally released on the Kings of the Wild Frontier LP. "Suck" was written by Pigface, whose ever-changing lineup once included Reznor. The original version of "Suck" appeared on Pigface's Gub album a year before the release of Broken.
The Broken EP helped propel Nine Inch Nails into mainstream popularity and received positive reviews from critics. It reached number seven on the US Billboard 200 and eventually received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The songs "Wish" and "Happiness in Slavery" also won Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance.
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Recording and production
The recording and production of Nine Inch Nails' "Broken" EP took place in 1992, marking the band's second major release after their 1989 debut album "Pretty Hate Machine". The EP was produced by frontman Trent Reznor, who was the sole official member of the band until Atticus Ross joined in 2016, and Flood, who co-produced several tracks.
Reznor recorded the EP in secret across six different studios to avoid interference from TVT Records, with whom he had disagreements regarding the promotion of "Pretty Hate Machine". The recording locations included Hell (New Orleans, Louisiana), Royal Recorders (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin), South Beach Studios (Miami, Florida), Village Recorder and A&M Studios (Los Angeles, California), and Le Pig (Beverly Hills, California).
Le Pig, previously known as 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, was the same location where actress Sharon Tate was murdered by the Manson family in 1969. Reznor rented the property for $11,000 per month and renamed it "Le Pig" to set up his recording studio.
Reznor's intention for "Broken" was to create an abrasive listening experience that challenged the listener. He aimed for a sound that was heavier and more distorted than its predecessor, drawing influences from industrial metal bands such as Ministry and Godflesh. Reznor achieved this by utilising louder mixes and distortion on every instrument, including John Lennon's Mellotron MKII, which is particularly notable on the track "Gave Up".
Reznor also experimented with unique guitar textures, combining multiple layers of sound processed through an old Zoom pedal and Turbosynth to create something unlike any real-world sound. This approach extended to the EP's promotional singles, "Wish" and "Pinion", which featured explicit lyrics and violent content that resulted in censorship.
"Broken" was released on September 22, 1992, by Nothing, TVT, and Interscope Records, marking Nine Inch Nails' major label debut. It consisted of eight songs with a total runtime of approximately 31 minutes. The EP received positive reviews from critics, reaching number seven on the US Billboard 200 and eventually achieving platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
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Censorship and leaks
Reznor had clashed with TVT over their attempts to exert creative control and restrict his intellectual property. He also objected to the label's classification of Nine Inch Nails as a synth-pop band. This feud led Reznor to use various monikers for the production of his next studio release, recorded under a different band name to avoid confiscation by TVT.
Broken was released on September 22, 1992, by Nothing, TVT, and Interscope Records. The record was promoted with music videos for five of the eight songs, which were censored due to their violent content. A short film of the same name, directed by Peter Christopherson, was also created but never officially released. The film, which is about 20 minutes long, is structured to look like a discarded found object, with professional footage shifting to handheld VHS footage. It features disturbing images, including a person being drowned, a performance artist being tortured, and Reznor and the band performing in a cage surrounded by lunatic fans. Due to its explicit nature, the film was never aired on TV but was traded as a bootleg and later leaked online.
Reznor himself contributed to the leaking of the film. He gave VHS copies to select friends, each with a unique dropout, so he could identify the source if it was made public. Gibby Haynes was later implicated as the person responsible for the most prominent leak. This copy was traded on VHS tapes and later encoded in MPEG and AVI formats, distributed through peer-to-peer networks and Nine Inch Nails fan websites.
Nine Inch Nails have faced censorship on other occasions. For example, Apple prohibited the band's iPhone app because of content issues, and their video for "Closer" featured classic "Scene Missing" place-cards.
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Awards and accolades
The Broken EP by Nine Inch Nails, released in 1992, comprises six songs with a total runtime of 23 minutes and 16 seconds. It has received widespread critical acclaim and has been recognized with several awards and nominations.
The EP's lead single, "Happiness in Slavery," won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1992. The song's aggressive industrial sound and controversial lyrics pushed the boundaries of mainstream music at the time, and the Grammy win solidified the band's place in the industry. The award recognized the band's innovative use of sampling, programming, and aggressive instrumentation, showcasing their unique style within the metal genre.
Broken itself was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album in the same year. This nomination highlighted the EP's impact on alternative music, showcasing its blend of industrial, metal, and alternative rock styles. The nomination recognized the EP's overall artistic merit, including its production, songwriting, and performance, further cementing its critical acclaim.
In addition to Grammy recognition, the EP also garnered several industry awards. The music video for "Wish," another popular track from the EP, won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Special Effects in 1993. The video's groundbreaking use of visual effects and its intense, disturbing imagery left a lasting impact on viewers and the music industry. This award celebrated the band's commitment to pushing visual boundaries and their collaboration with renowned director Peter Christopherson.
The EP also received recognition from the Kerrang! Awards, winning the Kerrang! Award for Best Single in 1992. This award specifically acknowledged the impact of "Happiness in Slavery" as a stand-alone track, highlighting its intense and provocative nature. The win solidified the song's popularity within the metal and alternative community, and it remains a staple in Nine Inch Nails' live performances to this day.
Furthermore, the EP received additional accolades from the press and music critics. Several publications, including Rolling Stone and Spin, praised the release, with Spin including it in their list of "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s." The EP's influence extended beyond its initial release, with many publications recognizing its impact on subsequent industrial and alternative music releases.
The Broken EP by Nine Inch Nails has undoubtedly earned its place in music history, with its awards and nominations celebrating its artistic merit, innovative sound, and lasting impact on the alternative music landscape. These accolades continue to affirm the EP's cultural significance and its influence on subsequent generations of musicians and music fans.
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