Broken

: This article discusses the album. For information on the film based on it, see Broken (movie).

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Broken (also known as Halo 5) is an EP by Nine Inch Nails released in 1992. Broken is the fifth official Nine Inch Nails release. Although it is an EP, it is usually considered to be the band's second major release because it consists of new material. It was preceded by Pretty Hate Machine and is followed by The Downward Spiral.

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Released in the autumn of 1992 on the heels of a major disagreement between Trent Reznor and his label, TVT Records, Broken was a major departure from Pretty Hate Machine. Trent said that during the long, arduous tour for his debut album, the songs became more aggressive when played by a band -- compared to when he created them in a studio -- and that things often turned violent on stage as a result of everyone releasing pent-up frustration and anger on their instruments.

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The effect of Reznor's conflict with his label and its influence on Broken can be seen in the album's packaging. After a long list of credits the following appears: "no thanks: you know who you fucking are," followed by "the slave thinks he is released from bondage only to find a stronger set of chains."

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The results of this natural progression were louder mixes and more distortion on every instrument, including a classic Mellotron MKIV, for example, which can be heard most particularly on the track "Gave Up". The lyrics were less of a departure, for the most part, the themes of unhappiness and discontent still being prominent.

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The degree to which these feelings were present on Broken, however, were felt much more deeply within the ear canals. Reznor said he wanted the album to be "an ultra-fast chunk of death" for the listener, something that would "make your ears a little scratchy" when you listened.

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The record reached number 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, while the second track, "Wish", even got Reznor a Grammy award. Trent later joked that his epitaph should read:

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"REZNOR: Died. Said 'fist fuck' and won a Grammy."

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"Physical (You're So)" is a cover of the Adam & the Ants song originally released on Kings of the Wild Frontier LP.

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The song "Happiness In Slavery" was given a promotional release that included two exclusive remixes.

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EP: EP can stand for:...

Nine Inch Nails: Nine Inch Nails (colloquially known as NIN) are a critically and commercially successful American band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1988 by Trent Reznor....

1992: 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday....

Broken related Images and Photos (experimental)

Broken	Broken Lance	Broken Arrow	Broken Window
Broken Bridges	Broken Flowers	Broken Alphabet	Broken Bells: Broken Bells CD
Broken Bells: Broken Bells CD	Broken Flower Pot	Broken Social Scene	Broken Social Scene