Released: 15/08/11
Trent Reznor’s 1989 debut Pretty Hate Machine leans more toward dark ’80s synth-pop than the industrial rock he later popularized. While the aggressive opener “Head Like a Hole” became his breakout hit, much of the album evokes a moodier Depeche Mode, built on synths and programmed beats. Tracks like “Down In It” and “Sin” pulse with danceable energy, even as Reznor’s lyrics remain brooding. With standout moments like the bass-driven “Sanctified” and explosive “That’s What I Get,” Pretty Hate Machine lays the foundation for the Nine Inch Nails sound to come.