10 Best Hard Rock Albums Of The 90s

At the end of the 80's, Trent Reznor's one-man industrial project started making the waves with Pretty Hate Machine. However, with the Broken EP bringing disturbing imagery, fans knew that they were in for a dark ride with the next record.

The Downward Spiral did not disappoint in that regard, with Reznor taking listeners on a sonic journey through his twisted psyche. Running as a semi-concept album, this record shows a man who's falling apart at the seams and ends up renouncing the life he is living. All of the dark emotions you can think of show up on this record, from the aggression of "March of the Pigs" to the disturbing lust of "Closer."

While many casual fans may just hear industrial noise in these tracks, Reznor's deliberate use of distortion helps lull the listener into his personal sense of dread. The songwriting of Reznor on this record is some of his most personal and most haunting, but never less intriguing. I mean, you know your song is a standout when Johnny Cash ends up covering it.

When it comes to the pure encapsulation of inner turmoil, Spiral sums up everything that is dark within every human soul.