Been listening to a lot of NiN lately, mainly the entirety of Pretty Hate Machine and The Downward Spiral. Initially, I favored Pretty Hate Machine a lot more. Its a lot easier to listen to, and the album has fantastic pacing. Incredibly moody and angst filled.
Unlike a lot of people that shit on themselves for liking angst shit, the music and its tone/mood compliment those feelings of disappointment and hate. Pretty Hate Machine in general is a feel good album, and what makes you feel good is seeing the world around you as pretty downtrodden and hopeless. Pretty Hate Machine feels a lot more general lyrically compared to Downward Spiral.
Downward Spiral is a mess of noise at first, songs don't really flow into each other that well and there's a lack of consistency for style overall. But once the album grows on you, its great. If Pretty Hate Machine is easier to listen to, Downward Spiral is easier to get lost in. Angst is replaced with loathing and resentment, hopelessness is replaced with inevitability, the lyrics and music combine to paint a very vivid picture.
Both albums are equal to me after listening to both for a while. If I had to pick a favorite from each album: