Album Review: The Dirty Nil – The Lash (Dine Alone Records)

Ontario’s The Dirty Nil return in a raw and honest mood on their fifth studio album, ‘The Lash’, out July 25th via Dine Alone Records.

Digging deeper, in an introspective way, The Lash is The Dirty Nil in a bit of a mood. A darker mood where they aim to showcase a ‘back to basics’ mentality. Simplified and focused, but as anthemic as ever. Trust me, you can still have a lot of fun with this band, but they might give you a bit more food for thought as you do this time around.

Beginning in high powered rock and roll fashion, Gallop of the Hounds is an instant banger. One of many that can be summed up as noisy and excitable, but imaginative. The Dirty Nil can never be accused of lacking heart and soul, and this track is one of many that sets the senses alight.

There are couple of melodic heavyweight tracks early on too. Fail in Time’s moody instrumentals are balanced nicely by the potent vocals, and That Don’t Mean It Won’t Sting is a riveting example of The Dirty Nil’s more emotional side. Of course, both are delightfully catchy. After all, this is The Dirty Nil and no matter their mood, their anthemic ways are on show.

Need further proof? Rock and Roll Band is a side to The Dirty Nil we don’t often see enough of. A side that showcases a banging blast of straight-forward heavy rock music with sharp lyrics delivered with a bit of a snarl. It’s an explosive listen, and so damn lovable. Then there is This Is Me Warning Ya, The Dirty Nil at their most stripped back and vulnerable sounding. It’s a really pretty song, but I’ll never complain about them giving me more energised and powered up rock efforts like Do You Want Me either. Classy stuff from a band who really seem to have hit their stride on this album.

How else can you explain something as imaginative as Spider Dream!? A track with an inherent weirdness that proves to be highly addictive, The Dirty Nil do a great job of capturing a dreamy state of mind and keep things mellow (mostly) throughout. I love this track, but I will admit to loving pretty much everything on the record so that might not mean too much to you. Rest assured that Spider Dream is special.

As is They Won’t Beat Us with its chunky guitars and grand sounding chorus, an outright singalong, and Hero Narrative with its moody melodies and, unsurprisingly, infectious chorus. I kid you not, The Dirty Nil don’t put a foot wrong on this record and these tracks are as brilliant as everything that came before and everything that comes after. Which just so happens to be I Was a Henchman, the finale of the record.

Don’t get upset, all good things must end, and The Dirty Nil make sure this record goes out with a big, dynamic, and excitable bang. It caps off a legitimately brilliant release that is my favourite thing that the band has released. The Dirty Nil are on fine form and all the proof of that is in this album.

The Dirty Nil – The Lash Track Listing:

1. Gallop of the Hounds
2. Fail in Time
3. That Don’t Mean It Won’t Sting
4. Rock and Roll Band
5. This Is Me Warning Ya
6. Do You Want Me
7. Spider Dream
8. They Won’t Beat Us
9. Hero Narrative
10. I Was a Henchman

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