The glitter and glam of Hamilton, Ontario’s The Dirty Nil take a backseat as the band dives headfirst into something rawer and more stripped-down on their fifth studio album, The Lash, arriving July 25th via Dine Alone Records and available for pre-order now.
Wasting no time in second-guessing, The Lash came together in a flash, with the band completing the entire record in just over two weeks alongside rising producer and engineer Vince Solveri. The result? A record that captures The Dirty Nil at their most urgent and electrifying.
Out today, the blistering “Gallop of the Hounds” is a no-holds-barred anthem that hits like an out-of-control freight train. Setting the pace for The Lash, the track embodies the album’s relentless energy – an unflinching ride through self-reckoning and the mirage of revenge, even in its quieter moments.
The verses are very celebratory, but then the chorus is about that sinking feeling that’s waiting for you. – vocalist/guitarist Luke Bentham
The Lash Tracklisting:
- Gallop of the Hounds
- Fail in Time
- That Don’t Mean It Won’t Sting
- Rock N’ Roll Band
- This Is Me Warning Ya
- Do You Want Me?
- Spider Dream
- They Won’t Beat Us
- Hero Narrative
- I Was A Henchman
Everything about The Lash evokes a certain sort of brutality.
During a trip to the Vatican, Bentham found inspiration in some of its forgotten art: I was in a very dusty part of the basement, and they had these crazy bronze reliefs that were some of the most brutal things I’ve ever seen. There was a particular one called The Horrors of War. It was two guys fighting over a knife. That image ended up guiding a lot of this record.
From there, the band brought in UK designer Jack Sabbat for his acerbic, bootleg punk-flyer style, assuring The Lash would look right at home in a beat-up bin of old Crass records or in a Medieval torture dungeon.
Thematically, the album’s 10 tracks trade Bentham‘s usual happy-go-lucky romanticism for a cathartic vent session about everything from music industry bullsh*t to the dissolution of a relationship. Drummer and co-conspirator Kyle Fisher jokes: I’ve been telling people that this is Luke‘s therapy record.
Since forming in 2006, The Dirty Nil have always embraced the flashier side of punk. But with The Lash, they strip it all down to the essentials—just two friends in a room, playing like everything is on the line.
For fans of The Jesus Lizard, The Bronx, and Metz, The Lash is a high-stakes rock record from a band that has spent over a decade tearing up stages, building a worldwide following, and even winning a JUNO Award for Breakthrough Band in 2017. They’ve played the game and jumped through the hoops – now, The Dirty Nil are doing things entirely on their own terms.
The Dirty Nil will be on tour with Heart Attack Man, Carpool, and Dear Seattle this summer. All tickets are on sale HERE.
