It’s been a hard year’s decade. At this point, 2020 is a leading contender for Worst Year of the 2020s: A global pandemic, raging wildfires, mass unemployment, authoritarian violence in the streets, an uncommon amount of racist assholes with mainstream-media platforms—and sure, let’s throw killer hornets into the mix, too. These are the sort of unprecedented times that inspire artists to look inward, take stock of our current condition, and produce topical works of great importance that will unite and inspire an emotionally distressed population. Alas, we regret to inform you that, on their third album, Hamilton, Ontario-based power trio The Dirty Nil have done none of these things. This record features no songs about isolation, imminent apocalypse, or the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity, however, there are tunes about dysfunctional relationships, getting your bike stolen, idiots on the internet, the anxiety of entering your 30s, and listening to Slayer in your Dodge Caravan because you’re overcompensating for turning into a soccer dad. In other words: all the shit you were worried about before you started Googling the words “viral load trajectory,” and all the shit that’ll still be weighing on your mind long after you can start coughing in your friends’ faces again without fear.
But while this record features no songs that immediately timestamp it to the year 2020, it nonetheless qualifies as a work of pure quarantine-core. When singer/guitarist Luke Bentham, bassist Ross Miller, and drummer Kyle Fisher first convened in Toronto’s Union Studios with Seattle-based producer John Goodmanson (who commandeered the Nil’s 2018 Juno Award-nominated crusher, Master Volume), the coronavirus had just begun its North American tour and talk of border closures started creeping into the headlines. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a leisurely recording process became a tense, do-or-die mission.
“It was a really strange atmosphere,” he continues. “We were just trying to have fun and insulate ourselves from the bad news. But it got to the point where, just after we finished the drums and the bass, John had to fly back to Seattle, or else he was going to be stuck in Canada. He made the last flight out. Then, the studio engineer Darren McGill turned to me and said, ‘We have to close the studio in two days.’ So I had two days to record all of the guitars for the album, which typically takes a week or two. We subsisted on pizza pockets and soda water and coffee for two 16-hour stretches.”
Left with the decision of whether or not to continue the record, the band opted to finish remotely by sending things back and forth rather than pressing pause. Bentham began the process of going to TAPE Studio every Monday, Wednesday and Friday night to record his vocals – the only time he would leave the house. Each session started after engineer Adam Bentley had thoroughly sanitized the studio. Bentham, Bentley and fellow TAPE engineer, Jordan Mitchell, individually quarantined for the month of April to ensure they remained healthy throughout the process.
Working on the record quickly became the only respite from the storm cloud of the apocalypse as it continued thickening on the horizon.“It was the one thing we had control over while humanity was powerless,” Bentham recalls. “It became a time where we could crack open a couple cans, play some tunes, and focus on what it was we actually could do – which was make the greatest rock ‘n’ roll record of all time. It was just the most insane, crazy, ramshackle putting-together of an album that I’ve ever had to do. I was just a wreck physically and mentally. When I heard the first mixes back, I almost cried because I was so happy.”
But if the record was birthed in a pressure cooker, the impetus for its beautifully blasphemous title—Fuck Art—stems from the most placid, un-punk environment ever: a community painting class in the band’s hometown of Dundas, Ontario, where Bentham found himself last winter after his mom gifted him the painting lessons as a Christmas gift. However, that idyllic small-town scene was soon disrupted by a cantankerous septuagenarian in the back of the class who, for a brief moment, effectively became the honorary fourth member of the band.
“Our teacher was showing us how to do something really basic, like paint a sky,” Bentham recalls. “And this older guy in the back was like, ‘hey, mine doesn’t look like that!’ And then, ‘I got a brush-hair stuck in my painting!’ And then ‘mine doesn’t look like everybody else’s!’ And the teacher goes, ‘well that’s the beauty of art—you’re just going to explore and find yourself.’ And there’s this long silence and I just heard him say, ‘fuck art.’ This 72-year-old dude was basically having a tantrum! It was kind of an eye-opening experience, because I had this myth in my mind that, at some point, everybody gets their shit together. But seeing this old guy complain reminded me that, ‘oh, no—not everybody gets a grip on life.’ I couldn’t stop thinking about it. After I told my mom it was going to be the album title, she left two different messages on my answering machine trying to convince me to change it.”
Not that it would’ve put Luke’s mom any more at ease, but, truth be told, this album could’ve easily been called Fuck Facebook. Like any rational-thinking sentient beings alive in 2020, The Dirty Nil are obviously deeply concerned about the state of the world, but they’re exhausted by the relentless online discourse surrounding it, and how the 24/7 shitstream flooding your smartphone makes you numb to the very issues you’re supposed to care about.
As Bentham explains, “A lot of the feelings that I had going into this record—and which are represented in some of the songs—had to do with getting really tired of seeing people riding up on their high horses, especially online, and commanding other people what to do, and saying terrible things about people who aren’t instantly complying with them—you know, the complete pompousness and posturing of being online. I was around for the advent of social media, and I think there’s a universal agreement that this is the worst that social media has ever been. It’s never been this toxic and fucking depressing—it’s a flaming garbage fire every day. And yet our lives are kind of dependent on it.”
You can hear that frustration bubbling up and boil over on Fuck Art’s emotional centerpiece, “One More and the Bill,” a grungy drinking song that climaxes with a vow to “smash my TV, smash my phone, leave politics alone, go outside for a while.” Even a seemingly sincere declaration like “Done With Drugs” is less a personal affirmation than a social critique—the song isn’t so much about sobering up as the performative aspects of self-care that often play out on social media.
But Fuck Art is also a statement of confidence and defiance from a group that’s now three albums into the game—i.e., the point where ambitious rock bands are supposed to call in the orchestra, experiment with electronics, and try to make their Ok Computer. The Dirty Nil, by contrast, have opted to perfect the formula that, over the past decade, has landed them on stages with everyone from Against Me! to The Who. Fuck Art melts down all of their favorite ingredients—classic-rock heroism, pop-punk horsepower, ‘80s indie scrappiness, ‘90s alterna-crunch, speed-metal adrenaline—into a radiant, chromatic solution they can then mould and harden into unpredictable shapes.
After all, few bands could pull off a bait-and-switch as masterful as “Doom Boy,” where a thundering thrash intro clears the runway for an ascendant power-pop anthem that name-checks The Cro-Mags and Turnstile. Bentham rocked so hard during the song’s recording (trying to make Fisher and Miller laugh with his crabcore moves) that he quite literally had a blowout – “I have the pants to prove it!” Likewise, what other group would think to cap a swaying, Blue Album-worthy sing-along like “Damage Control” with a death-metal roar (“that’s Ross,” Bentham confirms, “he’s the king of the flaming-rooster scream”), or craft a love song in the key of Mötörhead (“Ride or Die”). But beyond flexing the Nil’s metal muscle more vigorously than before, Fuck Art reasserts the Nil’s uncanny knack for fusing mosh-pit-stoking energy with melodies that effortlessly soar above the melee, as heard in the adrenalized “Done With Drugs,” the swaggering Cheap Tricked knockout “Elvis ‘77,” and the open-sunroof rush of “Jealousy,” which isn’t an intentional callback to The Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy,” but would sound right at home tucked between it and a latter-day Replacements cut on an early ‘90s college-rock radio show.
“I think we have a pretty distinct knowledge and understanding and comfort about what we do,” Bentham says. “I’m proud of the job that we’ve done between expanding ourselves and our efforts to navigate the modern landscape as much as possible. But we’ve never ever sacrificed the core elements of our sound. We have a thing, and we’ve never compromised it, even though at times we faced a lot of external pressure to do so.”
And hey, why not double-down on that uncompromising ethos by giving your most radio-ready album to date a title that can’t be uttered on the radio—and which, even in sanitized form (F— Art), still reads as “fart.”
“Before COVID hit, Fuck Art was kind of like a super tongue-in-cheek, snotty title inspired to provoke somewhat,” Bentham observes. “But in the subsequent time that has passed, to me it’s become a title of just celebrating absolute freedom. Ironically, to me, there’s a lot of optimism in it. It’s an absurd title, but it’s also kind of monolithic and simple. There’s also a kamikaze element to it—because there’s a chance that it could limit our commercial potential, but whatever. I don’t give a shit!”
Watch them destroy a perfectly good minivan in their new video for “Doom Boy”
The Dirty Nil have released a new song. The song is called “Doom Boy”. The song is available digitally and on 7-inch vinyl. The Dirty Nil released Master Volume in 2018
The Dirty Nil is a Canadian punk rock band that surprised us in the past with some nice records and excellent songs. The band has been around since 2006 and has excelled in the past mainly because of their combination of raw rock with the sharpness of punk and their humorous side. Not much has changed in […]
The Dirty Nil have released a music video for their single “Done With Drugs”. The video was directed by Mitch Barnes and Victor Malang. The band released a live video for the single last month. The Dirty Nil released Master Volume in 2018 via Dine Alone Records.
Canadian punks The Dirty Nil released a new single, “Done With Drugs,” last month, and we’re now premiering the song’s music video.
The Dirty Nil have shared a new single titled “Done With Drugs,” a tongue-in-cheek ode to pledges of self-improvement.
Hear the Hamilton band’s track “Done with Drugs”
Having been able to “put the finishing touches on their next album” while in lockdown living together, The Dirty Nil have now unveiled the first taste of what they’ve been working on: their ridiculously infectious new single “Done With Drugs.”
“The Dirty Nil opened the night, an incredibly dynamic band that is a headliner in their own right”
In some pretty amazing company!
“The band distills the best qualities of punk, grunge, and powerful rock to create some of the most exciting music you’ll ever hear.” – Paul Silver
via Goldmine Sacks!
The greatest! Minds and bubblegum will explode!
More tour dates for The Dirty Nil + their new video for ‘Friends In The Sky. All details can be found at The Spill Magazine!
Check it out Exclaim!!
The clip is a homage to The Who’s (in)famous debut appearance on American television, where they verbally (and literally) tore apart The Smothers Brothers. Wait for it…
Never ending tour continues!
The Dirty Nil are on tour forever and ever, so watch out!
They are always playing live.
“Were this any other era of rock, the band would be the most famous band on the planet. They’ve got a style that could easily translate to any time period, any audience, and any venue. After years of skating by on singles and EPs, the hard-touring and outrageously likeable Canucks finally dropped their long-awaited debut, […]
“The Dirty Nil may not sport mohawks or ostentatiously dyed hair, but along with Mean Jeans and The Lippies, they’re dedicated to cranking out high energy, no frills music that is passionate, direct and utterly down to earth. What could be more punk than that?”
Watch them perform “WRESTLE YÜ TO HÜSKER DÜ” at the link.
“Lyrically, musically, stylistically, this is everything I’m looking for in a rock song and the video compliments it like a goddamn dream.”
Look out for The Dirty Nil at SXSW this week!
“There is always melody to their madness”
“Higher Power is Bob Seger, Ray-Bans and Tom Cruise sliding around his parents’ house in his underwear for millennials, celebratory rock that doesn’t want to have to deal with Monday right now.”
Watch the VHS intensified footage at Exclaim!
“The Dundas, Ontario band have made huge waves preceding their recent album Higher Power, establishing themselves as a refreshing take on organic, visceral rock and roll genre.”
Watch for them on tour…until the end of days!
Watch in all of its VHS glory.
“Higher Power will leave you smiling, even after it knocks your teeth out.”
Record is out now on Dine Alone Records!
“Run for your lives everyone, The Dirty Nil have arrived.”
“The Dirty Nil have released their own catapult.”
“The fact these guys come from a classic rock background shines bright and proud here, more prominent than ever. This was no accident. The band knew what they were going for and they went for it hard.”
“It may be shit-kicking, party-until-you-vomit-then-party-again kind of rock, but The Dirty Nil prove that they are the highest calibre in that category.”
Out this Friday!!!!
“Only a true punk band would try to pull a fast one on God.”
.. to talk with Mike and Ashley about their debut LP Higher Power.
and history of the band!!!
“…pushing the hazards of commercialism aside, knocking on the hearts of the rock and roll faithful.”
Want to win the new album from The Dirty Nil on vinyl?!? Head to Photogmusic and answer “What song is “Higher Power” mentioned in?”
“The Dirty Nil have not so much left an impression with ‘Higher Power’ than left a crater smack bang in the middle of the musical landscape.”
“Fans of The Dirty Nil will undoubtedly be stoked on the full-length project, as it is the long overdue, fully cohesive release they have waited for. Furthermore, newcomers will appreciate Higher Power as a proclamation of the bands tangible entrance into the music industry and as a testament to the group’s uncompromising sound.”
“Burn in hell, Burritoville.” The Dirty Nil never forget.
You heard? Maybe. Essential? 100%.
We are getting closer and closer to the release of The Dirty Nil‘s debut album ‘Higher Power’.
AND by the looks of the below picture they have never looked better!
Debut LP “Higher Power” is out February 26th.
“Lead singer Luke Bentham spits out the lyrics with a throat-scratching urgency over a rampant explosion of lawless guitars, and it’s this sort of feral intensity that’ll make the Dirty Nil’s debut an anarchic rollercoaster ride.”
“Higher Power” is out February 26th on Dine Alone Records!
The Dirty Nil will release their debut LP in 2016.
“creating distortion-drenched, gravelly punk rock ‘n’ roll with hugely sing-along-able choruses perfect for a drunken dance floor. BOOM!”
Kyle from The Dirty Nil let Riffyou.com know what his favourite album was. The choice may surprise you.
“Peep the David Dunham directed video shot by Stephanie Bell & Karl DiPelino for The Dirty Nil’s fun new video “No Weaknesses” that takes on the endurance challenges of showing that they are tough enough (sans any appearance of any potential weaknesses). Hilarities and satirical presentations of testosterone displays of aggression ensue to an amusing […]
“The track keeps with the brash, playful sense of twang-punctuated rawk the band has consistently churned out over several awesome EPs and 7”s. But this time that classic rock influence comes through loud and clear, the vocals are more rough and tumble and the energy even more erratic, defying containment from full throttle to back […]
Out February 26th on Dine Alone Records!
“not so much as tour as it is an endurance test”.
This time PureGrainAudio.com finds out about all their worst experiences.
Check them out on tour now!
Listen to “No Weaknesses” below.
“Dundas, Ontario punk trio The Dirty Nil are not-so-slowly emerging from the underworld of the Ontario rock scene, and are on their way to becoming a national treasure.”
Check out the track in Daniel P. Carter’s playlist!
Stream the new track from The Dirty Nil at PureGrainAudio.com
Listen to their cover of Fugazi’s “Provisional” at the link!
Prepare to have all of your questions answered!
“Can’t wait for them to blow up and be one of the best things to come out of Canada!”
Listen to “No Weaknesses” at the link!
Let’s all pray you didn’t miss it.
“I’d get us sponsored by Southern Comfort. It killed Janis Joplin so it’s got to be good.”
“No Weaknesses’ is a rocking tribute to feeling invincible which seems really appropriate for these guys as they’ve gone from height-to-height with their musical career over the past few years.”
“Over the last four years, since first hearing their “Fuckin’ Up Young” 7″, I have had a front row seat for the making of the next Greatest Band in Canada®. Guitarist Luke Bentham, bassist Dave Nardi, and drummer Kyle Fisher are gluttons for punishment, crisscrossing North America relentlessly touring, pressing their own singles, releasing mixtapes, […]
Stereogum has the premiere of the new single from The Dirty Nil. “The Canadian trio builds up an impenetrable rock wall in two-and-a-half-minutes time, bolstering the song’s claim that they’re pretty much invincible.”
BrooklynVegan has ALL the good news.
New 7″ in the fall. A boatload of tour dates. And getting ready for LP #1.
Check out these great shots of The Dirty Nil’s show at The Silver Dollar via Live in Limbo.
Luke from The Dirty Nil sat down with 98KUPD Official as the band gets ready Vans Warped Tour.
“He yells like Roger Daltrey and shreds like Pete Townshend, complete with impressive windmill strums driving home the band’s extra meaty hooks.” The Dirty Nil took over The Silver Dollar in Toronto on Friday. Exclaim! was there to give you the rundown.
Or he talks about a Good Read, a Good Listen and a Good drink.
A must see/hear/digest!
There is photo evidence!!
Read Exclaim!’s review to see how it’s going.
“There’s melody, there’s energy with some fuzz, punk and rock to boot and it’s pretty hard to resist turning this up loud for everyone to hear.”
CBC gives The Dirty Nil the #9 spot. #herecomethemohawks
