The Dirty Nil has always brought a bit of flash and colour to rock ‘n’ roll. Whether it’s the bejeweled stars and lightning bolts emblazoned on frontman Luke Bentham’s stage outfits or the multi-dimensional, psychedelic artwork splashed across album covers, the Hamilton, Ontario-based band likes to add a little flair. But on their fifth album, The Lash, the Nil is stripping it all back. No more flash. No more colour. The slate is getting wiped. Back to basics.