ALBUM REVIEW: Master Volume – The Dirty Nil

The next time you hear someone questioning where today’s rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse bands are, it’s important you play them this record. THE DIRTY NIL are out here picking up the modern concept of snotty rock music and adding layers to it that make the trio a nigh on perfect candidate to take the genre forward.

As energetic, and potent as the band’s debut record Higher Power was, Master Volume is an almost giant leap forward. And within the bones of the trio’s sophomore album you’ll find contemporary rock done at its most unpredictable, and beautifully disjointed. Strap yourselves in for a steadfast ride on this one.

Master Volume is borderline schizophrenic in its delivery, there’s the brooding verses of album opener That’s What Heaven Feels Like which give way to to a rock etched solo. Then there’s the powerhouse Super 8 and Please, Please Me that come bursting out the gates with a manic tempo and bull at a gate like aggression. THE DIRTY NIL refuse to stick to a specific pattern yet always manage to stay within the realms of straight up rock.

The production job by alt-rock veteran John Goodmanson is a fine art in itself. The trio’s charisma, and brazen attitude is concealed within every inch of this record, and you can’t help but feel like the Canadian’s sound has been maximised but not over-worked. How many times have you come across a decent band crippled by their sweeter than sweet production? THE DIRTY NIL have an organic grunge to their music which is insatiable.

There’s a compact unity to Master Volume which seems to slap you in the face at every opportunity. The record feels like the achievement that the trio have slaved for seven years to reach, which they have. And when the first grit stained riff of Always High kicks in, you’ll see that every single dive they slept in was worth it. You’ll struggle to find a better rock song this year, and you should expect to be bellowing the chorus aloud for quite some time to come.

Nothing overstays its welcome here, and you’ll leave the album’s masquerade of potent power rock blasts wondering how 30 minutes seemed to have sped by at light-speed. The anthemic Pain Of Infinity and I Don’t Want That Phone Call fit all their power plays in within three minutes. Riffs, melody, groove; they’re all present, and all sumptuous in their execution.

Master Volume is the musical culmination of every star in the galaxy aligning in THE DIRTY NIL‘s favour. The production is spot on, the song-writing is structured with erratic malice, and the record doesn’t sit still for a solitary second. In a world where ‘the difficult second album’ can sometimes consume bands, this trio from Canada have made it look easy. Rock ‘n’ roll is looking for new stars? we’ve just found them.

Rating: 9/10

Master Volume is out now via Dine Alone Records.

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