The Nils

One of Montreal’s most iconic punk rock bands, the Nils specialized in ragged-but-right music whose hard-edged, melodic tunes and lyrics exposed a tough kid’s reflective streak. Although the group built a loyal local following and exerted influence across both Canada and the United States, commercial breakthrough eluded them on either side of the border; nonetheless, they remain ranked among the foremost acts of the Canadian punk era, placing at number 56 on the CBC’s roster of the 200 greatest Canadian bands of all time.

Alex Soria, then only twelve, formed the Nils in 1978 alongside his older brother Carlos Soria. After Carlos imported early punk LPs by the Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Damned, the siblings resolved to generate their own clamor. Alex handled guitar and lead vocals while Carlos anchored the bass; although the lineup fluctuated between quartet and trio configurations and numerous players passed through, the Soria brothers supplied an unwavering rhythmic punch. Regular live appearances began in 1980, followed in 1982 by the five-song demo cassette Now. The band supported both the Ramones and X in 1983, the same year Los Angeles-based BYO Records tapped them for a track on the compilation Something to Believe In; their cut “Scratches and Needles” emerged as one of the set’s standout numbers. In 1984 they contributed “Call of the Wild” to Primitive Air Raid, an essential survey of Montreal punk.

Psyche Industry, the indie responsible for Primitive Air Raid, issued the four-song EP Sell Out Young! in 1985, while Siegfried Records followed with the Paisley EP in 1986. Those releases and accompanying tours earned the Nils a strong reputation throughout Canada and the United States, prompting an offer from New York’s Rock Hotel label and management company, known for its work with major NYHC acts. Produced by Chris Spedding and issued in the States via Profile Records, the full-length Nils climbed to number eight on Rolling Stone’s College Music chart and drew endorsements from Bob Mould, the Meat Puppets, and Superchunk. After heavy touring, however, Rock Hotel collapsed financially in 1988 just as the band was preparing its second album, prompting Carlos to relocate to California and Alex to launch the short-lived Los Patos. The brothers briefly reconvened the Nils in 1992, but momentum faded again by 1994. Alex next formed Chino, which released a six-song EP before disbanding in 2002. Another Nils reunion attempt followed, yet on 13 December 2004 Alex Soria died by suicide.

The Nils remained dormant until 2014, when Carlos decided to reactivate the group. Addressing journalist Mark Lepage, he stated, “I showed Alex three chords, and he showed me another whole bunch of things. I always knew he was the kid, the star. But I don’t have to explain this to anyone. I was there from the beginning.” Joined by guitarists Mark Donato and Phil Psarakos plus drummer Jean Lortie—both Donato and Lortie having previously played with the band—Carlos assumed vocal duties. The reconstituted lineup crowdfunded a new album, releasing Shadows & Ghosts in 2015 to warm notices from Canadian critics.