 OFFTHEDIAL.CA "AN OFFERING" CD REVIEW The fourth album from Calgary’s Inner Surge continues down the path of aggressive, politically charged metal that we’ve come to know them for. This time though, they had to do it without bassist Jim Fernandes as he parted ways with the band prior to recording “An Offering“. That made things a little difficult and the process was trying at times. Regardless, the album was completed and released earlier than expected and sounding fantastic. As usual, front-man Steve Moore sticks with hard-hitting topics and lyrics that resonate long after being launched at you. Opening track “the Monroe Doctrine” strikes at the U.S. doctrine that first came to be 1823 and features one of the most telling lyrics on the album, “Score another point for the herd mentality”. The album also features another blatant strike at corrupt governments in “Halliburton Piggies” and it’s lyric “Mrs. Cheney does not like the term “Genocide”". It’s not all political though as “Light a Fire” takes a shot at the mindless commercialization of music with lines like “This is radio mundane, endless amounts of the same” and “We want our music back” but even in this song, the lyric “Another clone wants to ride daddy’s coattails” appears to reference another topic altogether. Considering that guitarist Scott Taylor had to pull double-duty on this album, he put on an especially impressive performance. Bryan Sandau’s drumming skills are excellent, featuring not only rapid fire bass kicks and military style rhythm but complex fills and creative beats. It’s this creativity from both musicians that make the songs just as interesting as the topics sung along with them. This album is solid through and through. From one of the highlight tracks “the Empire” to the final cut “Limb From Limb“, these songs are drenched in content that can’t be ignore, yet far too much for a simple review. If you’re into heavy music, do yourself a favour and give this album a listen. There is plenty to pay attention to and honestly, you don’t want to miss a word. You may even find yourself learning something as I did when hearing references to people like Fred Hampton and Ken Saro-Wiwa. That alone makes this worthy of attention. HARDROCKANDMETAL.COM "AN OFFERING" CD REVIEW Do you remember that refrain from the South Park movie, "Blame Canada...Blame Canada?" Well I do, and I agree, we should blame them... for giving us music that kicks ass! A good album is more than a collection of songs. When listening to a really good CD you find yourself completely immersed in what's going on and sometimes your mind transports you to a completely different place. Such is the case with the latest disc from Steve Moore, Scott Taylor and Bryan Sandau, who comprise the Canadian metal makers Inner Surge. With "An Offering," Inner Surge are running on all cylinders. The songwriting is first-rate, with powerful melodies and memorable riffs blending effortlessly with complex and progressive musicianship. Steve Moore is a great vocalist whose talents are really showcased on "An Offering." He uses an edgier growl a lot on this album, but his powerful melodic voice is utilized as well. Inner Surge uses a nice mixture of styles on this album that contrast the aggressive and the melodic. They sing a violent song indeed! Rating: 5 / 5 Reviewed by Mr. Metal  BEOWOLF PRODUCTIONS "AN OFFERING" CD REVIEW Wow! I was really impressed with these guys from the minute the CD started. They play a mixture of a few styles of Metal music. I can hear lots of Death Metal mixed with Thrash Metal all through out, but there are many elements of Hardcore bursting out all over the place too. They really melt these styles together with such ease. There are some all out Thrash riffs that burst into some chunky thick Hardcore grooves. The vocals are done in a mixture of harsh Hardcore/Metal crossover styles screams with some cleaner Metal vocals too. I liked how they bounced back & forth with these styles. The one band that kept coming to mind was SYSTEM OF A DOWN, just not as wacky sounding & no Nu-Metal! elements www.beowolfproductions.com CDBABY.COM "SIGNALS SCREAMING" REVIEW "I will speak until there is no more sound" are the first chilling words that drift innocently enough through the restrained, ethereal opening track on the 11 song debut from this Canadian modern metal four piece. It's fitting, coming from a band that not only flexes indomitable musical drive and endurance, but also have plenty on their mind. Raging with a healthy cynicism that seems to be fueled primarily by injustice, these are songs rife with centralized furor and realized with a rarely seen gift for articulation that allows the music to expand without the message being lost. That's tough to pull off, and it's a real compliment to the cohesive nature of the players here. Calculated but not overly polished, this is intelligent rock that, much like Tool, isn't afraid to challenge the listener and keep them wondering what's coming next. Intricate and hard to classify, this is a record guaranteed to open your eyes and ears as it asks you to read between the lines to see the bigger picture. ALTNATION "SIGNALS SCREAMING" REVIEW By: Paul Autry What do we have here? Damn, this is an interesting release. It's sure to shake up your metal collection if you can figure out where to put it. As far as a description goes, I saw the term "metal/punk" thrown around, which I agree with to a certain degree. I can hear metal and I can hear punk in their music. However, I also hear some hardcore, some progressive rock, some alternative...a little bit of everything to be honest. I think they threw in everything except the kitchen sink and, more than likely, they probably would have thrown that in as well if they would have been able to find some room. "Signals Screaming" is a rollercoaster ride of musical emotion. It goes from one extreme to another and back again...it's amazing. This is an album that I'm not even gonna attempt to pick apart. You must listen to this one as a whole to get the proper impact. I don't think you'll totally understand this release with a single listen. You may have to go through it a few times to get it. Hell...I'm still trying to figure out what I just heard. All I can tell you for now is that it's got a great sound, excellent musicianship and it's well worth checking out, especially if you're in the mood for something different. |
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ALBERTAMETAL.NET "SIGNALS SCREAMING" REVIEW
After listening to Signals Screaming twice I sat and pondered the best way to start my review, and then it came to me. All I needed to say was what I found myself saying over and over as I moved from one song to the next, and that was “Wow”! It is one of those cd’s that by the time you listen to it in its entirety you’ve changed your favorite song numerous times. This is not just a cd of new songs. This is the crest of the wave that Inner Surge has been building for sometime. It’s passion, rebellion, and anger. It’s precision and chaos at the same time. It bypasses typical genres, from eclectic to down right metal. There is superb space and dynamics layered throughout every song, a testament to the hard work, time and patience that this young group of men has blended into their latest accomplishment. As if this new release wasn’t enough, Inner Surge has also taken yet one more step towards international recognition by having their ‘Retribution song’ included on the ‘Cabras’ horror movie soundtrack. Here is the link to the movie website (http://www.cabrasmovie.com/.) There will be many more great things to come from this band, but rest assured Signals Screaming is one of those cd’s that is bound to last the test of time, and will be a favorite for years to come. The recording and production is first class, professional all the way. It will be released through none other than our friends at Cyclone records and you can find out more details at http://www.cyclonerecords.ca/. Inner Surge is one of the hardest working bands I know, and Signals Screaming is a huge statement, it is saying that Inner Surge is here, and they are here to stay. Top of the list, well done guys. Martin McNeilly (Mar2ian) www.albertametal.net |
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CANADIANBANDS.COM "SIGNALS SCREAMING" REVIEW
Article by Dan Brisebois Raw punk/metal power with a slick edge best describes Inner Surge. This Calgary quintet consists of Steve Moore on vocals and guitar, guitarists Rob Spencer and Scott Taylor, Jason Rees on bass and drummer Bryan Sandau. They've built a loyal following with their intense sound and have released 2 CD's over their 4 year span, growing and maturing along the way. From the debut SOLUS VERUM in 2001, intense detail was spent on the lyrical content and its strong political messages, brissling with passion. They combine electronic metal elements with punk and Eastern influences into an eclectic blend unique on the scene. The 16 tracks make up an emotionally raw epic charged with deep-seeded emotions. Their philosophy epitomizes unabashed energy, exploring topics of politics and social concerns. Their lyrics in fact reflect the changing social environment around them. One of their crowning moments in their young career in fact was showcased on the "Rock Against Racism 2002" concert in Calgary, as well as organizing a number of benefit concerts on their own for a variety of charities. Becoming staples of several fundraising shows around Calgary, Inner Surge has demonstrated that they not only have a message behind the music, but they're not afraid to share it with anyone willing to listen, and their following is growing constantly. Their latest release is 2003's MARTIKA. The result of an ever-evolving music maturity, tracks like the lead-off "Censored", "Silencer", and "Driven" prove they're one of the freshest sounds today in a quasi-punk/pseudo metal genre that until now had grown stale in recent years. "The Fall", "The Deepest Wound" and "Backlash" also back up the group's growing reputation of having an uncanny substance to their lyrical content. Unlike all too many of Inner Surge's contemporaries, this band has substance. Lyrical prowess backed by a heavy beat seems to come natural for these guys. Don't be afraid to take a walk on their side of the street. |
CANADANOISE.COM "SIGNALS SCREAMING" REVIEW By now this CD has been out for weeks, so if you haven’t listened to it already then shame on you. Signals Screaming is a battering-ram of an album that is impressive and powerful, both in sound and in message. Delivered through a screaming fury along with sung words that are weighted with disdain, the force of its lyrics is impossible to shut out. INNER SURGE practice a kind of intelligent metal that inspires a sense of bitter unrest towards the state of humanity, their consistently angry vocals speaking of political issues and worldwide concerns. Such militant words are fueled by pummelling bass, deep guitars, and energetic drumming with tons of double-kick action. This is a mostly heavy album, being focused as a whole towards a harder, faster metal sound than the band’s previous release. The opening track, “Azura,” makes a quiet entrance but is only misleading of the aggression to come. Any notion of this being a timid record is dispelled when the album launches into the loud and distorted fierceness of “The Outcome,” followed by a barrage of other songs of a similar power. At their most aggressive they contain thundering bass drum, finger-tapping guitar riffs and soul-crushing screams that are all made clear and intense by the album’s production. There are many softer moments within these songs as well, but things don’t truly ease up again after the first track until “Wolves.” This song fits in as a quiet change from the distortion-driven tracks preceeding it, lacking screams and consisting of some excellent clean guitar picking. However, this is only a slight break between the pounding force that INNER SURGE have to offer in large servings. Things pick up heavier than ever with the next track, “Where The Door Locks,” and remain so with occasional melodious interruptions until the climactic ending of the nearly colossal “No Profit In The Cure.” This album expresses INNER SURGE’s talent for creating music that hits hard like a brick in the gut. While the structures of the songs vary and the tone and pace change rapidly, their music maintains an excellent flow that can easily capture a person’s attention throughout the course of the album by way of its vicious force and melodic intervals. The vocal and musical harmonies are well executed, as are the contrasting ambush of screams and discordant instrumentals, making for a collection of songs that does not become dull at any instant. Signals Screaming promises to be an essential contribution to Canadian metal this year, the impact of its message and aggressive style being sure to turn heads. INNER SURGE’s music is a voice that screams out to be heard, and a voice I would recommend listening to. - Cory |
