Inner Surge

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 at Canadanoise.com

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 at Canadanoise.com

Along with Cryptopsy and Goreguts, Inner Surge will be among the few metal
bands from Canada that will reach worldwide notoriety.

The songs change quite a bit, from "AzurA" the opening track ,
which is strangely melodic, to "No Profit In The Cure" the listener is treated
to really varied interests/ styles that converge and mesh nicely. They have a
strong sense of melody and their material sets them apart as well. While their
songs have an underlying political theme they in no way become over the top.
Inner Surge doesn't sacrifice their music just to get their point across.

Their sound is best described as more like "true" metal than "nu" metal.
Instead of focusing on just one, Steve Moore's vocals change from growls to
melodic singing naturally, which is quite a feet for a metal band. Many
times the switch from growling to regular singing will ruin the mood of the
song for a moment as you adjust, but Steve manages to slip it in there with
the listener hardly even noticing.

This album is sure to be one of the most essential metal albums of the year.
A highly recommended listen.


James Hinson
X-Treme Productions
- www.xtremeproducts.cjb.net

Inner Surge "Signals Screaming" (Cyclone Records)
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. - Ballbusterhardmusic.com

Along with Cryptopsy and Goreguts, Inner Surge will be among the few metal
bands from Canada that will reach worldwide notoriety.

The songs change quite a bit, from "AzurA" the opening track ,
which is strangely melodic, to "No Profit In The Cure" the listener is treated
to really varied interests/ styles that converge and mesh nicely. They have a
strong sense of melody and their material sets them apart as well. While their
songs have an underlying political theme they in no way become over the top.
Inner Surge doesn't sacrifice their music just to get their point across.

Their sound is best described as more like "true" metal than "nu" metal.
Instead of focusing on just one, Steve Moore's vocals change from growls to
melodic singing naturally, which is quite a feet for a metal band. Many
times the switch from growling to regular singing will ruin the mood of the
song for a moment as you adjust, but Steve manages to slip it in there with
the listener hardly even noticing.

This album is sure to be one of the most essential metal albums of the year.
A highly recommended listen.


James Hinson
X-Treme Productions
- www.xtremeproducts.cjb.net

by CHRISTINE LEONARD

Heads will turn
Inner Surge returns to the scene with sirens screaming

INNER SURGE
Saturday, April 1
Underground
An irrepressible wave of energy emanating from the centre and radiating outwards in all directions – this is Inner Surge, the politically charged, metal-punk brainchild of Steve Moore that, according to music author Garry Sharpe-Young, was worthy of mention in the hallowed tome The New Wave of American Metal. Just one catch – they’re not American, they’re from Calgary.

Things initially got all fired up back in 2001, when Moore wrote and recorded their debut album, Solus Vernum (Latin for "The Only Truth"), which was followed in 2002 by the critically acclaimed Matrika (Sanskrit meaning "Power of the Word"). Four years later, a fresh outlook and a retooled group dynamic have Inner Surge looking and sounding better than ever, poised to release the long-awaited Signals Screaming.

"This may be our third full-length release, but I would consider it our first because we have a whole new lineup. It is the first time an album turned out to be exactly what I wanted," says Inner Surge’s lead singer and lyricist Steve Moore.

Combining his earnest efforts with those of like-minded musicians proved to be quite a challenge for Moore, but thankfully he has found common ground and a license to groove with band members Bryan Sandau, Jim Fernandes and Scott Taylor. Together they present a united front that actively promotes their agenda of bringing human rights concerns to the forefront of their creative endeavours.

"The whole album is a total collection of all the things we’ve been working on," Moore explains. "Every song on the new album shows a change for the better, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reviews we’ve received.

"Signals Screaming was recorded at Echo Base with Casey Lewis. We went into the studio with a somewhat conscious effort to make each of the songs as effective as they could be while eliminating anything that was not needed or necessary. We wanted every piece of music to count."

To further their ambition of making the little things count, Inner Surge has been focusing their attention on international marketing, chiefly through their internet site www.InnerSurge.com. Most recently they have formed a great relationship with filmmaker Fredy Polania of Polania Pictures who has used their music on the soundtrack to his new horror movie, Cabras. In return, Polania has also filmed two videos for the new album, "Retribution Song" and "Flame and Synergy," According to Moore, it wasn’t easy to pick two tracks out of 11 for video development, but ultimately it came down to the same old equation, making the greatest impact possible and getting their message across in a meaningful and hopefully stimulating way.

"’Retribution Song’ was partially inspired by an event in Uzbekistan where a large group of protesters were shot down in the streets," Moore elaborates. "The lyrics are pretty aggressive, but dissent cannot be crushed. Uprisings may be snuffed out in many places, but our message to the authorities is that it won’t simply go away. ‘Flame and Synergy’ is more melodic," he says of the band’s second choice. "It’s about a relationship with the inner self, inspired by a book called I Refuse to Die by a Kenyan politician named Koigi Wa Wamwere. During his 12-year imprisonment, he found his resolve while being tortured with water. I wanted to bring that energy into the song."

Pushing the boundaries and taking the fine art of headbanging to a higher artistic plane are more than a side effect of cranking amps and blowing eardrums – it is a testament to Inner Surge’s collective determination to end the "blind eye" syndrome that afflicts our privileged society. With pulse-pounding and change-provoking songs like "Welcome to the 5th World" and "No Profit in the Cure" to its credit, Signals Screaming (out on Cyclone Records) delivers a genre-smashing one-two punch that carries over brilliantly to Inner Surge’s dynamic live performances

- FFWD WEEKLY - Christine Leonard

Metal band surges ahead
Mike Bell
Calgary Sun
March 31, 2006

And they stun you mainly because, however obvious they are, they’re so rarely expressed, so rarely given voice.


INNER SURGE

Steve Moore drops one such statement in an interview to promote the release of his Calgary band Inner Surge’s latest Signals Screaming and as odd as it is to hear expressed, it’s equally as refreshing.

“There are no rules in music,” Moore says. “I think that’s what people have forgotten.”

Well, some may have forgotten, but there are so many others who choose to forget, and impose on themselves rules in order to appeal to a certain crowd or to reach a wider audience or even to get signed.

That’s true on a wider scale and on a more local level.

“It’s an idea that’s cloned itself in all of the scenes,” Moore says. “We’re pretty open about it in all of our interviews because we’re sick of it.

“It seems people don’t even understand the idea of being a good band. People are always, ‘You’re not metal, you’re not hardcore, you’re not punk.’

“Well the whole point is we don’t care. We don’t care what we are.

“Our goal is to be a great band and for people to be able to listen to the album and get something out of it.”

Signals Screaming gives a great deal.

It’s an attempt by the newly minted quartet — Moore began the project in 2001 and took it through various incarnations before settling down with Scott Taylor, Bryan Sandau and Jim Fernandes — to show how little they care for convention, bridging the attitude, aggression and ideas of punk with the more out-there musical aspirations of progressive metal.

Subsequently, the disc is an accomplished, politically charged and mind-blowing meld of acts such as Pink Floyd, Tool, Refused, System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine.

After April 1's pair of CD release parties at the Underground — an all-ages show at 5 p.m. and a licensed event at 9 p.m. — Inner Surgeis looking forward to things that will raise their profile both at home and abroad, not the least of which is the inclusion of one of the album’s tracks on the soundtrack to an upcoming horror movie Cabras (due out next year), and the release of a pair of videos shot by Cabras’ Colombian-born director Fredy Polania.

- Mike Bell - the Calgary Sun

by CHRISTINE LEONARD

Heads will turn
Inner Surge returns to the scene with sirens screaming

INNER SURGE
Saturday, April 1
Underground
An irrepressible wave of energy emanating from the centre and radiating outwards in all directions – this is Inner Surge, the politically charged, metal-punk brainchild of Steve Moore that, according to music author Garry Sharpe-Young, was worthy of mention in the hallowed tome The New Wave of American Metal. Just one catch – they’re not American, they’re from Calgary.

Things initially got all fired up back in 2001, when Moore wrote and recorded their debut album, Solus Vernum (Latin for "The Only Truth"), which was followed in 2002 by the critically acclaimed Matrika (Sanskrit meaning "Power of the Word"). Four years later, a fresh outlook and a retooled group dynamic have Inner Surge looking and sounding better than ever, poised to release the long-awaited Signals Screaming.

"This may be our third full-length release, but I would consider it our first because we have a whole new lineup. It is the first time an album turned out to be exactly what I wanted," says Inner Surge’s lead singer and lyricist Steve Moore.

Combining his earnest efforts with those of like-minded musicians proved to be quite a challenge for Moore, but thankfully he has found common ground and a license to groove with band members Bryan Sandau, Jim Fernandes and Scott Taylor. Together they present a united front that actively promotes their agenda of bringing human rights concerns to the forefront of their creative endeavours.

"The whole album is a total collection of all the things we’ve been working on," Moore explains. "Every song on the new album shows a change for the better, and we’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reviews we’ve received.

"Signals Screaming was recorded at Echo Base with Casey Lewis. We went into the studio with a somewhat conscious effort to make each of the songs as effective as they could be while eliminating anything that was not needed or necessary. We wanted every piece of music to count."

To further their ambition of making the little things count, Inner Surge has been focusing their attention on international marketing, chiefly through their internet site www.InnerSurge.com. Most recently they have formed a great relationship with filmmaker Fredy Polania of Polania Pictures who has used their music on the soundtrack to his new horror movie, Cabras. In return, Polania has also filmed two videos for the new album, "Retribution Song" and "Flame and Synergy," According to Moore, it wasn’t easy to pick two tracks out of 11 for video development, but ultimately it came down to the same old equation, making the greatest impact possible and getting their message across in a meaningful and hopefully stimulating way.

"’Retribution Song’ was partially inspired by an event in Uzbekistan where a large group of protesters were shot down in the streets," Moore elaborates. "The lyrics are pretty aggressive, but dissent cannot be crushed. Uprisings may be snuffed out in many places, but our message to the authorities is that it won’t simply go away. ‘Flame and Synergy’ is more melodic," he says of the band’s second choice. "It’s about a relationship with the inner self, inspired by a book called I Refuse to Die by a Kenyan politician named Koigi Wa Wamwere. During his 12-year imprisonment, he found his resolve while being tortured with water. I wanted to bring that energy into the song."

Pushing the boundaries and taking the fine art of headbanging to a higher artistic plane are more than a side effect of cranking amps and blowing eardrums – it is a testament to Inner Surge’s collective determination to end the "blind eye" syndrome that afflicts our privileged society. With pulse-pounding and change-provoking songs like "Welcome to the 5th World" and "No Profit in the Cure" to its credit, Signals Screaming (out on Cyclone Records) delivers a genre-smashing one-two punch that carries over brilliantly to Inner Surge’s dynamic live performances

- FFWD WEEKLY - Christine Leonard