BEATROUTE MAGAZINE
April 1st

You know something significant is happening when you’re the second interview in an hour for a local band. Even more so when said band is getting more attention from around the globe than in your own back yard, but Steve Moore of Inner Surge is counting on all that to change now.

Moore started the band in 2001 as a solo project because, as he says “it’s hard to find the right people.” The first album he recorded on his own, while the second album he wrote on his own and recorded with a live band. Their new disc, Signals Screaming, marks the first time he’s happy calling the musicians with him a band. “This is the first time I’ve felt like it’s exactly what I want it to be. I have Jim Fernandes [on bass], Brian Sandau [on drums] and Scott Taylor [on guitar]. All amazing musicians and we wrote the CD together so it was a total collective.”

Getting musicians together as a band and releasing the third album isn’t all Inner Surge has in store for us. In early March the band shot two music videos in town at The Warehouse and at Fish Creek park with film director Fredy Polania. The videos are part of Polania’s 2007 movie Cabras which although is veiled in secrecy, revolves around the legend of the chupacabra monster. “He’s doing something that’s never been done before,” says Moore. “He’s got twenty independent bands that he thinks are the best that he’s found and he’s traveling to Canada, to Isreal, to Mexico…all around the world to film videos.” The videos will be released through www.cabrassoundtrack.com and the music is to be featured in the movie and/or on it’s soundtrack. The first video for Retribution Song will also be released to Much Music.

Although the music is definitely heavier in sound, you shouldn’t easily categorize their music as heavy metal or hardcore. The band draws inspiration from various musical tastes but more importantly, the lyrical content is far deeper than you may expect, especially when they are hoping to do some benefit shows supporting human rights issues in the future. “There’s a few issues that we’ve studied in depth. One of them would be the Rawanda genocide of 1994,” Moore tells me. “The US not admitting that it was a genocide until after the fact so they wouldn’t have to intervene; the bureaucracy of the UN. The whole root of that is what Inner Surge is about. The rage, the emotions that come from that.”

Signals Screaming is being released through Cyclone Records, a label which started in Calgary by Brad Trew, but has since relocated to Toronto. Since the label doesn’t have full distribution they’re focusing on electronic distribution through the internet. “He’s basically at a stage where he’s just making a ton of contacts,” says Moore. “His goal within the next year is to be a full service label.” Hopefully that will allow the label to send Inner Surge out on tour. In the meantime, that will likely be achieved with both the band and the label cross-promoting each other.

The new disc, which was produced by Casey Lewis of The Failure, will be available at the band’s CD release party on April 1st at the Warehouse (of which there are two shows; one for all ages and a later, licensed show). They will follow up with two more CD release shows in Edmonton on April 8th and Medicine Hat on April 20th.

by Vicki Ackland
www.shebytches.com

The Band Members
Steve Moore - Instrument: Vocals, Guitar, djembe
Bryan Sandau - Instrument: Drums
Scott Taylor - Instrument: Guitar
Jim Fernandes - Instrument: Bass

This politically charged band hails from Calgary. The band was formed in 2001 by Steve Moore, who wrote and recorded the debut album "Solus Verum.” With influences such as Tool, Sepultura, Dillinger Escape Plan, Angeldust-era Faith no More, Machine Head, Dead can Dance, Public Enemy, Refused, Ion Dissonance, the Anti-Doctrine it is not hard to see where this band gets their honest original sound from.

Forceful vocals, rocking bass, a definite message and a high energy sound describe this Canadian rock band Inner Surge. All the tracks I heard were very passionate and innovative, and you can see metal, rock, punk, hardcore and progressive influences in every track. One of my favorites was the track “censored” which is a great almost techno sound complete with an air raid sound effect, airplane and other simulations. Loved “backlash” and “driven” strong, unique and very powerful. This band has an addictive sound, leaving one wanting to hear more.

Inner Surge's newest album is the critically acclaimed and inventive "Signals Screaming", with 11 tracks focusing on human rights abuses and what the band sees as the worldwide "blind eye". Released April 1 2006 through Cyclone Records, the album has been well received by both fans and music critics. "Signals Screaming" is being hailed as "one of the most essential metal albums of the year" from "one of Canada's most promising and most modern-sounding metal bands out there today." The lyrics cover themes such as the 1994 Rwandan genocide in "Wolves", the massacre of peaceful protesters in Uzbekistan in 2005 in "Retribution Song", the repression of the FDA in "No Profit in the Cure", and what the band describes as "self serving corporate groups on the road to destroying themselves".

Inner Surge's "Matrika" can now be purchased digitally through HMV Digital at www.hmvdigital.com. "Signals Screaming" will be available there shortly.
Inner Surge is featured on CBC Radio at radio3.cbc.ca/bands/INNER-SURGE.
Inner Surge is also the featured band on the new Lost Socks Insanity podcast, who played "Wolves", "The Outcome", "Backlash" and "Silencer" on their New Year's podcast

The bands name Inner Surge is something in everyone, that driven mechanism inside you to do something remarkable. I say this band is aptly named.

INNER SURGE
http://www.innersurge.com/
Hailing from Calgary, Canada, this rock band has a decent sound to them.
They remind me of a heavier version of Taproot. The singer has the soft
almost singing type of vocals, then just explodes in their choruses.
Reminds me Billy from Biohazard/Suicide City. Musically they are pretty
heavy, a mix of Pantera and Machine Head. For MP3's, they have a pretty
good sound to them, not muddy, drums are clear and the vocals are not
overpowered by the music. These guys just released an album at the end of
2006 and have been doing really well on the charts in the podsafe network,
along with good reviews of the new album.

Jens Metal Page
http://www.jensmetalpage.com
http://www.myspace.com/jensmetalpage

www.lucidforge.com

Written by Adam A. Donaldson

4/5

There must be something in the water in Canada that makes us rock out just a little bit harder than the other guys. Inner Surge are more than rockers though; they’re musical scientists that mix metal and hardcore with progressive rock and occasional electronic overtones. Hardcore tendencies aside, the Inner Surge is lyrical and melodic; they’re rockers with a message and are completely fearless in wearing their political beliefs on their sleeves. Songs like “Wolves“ and “No Profit In the Cure“ are highly political in nature; one is about the Rwandan genocide, and the other is about corporate corruption and control. Inner Surge’s attitude definitely keeps things punkish, but they are talented musicians with a clear message, uncompromised with concerns of mainstream appeal.

http://www.onlinerock.com/CDreview/review_innersurge.shtml

ONLINEROCK.COM

Although Inner Surge is sonically similar to bands like Disturbed, Slipknot, and (especially) System of a Down, the most apt comparison is probably to the late Rage Against the Machine. Rather than musical influences, the liner notes to Signals Screaming list Influences including the likes of Malcolm X, Michael Moore, George Orwell and Public Enemy's Chuck D. This is definitely music with a message, and that message is definitely anti-establishment.

Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Inner Surge combines metal, hardcore and Eastern sounds on this album, though the former is most apparent throughout, especially in songs like "The Outcome" and "Flames in Synergy", which feature SoaD-like vocals and angry guitar licks that bring to mind Pantera from their Cowboys In Hell days. "Branding the Muse" features a more raw, choppy sound reminiscent of Helmet or Quicksand, while the "The Bottom Line" and "No Profit In The Cure" (which alternate loud, angry chorus with softer, Eastern-tinged soundscapes) could very well be the next evolution in sound from The Tea Party. Perhaps the most interesting track is "Wolves", a quiet, reflective piece which substitutes soft harmonies for screaming vocals, and gentle strumming for the sonic assault found elsewhere. It's a welcome eye in the midst of an angry hurricane.

Favorite Track: Track 11, "No Profit In The Cure"

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

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.

http://www.innersurge.com
http://www.myspace.com/innersurge

www.xtremeproducts.cjb.net
Best Songs:
Wolves, Welcome To The 5th World, AzurA

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.soundstreet.ca

Wow. No other word quite so accurately describes the talent behind these four musicians from Calgary, Alberta. The rock solid guitar riffs, original, fresh, and interesting drum beats are lead into a musical assault by one of the most talented vocalists in the Canadian metal scene right now.

The bands third full length album "Signals Screaming" is due to be released on April 1st, 2006, on Calgary's Cyclone Records. The album is undoubtedly likely reach top Canadian music charts from coast to coast - and with their debut video for "Retribution Song", I'd be looking out for it on Much Music shortly after it is filmed.

Not belonging to one particular genre, Inner Surge pulls off the sound of hybrid genres perfectly, something which many bands aspire to, but rarely come off sounding half as good as these four.

Binding together the often conflicting genres of emo and hardcore, Inner Surge, while sticking to [some] hardcore and metal roots, sing songs about their emotions, as well as social events in the media to date. One example of this being "Retribution Song", inspired by the May 2005 Andijian massacre in Uzbekistan. This song will actually be featured on an upcoming horror film entitled "Cabras".

Being a new sound on the metal scene is a goal very few bands are able to accomplish, but, somehow, Inner Surge were able to pull it off. Congratulations, guys, "Signals Screaming" made the hairs on my neck tingle.

When I was first told what kind of music Inner Surge played, I was preparing myself for another one of those cookie-cutter hardcore bands like you see today in every venue and bar on a Friday night playing “Story of the Year” covers. But then I got to experience their music when it was emailed to me, and I was pleasantly surprised. The first track “Azura” started off kind of quite, but picked up once I got more into it. ‘The Outcome”, which is track number two on the CD Signals Screaming, sealed the deal. It gripped me and made me hold on through the rest of the CD.

The CD is a bit hard to describe though. I could go on through bands that kind of sound like Inner Surge, but could never really pin-point an exact match. The sound is in the remnants of a post-Thrice/Every Time I Die sound. The musical arrangement itself reminds me a bit of old Drowning Pool songs like “Sinner” and “Tear Away”.

The lyrics were very dark and poetic at times. They’re haunting and melodic throughout the entire CD; they never faded or became redundant.

The vocals echoed of Tony Sly [No Use For A Name], Ian MacKaye [Fugazi], and David Draimond [Disturbed]. The drum beats were one of the things that stood out to me the most in some songs. They were what gave the songs that post-Thrice/Every Time I Die/ Poison the Well sound. One of the stronger guitar songs on the CD was “Branding the Muse”. It showed off how well they can blend tone and aggression, yet still have the ability to produce a sound that doesn’t seem processed or over-confident as you will find in most hardcore/metal bands these days.

The lyrics were an enigma in themselves. Political, but not whiny like most bands today. They were thoughtful and personal, but not so much that the listener couldn’t connect. Here is an example from “The Bottom Line”:

“Intension Avalanche
The money was counterfeit
The vote was rigged from inside
Hijacked by a hoax
Tear out that black heart
No good will come of it
We'll cheer when these days are gone
Frantically crying "The Imposters are dead."”

This CD was a great blend of Hardcore, Metal, Punk and Rock. It was deep, aggressive and uncompromising to the sounds of music today. Out of 5 I give this CD a 4.5 because although this was an excellent CD, not every CD can be perfect in every way.

~Mandee

Calgary’s Inner Surge have been busy as of late. Among the many accolades that they are enjoying is the completion of a new album, inclusion on a movie soundtrack, and the filming of a music video. So, what’s the big deal with Inner Surge? A listen to their newest release, Signals Screaming, reveals that they are a band that has mastered the elusive art of combining influences to make a fresh and innovative sound.

From the haunting first track on the disc, “AzurA”, a sense that Inner Surge is not your typical “paint by numbers” metal band becomes apparent. All of the tracks that follow exhibit engaging songwriting, and tightness between musicians that a lot of others fail to achieve. Intense tracks, such as “The Outcome,” “When The Doors Lock” and “Retribution Song” are countered by “Wolves,” which is more haunting and intriguing, as is the opener. Throw in a tidbit of quirkiness, such as that found in “The Bottom Line,” and you get a winning combination. Throughout its entirety, the band displays incredibly versatile musicianship, displaying their ability to encompass all sorts of rock and metal styles.

From beginning to end, Inner Surge’s Signals Screaming is a disc full of superb music, which will both captivate the listener and bludgeon him with intense, well written audio assaults. Possibly among one of the best imports that Canada has to offer - aside from Molson Beer, Peter North, and Shania Twain’s genes, that is. - STEPHEN BERNHARD

INNER SURGE - "Signals Screaming"
Cyclone Records 2006

Music: Metal
Website: http://www.innersurge.com
Country: Canada
Duration: 43:12 (11 songs)
Cool Songs: Wolves, No profit in the cure, AzurA

Review by Nancy Luke

The first band so far made me eager to see them live. I really wish I would be able to see them perform. The vocals have great ability to scream without stopping (knock on wood...no envy). He's got different ranges, and strength within his voice which made it so distinct.

Although I wasn't lucky enough to get their old albums, this album really proved that there are bands (especially this one)out there fighting to get somewhere...and I respect that.

Another good choice was the intro of this album, "AzurA". That would be a good tip for me if I ever got to have a band on my own. This track showed the full ability of the vocalists voice. So quiet and full control, strength in words. To be honest, when I first heard his voice, I never thought that this guy and especially the whole band can go harder than that. Although the vocals seem to me so fine by the end of this track, yet I never believed it, until I heard it.

"Wolves" was the different track here. I guess if you heard this song only without the whole album, you would think of them as nu-metal or Progressive metal...which is something they should be proud of. Many bands don't have the ability to switch from mood to mood so easily, whether they fail or die trying to do that.

This album will help the band to step forward or even to strengthen their feet on the metal ground. So glad I got to hear this band. This album will rock your world, for 43:12 minutes exactly

Inner Surge - Signals Screaming newest release from Canadian Record Label "Cyclone Records".

Moments of tranquility interrupted by a release of positive violence.
Politically charged lyrics drive the sound and attitude of these Canadian Metal Icons.

These guys sound like later "Earth Crisis", mixed with "Faith No More",
sprinkled with some "Judas Priest", and topped of with a dab of "Sick of it All".

Definitely worth the bucks if you like new metal blended with the hardcore.
The recording sounds like it has been produced well,
however there are too many guitar effects for my taste,
but overall it is still energetic and raw enough to be on this site.

I would have to give these guys a rating of 5. Chest High.

Find out more about "Inner Surge" or to download their songs
visit Cyclone Records or www.innersurge.com.

Inner Surge: “Signals Screaming” (Cyclone Records)
Inner Surge is a band of rockers that sound a little like TOOL. Their debut, “Signals Screaming” is a hell of a heavy metal juggernaut that grabs you by the throat at the beginning and takes you away on a rockin’ metal journey beyond the fires of Hell. The singer can sing, the band can play, what more do you want? A sound that fits the future – this is what your kids will be dancing to in 20 years. (http://www.innersurge.com) KM

Inner Surge - Signals Screaming
Canadian punk rages against the machine

By Charlie Parker
26-05-2006

Signals Screaming is Canadian rockers Inner Surge’s third album since their formation in 2001. Slotting in amongst the 21st century’s new wave of heavy bands, Inner Surge play a hefty mix of straight up rock, scathing punk and post-hardcore metal.

Very much Jawbox clashing with Boysetsfire, Inner Surge are certainly a lot more interesting than any similar British act I’ve ever heard, with a fire in the bellies that carries ragers like The Outcome off of the plastic and into your skull where it beats your brain repeatedly again the bone of your head space.

The album keeps up the steam across its eleven tracks but some of the songs begin to bleed into each other, though this is more a genre failing than the band’s. A big thrashing racket with genuinely thoughtful lyrics about the modern world—an unexpected treat.

Album out now, www.innersurge.com via Cyclone Records

I was ready to dismiss this as another one of those groove metal bands, but this band has so much more to offer.

Sure there is some groove to it, but the music is so emotional and the vocals sucked me in and I really began to get into this. The music will set you on a rollercoaster ride of metal and melody not to be missed.