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Review of Inner Surge's "An Offering" by Etan at www.cerebralmetalhead.com

There once was a time, years before they won Grammys and inspired hordes of awful imitators and Maynard James Keenan owned a winery, that Tool were just a really good metal band from Los Angeles. Canadian band Inner Surge deserves some credit for patterning its sound after Opiate (1992) and Undertow (1993), which found Tool at their most vicious and least obnoxious. Not that Inner Surge's fourth, An Offering, is a straight rip -- chief singer/songwriter Steve Moore (not to be confused with this guy, this guy or this guy) screams way more often than Keenan, and there's a strain of Machine Head power groove that runs pretty deep. But Inner Surge's approach to songwriting is all early Tool. Check the time-signature changes in "A Great Distance," free-flowing and smooth, the tribal drums in "Tamisra," the way the band eschews big choruses in favor of guitar textures and heaving riff pileups. This is dynamic stuff.

Inner Surge - "From the Depths"
Inner Surge - "A Great Distance"

Inner Surge are pretty forceful in their politics, as you'd expect from a band that lists the Zapatistas, Chomsky and the Black Panthers as inspirations. All too often, Moore's trenchant critiques of war profiteering ("Global fraud seperates the criminal, the dead, and the oblivious / Secure the account / There is no consequence," from "Halliburton Piggies") and economic imperialism ("Life or death dependency / Oil's bloody offering," from "Limb From Limb") sink underneath lukewarm hooks, and an hour plus of the same minor-key tonalities gets pretty tiring (another quality Inner Surge share with Tool). Still, An Offering showcases a sound that's both multi-layered and easy to follow, and engages topics intelligently that most metal bands ignore. Set alongside his recent recordings with his industrial metal act Post Death Soundtrack and prog-metal band The Unravelling, it marks Moore as one of Canadian metal's most productive auteurs.

Hi everyone. Just wanted to make an amendment. Even though the recent positive review from Canoe.ca is very much appreciated, the performers on Inner Surge's "An Offering" were Steve Moore, Bryan Sandau and Scott Taylor. The performances were not programmed by one person. The review may have been confused with "Solus Verum", a very early demo done by myself(Steve). Thanks,

A kid named Abyss (Johan), who in his personal profile says "I’m here to help those who are lost and guide them on to the path of debauchery blood." really did not take to Inner Surge's "An Offering"

Abyss: Whiny fucking maggotridden emo-metalcore bullshit with a festering boil of pus and herpes tacked on that calls it self “a thought-provoking band”. C’mere and I’ll show you fucking provoking, you herpes-ridden monkey-buttocks.

I'd have to say this is the best reviews I've received period. Johan, let me know if you make it to Canada...you can try that whole provoking thing!

Inner Surge - Interahamwe live

All of a sudden, it seems a lot of people are watching this live clip with varying responses. Some people think the band is called "Interahamwe", that we serve the devil or a "devil cult", and most importantly that we in any way support the Interahamwe, which would be totally false. This is why lyrics are important, folks. Don't let everything be black and white in your world. The lyrics are posted at www.innersurge.com and the intentions of the song should be obvious.
Thanks,
Steve

Top music releases of 2008 revised

Well, this isn't meant to be a comprehensive list. Just the sweetest meat. The few that in my humble opinion, you really should hear if you are into extreme emotionality in your music. Some radio shows and magazines have put Inner Surge and Post Death Soundtrack in their top 2008 lists. Much appreciated. Thought I'd spread the love to some bands I personally appreciate.

Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works

These guys have been bashing their heads against the wall for years, and after a positive general response to "Miss Machine", they upped the ante with "Ire Works". Read the lyrics as you go along or you may not catch the angle these guys are coming from. They are not another posturing metal band. I have seen them live and these guys are the real deal. They are here to take over. The diversity on this album should also be appreciated by music lovers - it's not all in your face. Some real variation before the next assault. This is the kind of band that should be supported for doing something extremely different and passionate. Standout tracks are "Horse Hunter", "Nong Eye Gong" and "Fix Your Face". Go buy their CD.

Made Out of Babies - The Ruiner

Just caught wind of this band recently from a top releases list for heavy music, and the name intrigued me. With a name like that, I took them seriously. And after listening to this album, it is justified. You won't hear this kind of music often. The vocalist sounds like she's set you on fire and is dancing around you chanting - but in a good way? The song "Cooker" gave me a renewed faith in the possibilities of aggressive music - no posturing, just pure catharsis. Not many other bands for me can touch the climax of that track. "Peew" is another standout.

Meshuggah - Obzen

Most of you know this band. No need to elaborate. Ok, I will. "Bleed" is the kind of song you should play first thing in the morning - yes - first thing in the morning as motivation for your day. This is the kind of track you play when going to war. There is not much emotionality in Meshuggah's music, just brutality, but sometimes that's just perfect isn't it?

Opeth "Watershed" This album had some great moments throughout and some near perfect tracks such as "The Lotus Eater". They successfully combine all the elements of their past with some new blues influences mixed in.

  Nine Inch Nails's "Ghosts" 
This album was particularly good, I thought. Great for being creative, or hell, driving, getting out of town. It's nice to enjoy Nine Inch Nail's signature sound with Trent Reznor having the courage to take his voice out of it and create an atmospheric experience.

Gojira's "The Way of All Flesh"
These guys are one of the best new metal bands out there. And they're not afraid to experiment either, which I appreciate. This album by far tops "From Mars to Sirius" in my opinion. "Toxic Garbage Island" and "Yama's Messenger" are standout tracks.

Portishead - "Third"
Dark and disturbing, just as I had hoped for. Nowhere near their second effort and one of my personal favorite albums, Portishead's self-titled, "Third" is still a quality album. The band goes more minimal and Beth takes an even more raw approach. Good stuff if you like ghosts.

Cynic - Traced in Air
A band I've discovered this year and with this release in particular. Very rewarding. Amazing compositions, and while many of the vocals are soft and high pitched I can appreciate that they are nowhere near as belligerent as the Mars Volta's latest release and they blend with the music quite well actually.

Honorable Mentions

Cavalera Conspiracy, Torche, One Day as a Lion, the Melvins, Combichrist, Polkadot Cadaver

Those are the things that woke we up this past year. That, and revisiting some old Dead can Dance ("Within the Realm of a Dying Sun"), Skinny Puppy ("Last Rights", "Too Dark Park"), and Dillinger Escape Plan ("Miss Machine", "Calculating Infinity") material of course.