Back in January 2008, I also gave away a few copies of An Offering, the album release from Inner Surge at the time, a powerhouse of progressive metal out of Canada. From the album comes this track, Halliburton Piggies.

The Unravelling is an innovative and melodic progressive metal band from Calgary, Canada. Inspired by diverse artists such as Dead Can Dance, Tool, Opeth, Nine Inch Nails, Arcana, and Dillinger Escape Plan, the Unravelling’s music ranges from the engaging and inviting to the aggressive and threatening. The project’s founder and instrumentalist, Gustavo De Beauville, composes and records the music while singer Steve Moore (of Inner Surge & Post Death Soundtrack) writes the lyrics and vocal parts. The musical approach is intended to be extremely cathartic, with full disclosure in mind. The debut full length album is currently being recorded, though the band has already garnered airplay on a variety of metal and rock programs.

what we say…

I (Ken) have a thing for Canada. A thing for Canadian bands and music. I first got in contact with Steve when I was introduced to Inner Surge a year ago or so (wound up giving away some Inner Surge goodies on the podcast). The Unravelling are dishing out a massive sound for a two-piece. At time of writing they’ve just uploaded ‘Open Skull’ for preview on MySpace (I picked up a preview pack by mail during the week) along with Becoming Chaos, Unscripted Disclosure (featured on show 44), Revived, Move Forward Until You Are… and Victory Song.

The track we opted to roll with for show 44 (above) was Unscripted Disclosure, reminding me a lot of the sounds of Clergy (great Irish four-piece progressive metal act, now no more). Likely due to the similar influences – Tool, APC, Opeth and the likes. There’s some contrast between that and the new offering of Open Skull but it’s all good. I’ve been pushing Inner Surge to anyone who’ll listen here at home and The Unravelling are going to get the same treatment.

We’re looking forward to an official release from the band and best thing about it is their embracing of podsafe music practices so you know you’re going to get to hear a lot more from The Unravelling on the Playlist Mix.

Check out The Unravelling on MySpace. See also (and listen to!) Inner Surge and Post Death Soundtrack.

This week sees the return of Canadian metal outfit Inner Surge to the podcast along with newcomers to PlaylistMix.com in the form of

• +Nurse – ‘Gideons’
• Starewell – ‘Broke And Out Of Money’
• Perpetual Emotion Machine ‘Port Moody (150 Dollar Version)’
• Bloodshot Eyez – ‘Fix Me’
• The Puffins – ‘Bad Boys From Leningrad’
• Inner Surge – ‘From The Depths’

If you would like your music featured on the podcast or you would like to nominate / suggest a band or track for the show then email me now on podcast@playlistmix.com. Don’t forget to include MySpace links / Bebo links / iTunes links where possible.

Until next week…

K

With the competition closing at midnight GMT tonight (that’s approx 14.5 hours from now!) I’ll let you have the question here (where others have had to listen to the podcast).

I want you to tell me the name of the opening track on ‘An Offering’. You can see the full tracklisting here on PlaylistMix.com or visit InnerSurge.com.

Grab the name of the track, put it in an email along with your name and address and email it to podcast@playlistmix.com.

Couldn’t be easier!

Winner announced on the podcast tomorrow night.

Can you believe that Heath Ledger was found dead earlier? There was I thinking we’d have a sweet legacy in the Joker for the new Batman movie, maybe a reappearance in a third movie, but it’s never going to happen now.

Mad really. Just over three years older than myself as well, it’s nuts.

Anyway, this week’s podcast features a blend of downtempo, industrial, rock, reggae and metal tunes – hell of a mix when you think about it. Plus there’s also the Inner Surge CD giveaway where you can bag yourself a copy of of their brand new album ‘An Offering’.

But, the question is in the podcast. I’ll be fair and if you want to get to the question, it’s near the end of the podcast. Answers on a postcard to podcast@playlistmix.com. That’s an old TV joke… send an email with the answer! You get the drift.

Here’s this week’s playlist

1. 01:21 – Christophe Goze – ‘Our Secrets’
2. 06:02 – Nigmatic – ‘Amplified’
3. 10:41 – Citizen Six – ‘Don’t Go To…’
4. 12:42 – Lady White Noise – ‘Well Enough Unknown’
5. 19:16 – Mighty Mystic – ‘Heart Of A Lion’
6. 26:27 – Inner Surge – ‘Halliburton Piggies’

Don’t forget – if you enjoy the show, let me know what you think by leaving a comment, or dropping by the MySpace. You can also email tracks and band news to podcast@playlistmix.com for inclusion in future shows.

The Inner Surge competition closes midnight, Monday January 28th and the CD will be posted anywhere in the world. Envelope is standing by, all it needs is a name!

With the official release set for January 26th (launch party in Calgary, Alberta featuring Persepolis & Autobody), I’ve already picked up my copy of the album, listened to it over the weekend and really, really like it.

You can pick up ‘An Offering’ for just CA$10 from InnerSurge.com (including postage) and bag yourself 13 tracks of progressive and hardcore metal goodness or you can listen to this week’s Playlist Mix Podcast (show 18, available from Tuesday night) and try win yourself a copy.

Closing date for the giveaway will be Monday January 28th, answers on a postcard to podcast@playlistmix.com (email, obviously) and the question can only be found by listening to this weeks upcoming podcast!

Don’t forget that each week on Playlist Mix features a variety of tracks from six international acts, all wrapped into a bundle of joy 30 minutes long.

Well…. 30 minutes ish.

Keep an eye out for the download this week on iTunes and PlaylistMix.com

I bagged myself a copy of the CD today, or at least placed the order for the physical CD. My suggestion is order directly from InnerSurge.com – free shipping. If you’re not into the physical CD itself, you can still make a digital purchase of the album, but to get the 13 track CD, with free shipping, for only CA$10, you can’t go wrong!

Here’s the blurb from the band’s site…

“An Offering” is now available in the “Store” section. No shipping is charged from the official www.innersurge.com store. If you do not want a physical copy of the CD, tracks are available for digital purchase in the “Music” section. Information on the new CD is below.

INNER SURGE – “An Offering” (2008 Cyclone Records/Overthrow Promotions)

CD TRACKLISTING:
1) The Monroe Doctrine
2) The Empire
3) Maggots & Liars
4) From the Depths
5) Stimulus Response
6) Tamisra
7) Crossing the Line
Halliburton Piggies
9) A Great Distance
10) Tools for the Escape
11) Light a Fire
12) Interahamwe
13) Limb from Limb

CD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
To those who helped this album come to light; Our fans and everyone who has listened to or contacted us from across the globe, All of our families who have supported us, Shaun Friesen & Free Zen Design, Casey Lewis & Echo Base Studios, Chrys G, all radio shows, podcasts, magazines, websites and individuals who have supported and promoted this band – our heartfelt thanks goes out to you.

To those who resisted or ignored us, the radio who worship the mundane and call it “alternative”, the idol-style voting contests who promote shit music and waste everyone’s time, the bands who place more importance on makeup, choreography and personality cults than songwriting or meaning, the “scene over music” crowd who destroy the individual thinker and praise the mindless herd, and all those who strive to suck the lifeblood out of everything good, Enjoy.

So support independant acts! If you like the music you hear on the podcast, why not reach out and buy a band’s EP or CD. Nine times out of ten the quality is better and the price is cheaper!

I’m just back from a few days away up the north, kayaking amongst other things. Alas the weather wasn’t the greatest and now I’ve got the headcold to match but such is the result of watersports in the winter.

That or taking two days out of work sends your usual busy body into a complete shutdown and now I’m paying the price. Before the cold gets any worse I’ve another six acts for you this week with a more progressive rock and pop rock slant on the podcast.

The Circa Survive and Codaphonic tracks are great – give them a listen! Tell me what you think as well, don’t be shy!

This week features

• 00:28 – Sundial Project – ‘Check Out’
• 04:58 – Circa Survice – ‘The Great Golden Baby’
• 09:37 – 100 Year Picnic – ‘Hot Balloon’
• 12:35 – Blackout Pilot – ‘Sweet Sarah’
• 17:06 – Codaphonic – ‘Ritalin’
• 27:07 – Inner Surge – ‘No Profit In The Cure’

Don’t forget if you would like to submit YOUR music, drop me a line on podcast [at] playlistmix [dot] com, drop over to the MySpace or contact me through the site. If you’ve any feedback to offer, don’t hold back either! Get in touch via MySpace or leave a comment here on playlistmix.com – suggestions for music are always welcome!