Began in February of 1996, rising from the ashes of a previous band, Basic Enigma (which included future Spineshank members Jonny Santos on vocals, Mike Sarkisyan on guitars, and Tom Decker on drums). Basic Enigma broke up but soon reformed with a different sound and moniker, and a new bassist (Robert Garcia).
The band soon befriended Fear Factory guitarist Dino Cazares, who upon hearing their demo, offered the new band to open a show for F.F. at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in Los Angeles. This led to other coveted opening slots (with such popular acts as Coal Chamber, Snot, Soulfly, Sepultura and Danzig, among others), and label interest, with Roadrunner eventually signing the band. Their debut, Strictly Diesel, was released in September of 1998, and featured yet another tie-in with their favorite band, Fear Factory vocalist Burton C. Bell sings on the track Stain. The Height of Callousness followed two years later. Two singles were released off of this album (as well as became available in video form); Synthetic & New Disease. The band would hold a second stage slot on Ozzfest 2001 for the majority of that summer as well as touring with the likes of Disturbed, (Hed) P.E., Orgy& Mudvayne.
2003 saw the release of the much anticipated Self Destructive Pattern, as well as the single Smothered.
After the departure of Jonny Santos in 2004, the remaining members searched for a new vocalist and stated earlier in 2005 they have been working with a new vocalist. No name was given and no other news has been reported since then. Jonny Santos has since re-emerged in a new band dubbed Silent Civilian.
After a very long wait, Spineshank updated their official website (11/7/2005) with news that the band had found a new vocalist in Brandon Espinoza and that they had been working together for a month and had recorded 5 songs during this time. The band goes on to say that their new music is: "still heavy and dynamic with melody, but its a little darker and more raw. Our sound is a little different from what a lot of bands are doing these days and we wont be jumping on any bandwagons to fit in, we're just writing what feels right to us. So far there are no loops or electronics, and no plan to use them any time soon." It also went on to say that the future of the band was very much in doubt, unless they found the ideal replacement for Jonny Santos.
Almost 3 years later, on September 18, 2008, the band issued a press release from their myspace page, stating that the issues that led to the break up have been put behind them and they are working together better than they have before. The band has completed 5 songs since reuniting and plan to write 15 more before recording their new album. One of the new songs, "Born Conform Repent" can be heard at the band's myspace page.
Spineshank's long-awaited fourth studio album "Anger Denial Acceptance" is set to be released June 19, 2012 through Century Media.
After years of silence, The band's Facebook page responded to a post on July 26, 2017 when a fan had asked about Spineshank's status, simply stating "Sorry, Spineshank is broken up. Thanks for the support over the years."
40 Below
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well it can be only a mistake
Excluding all that seems to be before
Recollecting minds that intake
When I contemplate it gets sore
Prosecution by the minds that make me feel
Have only made me commit that crime
Still we all do time, still we all do time
Sold, no I don't belong to myself
Sold
Well you fucking can't believe
Everyday I run to this place I feel
It's still taking over me
You don't have to sell
If I sold you my life the way it was
Cause that's all he does, he tries to make a sale
Would you speak to me, an excuse to fail
An excuse to fail, it's still sore
Everything couldn't be happening to make me right
Cause my soul has already gone sour
Explain the vision that you still call mine
Now we all do time, now we all do time
Sold, no I don't belong to myself
Sold
Well you fucking can't believe
Everyday I run to this place I feel
It's still taking over me
Crawling, crawling
You come crawling
Sold, no I don't belong to myself
Sold
Well you fucking can't believe
Everyday I run to this place I feel
It's still taking over me
Crawling, crawling
You come crawling
The lyrics of Spineshank's song "40 Below" revolve around the theme of feeling trapped and powerless, with the singer being sold out in some way. The song starts off with a line that seems to contradict its own message, "You don't have to sell", implying that the singer is being forced to sell something he doesn't want to. He then goes on to express the pain he feels from constantly reliving past experiences that have turned sour. He wrestles with his own thoughts and fears and the judgments of the people around him.
The song appears to be drawing a parallel between selling out and being owned, with the singer being 'sold out' in some way. He talks about not belonging to himself, and he cannot escape the life he's been dealt. It's as if he's been convicted of a crime he did not commit, both by the power of his own mind and those around him. The lyrics then go on to describe the singer's desperate struggle to hold onto himself and not let himself be completely consumed by the situation.
Overall, the song is a dark reflection on the impact of factors outside of our control on our lives, and how we must constantly make choices to try to break free from their grasp.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't have to sell
It's unnecessary to try and persuade me
Well it can be only a mistake
It's possible that what I did was wrong
Excluding all that seems to be before
Ignorant of everything familiar
Recollecting minds that intake
Reflecting on the thoughts in my head
When I contemplate it gets sore
Thinking about it causes me pain
Prosecution by the minds that make me feel
The thoughts in my head make me feel guilty
Have only made me commit that crime
My guilty thoughts pushed me to commit the act
It's been said that it's better to hate than steal
People believe it's more acceptable to hate someone than to steal from them
Still we all do time, still we all do time
We all pay for our mistakes in some way
Sold, no I don't belong to myself
I've given myself over to someone else
Well you fucking can't believe
You won't believe me
Everyday I run to this place I feel
Everyday I find myself coming back here
It's still taking over me
It's still consuming me
If I sold you my life the way it was
If I told you about my life
Cause that's all he does, he tries to make a sale
That's all he does - tries to convince me to give in
Would you speak to me, an excuse to fail
Would you give me a reason to fail?
An excuse to fail, it's still sore
A reason to fail still hurts
Everything couldn't be happening to make me right
Everything that's happening isn't fixing my situation
Cause my soul has already gone sour
I'm already feeling defeated
Explain the vision that you still call mine
Tell me about the future I thought I wanted
Now we all do time, now we all do time
We all pay for our mistakes in some way
Crawling, crawling
Moving slowly on the ground
You come crawling
You come to me when you need me
Sold, no I don't belong to myself
I've given myself over to someone else
Well you fucking can't believe
You won't believe me
Everyday I run to this place I feel
Everyday I find myself coming back here
It's still taking over me
It's still consuming me
Crawling, crawling
Moving slowly on the ground
You come crawling
You come to me when you need me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONNY SANTOS, JOSHUSA ABRAHAM, MIKE SARKISSIAN, ROBERT GARCIA, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind