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."
Anger Denial Acceptance
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The way you took the life away from me
Scratched the surface of the pain to come
The separation that can't be undone
It's in the way we fuck
It's in the way you make me need
It's in the way you cry
It's in the way you cut
So you can see me bleed
It's in the way you see that I am
Just another face
These walls come crashing down
And now it all decays
We take the life we once embraced
It slips away
The curse of emptiness
And time will have its way
The loneliness enables us
To medicate
A beating heart that's bleeding atrophy
A broken spirits animosity
The wound inside is that which cannot heal
Destroying dreams that we will never feel
I'm just your dead excuse
And it's a broken future now
It's not a happy ending
It's just a faded picture of
What we could never be
I can't erase the pain
The final hope has become one
We perceive to be dead
These walls come crashing down
And now it all decays
We take the life we once embraced
It slips away
The curse of emptiness
And time will have its way
The loneliness enables us
To medicate
You kill a gentle soul for personal gain
And by doing so you're a fucking murderer
This blood is on your hands
There is no light at the end of this tunnel
When I close my eyes,
All I see is the dark cloud
That I protected you from
It took 90 pounds of flesh to get me here
The illusion of love
Given by all the shit surrounding me
Love is just a fucking dream
And now turned to death
Once righteous
I am now a burnt and broken man
Brought on to me by the pathetic
Excuse of a life
I'll take comfort in the dark with all of my sins
There is no return back to light
From this hell I'm in
It's fucking done!
This is never coming back, divided
Accepted the fact
That it all adds up to nothing
The anger denial acceptance, it's clear
The way you're always your own victim
[Solo]
Another bad decision
To trust, with my life on the line
And now I'm dead and buried
The resurrection died
Another life denied
Your hesitation wounds are showing
They show the cracks
Conscience broken
Words aren't spoken
Conscience broken
Words aren't spoken
For me, for me, it's just for me
For me, it's just for me
For me, it's just for me
She fucks him violently
It all comes to an end
For me, it's just for me
The lyrics to Spineshank's song "Anger Denial Acceptance" deal with themes of pain, betrayal, and the negative impact of toxic relationships. The song presents a clear progression of emotions, from the initial feelings of anger, through denial and finally to acceptance of the situation.
The opening lyrics use powerful imagery to describe the depth of pain caused by the other person's actions. The line "the cold was almost generosity" suggests that even the lowest level of interaction between the two people feels like a significant gesture. The following lines describe the way that the other person has taken away the singer's life, scratching the surface of the pain that is still to come. The separation between the two is emphasized as something that can never be undone.
The chorus focuses on the toxic dynamics of the relationship. The singer is torn between their need for the other person and the knowledge that they are harming them. The lines "It's in the way you cut/So you can see me bleed/It's in the way you see that I am/Just another face" suggest that the other person is deliberately hurting the singer, using their vulnerability and need for love against them.
As the song progresses, the lyrics move towards a sense of acceptance. The singer realizes that the relationship is cursed, full of emptiness and loneliness that they are trying to medicate with their love for the other person. The final verse is a bitter condemnation of the other person's actions, accusing them of killing a gentle soul and leaving the singer in a state of darkness and despair.
Overall, the lyrics to "Anger Denial Acceptance" present a powerful and emotional story of pain and suffering caused by toxic relationships. The song is a prime example of Spineshank's ability to combine powerful lyrics with intense, aggressive music to create a truly unforgettable listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
The cold was almost generosity
The harshness you showed me almost seemed like a kind act compared to what came next.
The way you took the life away from me
You caused so much pain and destruction in my life that it feels like you took everything from me.
Scratched the surface of the pain to come
The pain I felt at the time was only the beginning of what was yet to come.
The separation that can't be undone
Our relationship ended in a way that can never be repaired, with a permanent separation between us.
It's in the way we fuck
The way we have sex reveals the toxic and unhealthy nature of our relationship.
It's in the way you make me need
You manipulate and control me in a way that makes me feel like I need you, even though it's harmful to me.
It's in the way you cry
You use your tears to get what you want, playing the victim to manipulate and control me.
To get just what you fucking need
You only care about yourself and what you want, even if it means hurting others in the process.
It's in the way you cut
You hurt yourself as a way of hurting me, to see me in pain.
So you can see me bleed
You derive pleasure from causing me harm and seeing me suffer.
It's in the way you see that I am
You view me as nothing more than an object to be used for your own benefit.
Just another face
To you, I am insignificant and replaceable, just another person to be taken advantage of.
These walls come crashing down
Our entire world and relationship is crumbling and falling apart.
And now it all decays
Everything we once had and everything we were is rotting away and becoming corrupted.
We take the life we once embraced
We are destroying the life we once had together, taking it apart piece by piece.
It slips away
What we once had is slowly slipping away from us, becoming nothing more than a memory.
The curse of emptiness
We are both plagued by a sense of emptiness and loneliness that we cannot fill.
And time will have its way
No matter what we do, time will continue to pass, moving on without us.
The loneliness enables us
Our sense of loneliness and desperation allows us to numb the pain and escape from reality through destructive behaviors.
To medicate
We use substances, sex, and other unhealthy behaviors to cope with our pain and sadness.
You kill a gentle soul for personal gain
You destroyed my kind and loving personality in order to get what you wanted.
And by doing so you're a fucking murderer
Your actions have caused so much harm that it's as if you've killed me emotionally and spiritually.
This blood is on your hands
You are responsible for the emotional pain and suffering I've experienced.
There is no light at the end of this tunnel
I see no hope or happiness in my future, everything is dark and bleak.
When I close my eyes
Even when I try to escape from reality, the pain and suffering follows me.
All I see is the dark cloud
The only thing I can see is the constant sense of sadness and hopelessness that follows me around.
That I protected you from
I tried to shield you from the darkness and sadness I feel, but in doing so I only hurt myself.
It took 90 pounds of flesh to get me here
I've suffered so much and lost so much of myself to get to this point.
The illusion of love
What we thought was love was actually just a destructive and toxic relationship.
Given by all the shit surrounding me
The love we shared was overshadowed by all the negativity and toxicity in our relationship.
Love is just a fucking dream
Love is something I've come to realize is impossible to attain or find in this world.
And now turned to death
What once held the promise of love has now become something that leads to pain and destruction.
Once righteous
I used to believe in doing the right thing, but now I've been corrupted and destroyed.
I am now a burnt and broken man
I am left shattered and destroyed by our toxic relationship.
Brought on to me by the pathetic
It was your destructive and selfish behavior that led to my pain and suffering.
Excuse of a life
Your actions have made it clear that you have no excuse for how you've treated me and others.
I'll take comfort in the dark with all of my sins
I find more comfort in the darkness and solitude than I do in anything else, including the sins I've committed.
There is no return back to light
I see no hope or possibility of escaping the darkness and pain I feel.
From this hell I'm in
My situation and experience feels like nothing less than a living hell.
This is never coming back, divided
What we had is gone and can never be regained or repaired, we are forever separated.
Accepted the fact
I've come to terms with the truth of our situation and have stopped trying to deny it.
That it all adds up to nothing
No matter what we did or hoped for, it has all amounted to nothing in the end.
The anger denial acceptance, it's clear
The progression and stages of my emotional journey following our relationship are clear to me now.
The way you're always your own victim
You constantly play the victim, using it as an excuse to control others and manipulate situations.
Another bad decision
Trusting you and getting involved in this relationship was a terrible mistake on my part.
To trust, with my life on the line
I put everything on the line, trusting you with my love, my hopes, my dreams, and my future.
And now I'm dead and buried
Our relationship has caused me so much pain and suffering that it feels like I'm already dead and gone.
The resurrection died
Any hope of rebuilding or repairing our relationship has been extinguished, there is no chance of resurrection.
Another life denied
This relationship has cost me so much that it's almost like a second life has been taken from me.
Your hesitation wounds are showing
Your doubts and insecurities are becoming more and more apparent, and causing more harm as you try to hide them.
They show the cracks
The flaws and faults in our relationship are becoming more and more clear and significant.
Conscience broken
My sense of morals and right and wrong has been damaged and distorted by this relationship.
Words aren't spoken
The pain and suffering we feel is too great to be easily expressed, even in words.
For me, for me, it's just for me
The pain and suffering I feel is something I have to deal with on my own, it's just for me to bear.
She fucks him violently
Our relationship has driven you to violent and destructive behavior towards others.
It all comes to an end
Our relationship and all its destructive and toxic behavior is ending, for better or for worse.
For me, it's just for me
Whatever comes next, I know that I'll be dealing with it alone, and it will be just for me.
Contributed by Owen G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Janus Ankou
A prophetic reflection of social perspective.
Paul Gibson
You should treat yourselves to hearing the whole album to fully get the quality of this song. Spineshank back and proud.
ugzz
once you guys wrap up thie album craziness. you need re-ignite that tour! i can't wait to rip shit up in the pit just like i did many years ago! hit up east coast!
SV Dicronius
00:21 best sentence ever and the whole is just overwhelming
Ingrid
I feel this so much.
xHybr1d
This song expresses 100% how I feel in my fucked up relationship.
AyZeD
2:18 - 3:02 is fucking EPIC
aquietmind77
Spineshank Forever........Forever Spineshank....
4-15-15
DirectedByEyaare
lol are we just going to get the whole new album one track at a time?
Comrade Vee
The new album has electronics on it everyone, check out the album preview!