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."
Exit Wound
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to Spineshank's song "Exit Wound" depict a sense of emptiness and despair experienced by the singer. The opening lines, "When she feels is just short of nothing, but she's still more than something I can't," suggest that the singer is witnessing someone they care about going through a difficult time, feeling a profound sense of helplessness. They express their inability to bear watching this person cry, as they continue to silently call out for someone's help, possibly their own, without receiving any response or relief.
The chorus, "If you take this all away and it still keeps bleeding while your God looked the other way, did it all mean nothing?" reflects a feeling of abandonment and questioning of the significance of their suffering. The singer is grappling with the idea that even if everything causing pain is removed, it continues to persist, and wonders if this pain and struggle have any purpose or meaning. The verse, "Below the dream was just dysfunction, memories I've half erased have replaced this life that's dead and left behind," portrays a sense of living in a fragmented reality, where dysfunctional memories have taken the place of a once fulfilling life. The lyrics convey a feeling of despair and resignation, suggesting that the singer finds solace in their own turmoil, as they speak of it soothingly, comparing it to a "murder."
In the latter part of the song, the repetition of the line "for me, it's all for me" suggests a sense of self-centeredness and isolation. The singer seems to perceive their own experience as separate from the rest of the world, emphasizing how disease and violence have become their constant companions. The closing line, "it all comes to an end, for me, it's just for me," expresses an acceptance of the inevitable conclusion, as if the singer believes that their pain and existence will ultimately cease to matter.
Overall, "Exit Wound" conveys a deep sense of emotional pain, loneliness, and a search for purpose amidst suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
When she feels Is just short of nothing
When she experiences emotions, it's as if she is devoid of any meaningful existence
But she's still more than something I can't
However, she still holds some significance to me, something I can't explain
No I can't watch her cry While she cries
I cannot bear to witness her pain as she sheds tears
I'm calling out your name But still resistant
I am desperately reaching out to you, calling your name, but there is resistance
Who assumes the blame? And then it all comes down
Who is responsible for this situation? And eventually, everything collapses
To the suffering you felt Intended just for me
All the pain you endured was directed solely at me
It's all for me
Everything that has happened is solely for my benefit or consequence
If you take this all away And it still keeps bleeding
Even if you were to remove all these troubles, the wounds would still keep bleeding
While your God looked the other way Did it all mean nothing?
As if God turned a blind eye, does all of this hold no significance?
It's sinking in I'm still adjusting
I am slowly comprehending the magnitude of the situation and trying to adapt
Below the dream Was just dysfunction
Beneath the illusion of happiness, there was only chaos and dysfunction
Memories I've half erased Have replaced this life
I have intentionally forgotten certain memories, which now shape and replace my existence
That's dead and left behind It's soothing like a murder
The life I used to have is deceased and abandoned, and adjusting to this reality is strangely comforting
What did you bury? The world that is collapsing
What have you concealed? The world around us is falling apart
Keeps the tragedy relapsing And it's gone
The continuing disintegration of this world perpetuates the recurrence of tragedy, until it eventually disappears
Conscience broken Words aren't spoken
My conscience is shattered, and the words that need to be said remain unspoken
Conscience is broken Words aren't spoken
My sense of right and wrong is damaged, and I cannot find the words to express it
For me For me It's all for me
Everything that occurs, good or bad, is solely for my own experience or consequence
To see It's just for me She fucks him violently
To witness and understand, it is exclusively for me; she engages in intense sexual activity with someone else
For me It's just for me Disease is all I know
For my sake alone, this is happening; all I am familiar with is sickness or affliction
Nothing means anything to me She fucks him violently
Nothing holds any meaning for me anymore; she engages in rough sexual activity with someone else
For me It's just for me Disease is all I leave
This is all directed solely at me; I only leave behind illness or infection
For me It's all for me It all comes to an end For me It's just for me
Everything revolves around me; it will all eventually cease to exist. It is exclusively for my experience or consequence
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JONATHAN J SANTOS, ROBERT ANDREW GARCIA, SOREN SUREN SARKISYAN, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind