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."
I Am Damage
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In bottled misery
Decay a design of the therapy
At birth, broke
It’s out of control
Repeating the cycle and evolving down a hole
Constrained, chained
With the force of a tourniquet
Unhinged, lost
And completely devoid
Running in circles trying to fill another void
This Life (I am)
Devised (Damage)
Demise (This time)
Repeating the cycle
This time (I am)
I die (Damage)
Inside (This time)
Repeating the cycle again
I try to reason with myself
This time, I've found
A trigger to the rage
Diseased with the anger still enraged
Blind, now
It’s under control
I'm falling to pieces but I still won't let it go
Too late, hate
It’s out of control this time
Break the cycle at the end of the line
Consumed, torn
And dying within
Trying to fight but I don't know where to begin
This Life (I am)
Devised (Damage)
Demise (This time)
Repeating the cycle
This time (I am)
I die (Damage)
Inside (This time)
Repeating the cycle again
And it comes right back to me
Like a fucking catastrophe
[Break]
You'll see me devolve to nothing
It's just the way it is
Recognize the damage I've become
[Solo]
I am the
Damage born again
Cast out the creation of my descent
Degrade, hate
Everything close
I'm over it all but I'm still not in control
This Life (I am)
Devised (Damage)
Demise (This time)
Repeating the cycle
This time (I am)
I die (Damage)
Inside (This time)
Repeating the cycle again
And it comes right back to me
Like a fucking catastrophe
In the song "I Am Damage" by Spineshank, the lyrics discuss the struggles of trying to control one's own life and emotions. The first verse describes the feeling of being trapped in misery, and the constant cycle of repeating the same mistakes. The singer feels constrained and controlled, unable to break free from the negative patterns they've fallen into.
The chorus repeats the phrase "This Life (I am), Devised (Damage), Demise (This time), Repeating the cycle" which emphasizes the cycle of destruction and repetition that the singer feels trapped in. The second verse introduces the idea of anger and rage being a trigger for the negative cycle. The singer acknowledges their own struggle to control these emotions, but still feels out of control.
The bridge brings the song to a climax with the lyric "You'll see me devolve to nothing, it's just the way it is". The singer has accepted their own flaws and the damage they've caused, but still feels powerless to stop the cycle. The final verse describes the singer's own descent into degradation and hatred, while also acknowledging that they still feel out of control.
Overall, the song "I Am Damage" is a powerful and emotional exploration of the struggles of self-control and breaking free from negative cycles that can keep people trapped.
Line by Line Meaning
It dies, drowned
Something within the person has died, suffocated by the weight of depression or addiction.
In bottled misery
Their pain and suffering are internalized and trapped within their mind or body.
Decay a design of the therapy
Even treatments meant to help are not working, and the person continues to deteriorate.
At birth, broke
The person was already damaged or flawed from the beginning.
It’s out of control
The situation, emotions, or actions are beyond the person's ability to handle or manage.
Repeating the cycle and evolving down a hole
The person is stuck in a pattern of negative behavior, leading to a downward spiral of worsening mental or physical health.
Constrained, chained
The person feels trapped or held back by their circumstances, like their struggles have taken over their life.
With the force of a tourniquet
The pressure and pain they feel are strangling and suffocating them like a tightening band or clamp.
But it bleeds and it's out of control
Despite any attempts to suppress or contain the damage, it continues to harm and grow with increasing severity and urgency.
Unhinged, lost
The person feels unmoored and disconnected from themselves and their surroundings, like they're adrift or floundering.
And completely devoid
They feel empty, numb, and devoid of any positive emotion or connection to others.
Running in circles trying to fill another void
They are stuck in a cycle of trying to fill an emotional or mental gap, but every attempt falls short, and they end up back where they started.
This Life (I am)
The person identifies strongly with their struggles and trauma, which have become a defining feature of their existence.
Devised (Damage)
Their damage or trauma was intentionally inflicted, whether by themselves, others, or by their circumstances.
Demise (This time)
The stakes are high, and they fear that they may not survive the struggle this time around.
Repeating the cycle
They are overwhelmed by a sense of futility, that their pain and struggles will never truly go away, and that they will be stuck in this cycle indefinitely.
I try to reason with myself
Despite these feelings, they still try to apply logic and reason to make sense of their situation, even if it's difficult.
A trigger to the rage
An incident or event has set off strong feelings of anger, frustration, or pain within them.
Diseased with the anger still enraged
The person's anger or pain seems to have taken on a life of its own, growing and spreading like an infectious disease.
Blind, now
The person's perspective is clouded by their pain, and they can no longer see things clearly.
It’s under control
The person feels like they've gained a grip on their emotions or behavior, at least for the moment.
I'm falling to pieces but I still won't let it go
Despite their struggles and pain, they still have a strong desire to hold on, to not let go of their sense of self or their current situation.
Too late, hate
The situation has reached a critical point, and the person is burdened by intense feelings of anger or disgust.
Break the cycle at the end of the line
The person is determined to finally break out of their cycle of suffering, to put an end to their struggles once and for all.
Consumed, torn
The person feels as though they are being completely consumed or broken apart by their struggles or pain.
And dying within
Their pain has become so intense that they feel like they are physically dying, or that something within them is already dead.
Trying to fight but I don't know where to begin
Despite their desire to break free of their struggles, they are overwhelmed and unsure of how to do so.
Like a fucking catastrophe
The situation feels chaotic, disastrous, and out of control, like a major disaster or catastrophe.
You'll see me devolve to nothing
The person feels like they are slowly breaking down, losing their sense of self and identity over time.
It's just the way it is
Despite the pain and struggle they're experiencing, they accept it as simply a fact of their existence, something they cannot change.
Recognize the damage I've become
The person acknowledges the ways in which their trauma and struggles have impacted them, shaping them into the person they are now.
I am the damage born again
The person's struggles and pain are so intertwined with their identity that they feel like they were born out of them, like it's their fate to be damaged.
Cast out the creation of my descent
The person wants to reject or banish the aspects of themselves or their life that they feel have contributed to their struggles.
Degrade, hate
They despise themselves or their own life, feeling lower or lesser because of their struggles or damage.
Everything close
The person feels as though they are surrounded by negativity, pain, or struggle, without anything positive to hold onto.
I'm over it all but I'm still not in control
Despite their attempts to move on or get past their struggles, they still feel powerless or unable to fully control their situation.
Contributed by Stella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.