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."
Intake
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Product of frustration
No regrets for what you feel
Don't pray that it's mistaken
Crawl, starting the machine
Embellish everything that made you want me
Crawl, starting the machine
Separate, what you see
Has given sight new meaning
Letting go to use the drug
That's really left you fining
Crawl, starting the machine
Embellish everything that made you want me
Crawl, starting the machine
Regret disgusting thoughts that made you want me
Open your hand - Close your mind - Now it's real
If you could open up that light socket up in your head, what would you see?
Damn, but it's been closed temporarily
From that it's so sudden, feels like you want to close
Your muthafucking eyes and take a look in the mirror
Crawl, starting the machine
Embellish everything that made you want me
Crawl, starting the machine
Regret disgusting thoughts that made you want me
Open your hand
Close your mind
Now it's real
The first stanza of Spineshank's "Intake" highlights the theme of hiding one's emotions due to frustration. The lyrics suggest that the individual is not sorry for feeling the way they do, and they do not hope that their feelings are mistaken. Instead, the individual is bottling up the feelings and keeping them hidden. The second stanza reinforces this idea, with the individual trying to separate themselves from their emotions, which has given them a different perspective. They have resorted to using substances to cope.
The chorus of the song appears to be a release of frustration or anger, as the individual screams, "Crawl, starting the machine/ Embrace everything that made you want me/ Crawl, starting the machine/ Regret disgusting thoughts that made you want me." The phrase, "starting the machine," also implies that the individual is beginning to feel something after bottling it up inside for so long.
The third stanza of the song dives into the idea of self-reflection. The individual is asking what they would see if they could open the "light socket" in their head. They know that they have been closed off and avoiding their emotions, and they feel like they want to look in the mirror and face themselves.
Overall, "Intake" appears to be a song about the struggle of dealing with emotions and the consequences that come with burying them. With powerful vocals and intense instrumentals, Spineshank highlights the frustration and pain that can come from bottling everything up.
Line by Line Meaning
Quiet smiles, what you hide
You're putting up a facade of being calm and collected when you are actually hiding something.
Product of frustration
Whatever is going on with you is the result of being fed up with a situation.
No regrets for what you feel
You stand by your emotions and the choices that come with them.
Don't pray that it's mistaken
The feelings are true and you shouldn't try to deny them.
Crawl, starting the machine
You are activating (or creating) something that will lead you forward.
Embellish everything that made you want me
You are hyping up the things that attracted you to a person or situation.
Regret disgusting thoughts that made you want me
You feel shame for desiring something that goes against your values or morals.
Separate, what you see
You are looking at things differently and forming new perspectives.
Has given sight new meaning
Your newfound way of looking at things has altered your perception.
Letting go to use the drug
You're allowing yourself to use something as a crutch, to cope with the changes and realities of the situation.
That's really left you fining
The thing you are using may actually be harming you more than helping.
Open your hand
You need to let go and release control.
Close your mind
You must shut out the doubts and distractions.
Now it's real
Only then can you truly grasp the situation at hand.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONNY SANTOS, JOSHUSA ABRAHAM, MIKE SARKISSIAN, ROBERT GARCIA, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind