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."
Mend
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I led your eyes to see
If I fed your mind with sickened thoughts
Would you consciously conceive
Everything that I have offered you?
Shame
Pride
Stronger than
Hate
Stronger than
Life
If I lied to you would you still believe?
Mend your soul from my little fucking game
Forgive me for all you've done
Have I made your life a mess?
Is your soul perverted just like mine?
Inconvenienced by distress
Let it go, there's nowhere left to hide
Shame
Stronger than
Pride
Stronger than
Hate
Stronger than
Life
If I lied to you would you still believe?
Mend your soul from my little fucking game
Stronger than life
The lyrics of Spineshank's song Mend delve into themes of guilt, shame, and redemption. The song appears to be a conversation between two individuals, with the singer expressing regret for the impact they have had on the other person's life. The first verse sees the singer asking for forgiveness for leading the other person down a darker path, and questioning whether they are aware of the consequences of their actions. The repeated lines of "forgive me for all you've done" suggest a sense of self-blame and responsibility for the other person's struggles.
The chorus of the song is a powerful reflection on the strength of negative emotions such as shame, pride, and hate. These emotions are presented as being stronger than life itself, suggesting that they can have a more profound impact on us than anything else. The line "mend your soul from my little fucking game" could be interpreted as a plea for the other person to find a way to heal and move past the singer's actions, perhaps through forgiveness.
The second verse sees the singer questioning whether they have caused harm to the other person. The lines "have I made your life a mess?" and "is your soul perverted just like mine?" suggest that both individuals have been affected by whatever has happened between them. The final line of the song, "let it go, there's nowhere left to hide", could be interpreted as a sense of resignation or acceptance that the damage has been done and there is no escaping the consequences.
Overall, Mend is a powerful and emotionally charged song that deals with complex themes of guilt, regret, and redemption. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but ultimately suggest a desire for healing and reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Forgive me for all you've done
I'm sorry for everything I've put you through
If I led your eyes to see
If I influenced your perception of reality
If I fed your mind with sickened thoughts
If I exposed you to twisted ideas or beliefs
Would you consciously conceive
Would you have truly accepted what I presented to you
Everything that I have offered you?
All the negative influences I've shared with you
Shame
The feeling of guilt or disgrace
Stronger than
More powerful than
Pride
Excessive self-esteem or arrogance
Hate
Intense dislike or animosity towards someone or something
Life
The quality or state of being alive
If I lied to you would you still believe?
If I was dishonest, would you still trust me
Mend your soul from my little fucking game
Heal yourself from the damage I've caused
Have I made your life a mess?
Have I caused disorder or chaos in your life?
Is your soul perverted just like mine?
Is your inner self corrupted like mine?
Inconvenienced by distress
Made uncomfortable or troubled by emotional pain
Let it go, there's nowhere left to hide
Release your attachment to the pain, there is no escaping it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONNY SANTOS, JOSHUSA ABRAHAM, MIKE SARKISSIAN, ROBERT GARCIA, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind