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."
Play God
Spineshank Lyrics
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How someone like you can still sleep at night
Or are you too busy playing god
To fuckers that are chewing at your lies
Another loser born?
Fed on my fragile mind
Still I stood up on my broken knees
Gave me immunity to your disease
Another life is torn?
I won't hear, I won't see
I will never be a part of your cause
'Cause I'm alive and I still breathe
And your just a fucking waste of
Time, what you tried to offer me
Was it really worth it?
Sew up this hole inside of me
'Cause you'll never take it
I don't fear what you are
Because you're only dangerous to what is weak
Clinging to the stories you create
You make a living off of souls that bleed
Another dotted line
I won't hear, I won't see
I will never be a part of your cause
'Cause I'm alive and I still breathe
And your just a fucking waste of
Time, what you tried to offer me
Was it really worth it?
Sew up this hole inside of me
'Cause you'll never take it
I'm becoming of nothing
This is what you started
Time, what you tried to offer me
Was it really worth it?
Sew up this hole inside of me
'Cause you'll never take it
Never take it
The lyrics of Spineshank's song Play God is a scathing commentary on the people who use their power to manipulate and exploit others for their own gain. The song starts by questioning how people like the target of the song can still sleep at night, suggesting their actions are unscrupulous and immoral. The song asks whether they are too busy playing god to notice the people who are hurt by their lies.
The lyrics delves into how the person in question has fed on the songwriter's fragile mind, leaving them broken and torn. It speaks about how the person has taken everything from them but also gave them immunity to their disease. The song acknowledges that others have been torn apart by the same person.
The song continues with the declaration that the songwriter won't hear or see, and that they will never be a part of the cause of the person they are singing about. These lyrics show that the singer has no interest in partaking in the deception and lies of the target of the song. Instead, they are alive and breathing while their target is just a waste of time.
Overall, the lyrics of Play God by Spineshank are about rising up against manipulation and exploitation by powerful people. The message is that no matter how influential the person may be, the victim of their actions will always resist them and demand justice.
Line by Line Meaning
Trying to understand
The singer is attempting to comprehend the immoral actions of someone they perceive as unscrupulous.
How someone like you can still sleep at night
The singer cannot fathom how the target of their criticism is able to have restful sleep while engaging in deceitful behavior.
Or are you too busy playing god
The singer accuses the target of their critique of assuming godlike authority and control over others.
To fuckers that are chewing at your lies
The target of the artist's criticism is being unduly influenced by sycophants who are complicit in their deceitful behavior.
Another loser born?
The artist is questioning if the immoral behavior of the target of their critique has led to yet another person becoming a victim of their deceit.
Fed on my fragile mind
The target of the singer's criticism is purportedly responsible for the singer's fragile state of mind.
Still I stood up on my broken knees
Despite adversity, the singer musters the strength to persevere.
'Cause everything that you took
The artist attributes their troubles to the actions of the target of their criticism.
Gave me immunity to your disease
The artist suggests that by enduring hardship, they have become protected against further harm from the target of their critique.
Another life is torn?
The artist questions whether someone else has become a victim of the target of their criticism.
I won't hear, I won't see
The singer is indicating that they will not be influenced by the target of their critique.
I will never be a part of your cause
The artist makes it clear that they will never support the target of their criticism.
'Cause I'm alive and I still breathe
The singer is asserting that they are still living despite the harmful actions of the target of their critique.
And your just a fucking waste of
The singer implies that the target of their criticism is not worth their time or attention.
Time, what you tried to offer me
The singer believes that the target of their critique has offered them nothing of value.
Was it really worth it?
The artist questions if the target of their criticism got any satisfaction or reward from their deceitful behavior.
Sew up this hole inside of me
The artist is asking for help in healing the damage caused by the target of their critique.
'Cause you'll never take it
The singer is asserting that the target of their criticism will never again cause them harm.
I don't fear what you are
The singer is no longer afraid of the target of their critique.
Because you're only dangerous to what is weak
The artist believes that the target of their criticism preys on people who are vulnerable or easily manipulated.
Clinging to the stories you create
The artist believes that the target of their criticism is spinning fictitious tales to advance their deceitful agenda.
You make a living off of souls that bleed
The artist accuses the target of their critique of making a living by exploiting others and causing them harm.
Another dotted line
The singer is questioning whether someone else has become a victim of the target of their criticism.
I'm becoming of nothing
The artist believes that they are descending into worthlessness because of the targeted harm caused by the subject of their critique.
This is what you started
The singer believes that the target of their criticism has caused their descent into a state of worthlessness.
Never take it
The singer is stating that they will never become a victim of the target of their criticism again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN SANTOS, ROBERT GARCIA, SOREN SARKISYAN, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind