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."
Playgod
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 "Playgod" express the singer's frustration and anger towards someone who he believes is playing god with other people's lives. He questions how someone who lies and manipulates can still sleep at night, or if they're too busy being in control of others. The singer feels that this person has fed on his fragile mind, but he still stood up on his broken knees. The things this person took from him made him immune to their disease. The singer thinks that this person may have torn another life apart, but he won't be a part of their cause. He is alive and breathing, and this person is just a waste of time.
The singer is not afraid of this person because he thinks they're only dangerous to what is weak. He accuses them of clinging to the stories they create and making a living off of souls that bleed. The singer thinks this person may have signed another dotted line, but he won't be a part of their cause. He thinks what this person tried to offer him was not really worth it, and he wants them to sew up the hole inside of him because they will never take it. The song ends with the singer becoming of nothing, which he blames on the other person's actions.
Overall, "Playgod" expresses frustration towards someone who has played god with the lives of others. The singer is angry that this person has manipulated and lied to gain power and control. They feel that they have been immune to this person's influence, and they won't allow themselves to be a part of their cause. The song ends with the singer feeling like they have become nothing because of this person's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Trying to understand
The singer is attempting to comprehend how someone who causes harm can still live with themselves
How someone like you can still sleep at night
The singer questions how a person capable of causing harm can still find rest in their actions
Or are you too busy playing god
The singer suggests that the person causing harm may have a God complex, taking pleasure in controlling and manipulating others
To fuckers that are chewing at your lies
The person causing harm is a liar and those who see through their lies are seen as enemies
Another loser born?
The artist questions if the person causing harm was born as a failure, causing them to harm others
Fed on my fragile mind
The person causing harm has taken advantage of the singer's vulnerability
Still I stood up on my broken knees
Despite the harm caused, the singer has managed to stand up and persevere
'Cause everything that you took
The person causing harm has taken things from the artist, whether tangible or intangible
Gave me immunity to your disease
The harm caused by the person has made the artist immune to their manipulations and negative influence
Another life is torn?
The artist questions if the person causing harm has victimized others as well
I won't hear, I won't see
The singer will not be swayed or manipulated by the person causing harm
I will never be a part of your cause
The artist refuses to be a supporter of the person causing harm
'Cause I'm alive and I still breathe
The singer is resilient and not defeated by the harm caused
And your just a fucking waste of
The person causing harm is viewed as a useless and unproductive individual
Time, what you tried to offer me
The singer questions the value of what the person causing harm has tried to provide
Was it really worth it?
The artist questions whether the harm caused was truly necessary or beneficial
Sew up this hole inside of me
The artist seeks to repair the damage caused by the person causing harm
'Cause you'll never take it
The person causing harm will not be able to take away what the singer has left
I don't fear what you are
The singer does not fear the person causing harm
Because you're only dangerous to what is weak
The person causing harm preys on the vulnerable
Clinging to the stories you create
The person causing harm creates lies and manipulates others through these falsehoods
You make a living off of souls that bleed
The person causing harm thrives on causing others pain and suffering
Another dotted line
The harm caused by the person has resulted in another victim
I'm becoming of nothing
The harm caused by the person has left the artist feeling insignificant and empty
This is what you started
The person causing harm is responsible for the negative outcome of their actions
Never take it
The singer will not allow the person causing harm to take away their resilience and strength
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN SANTOS, ROBERT GARCIA, SOREN SARKISYAN, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind