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."
Slipper
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With fear my only fuel
I found my faith
With nothing, nothing to do
Run from you... you're binding me in sin
You've got to...
With lies I see as real
I push what doesn't move
I keep forgetting what is real
Run from you...you're binding me in sin
You've got to run
I keep on running from you
Keep on fighting me, come on
Slipper
Whore... you fuckin' whore
I've reached this point with fear my only fuel
Run from you...you're binding me in sin
You've got to run
I keep on running from you
Keep on fighting me, come on
Slipper
Whore... you fuckin' whore
The lyrics of "Slipper" by Spineshank carry a haunting and intense message about the struggle to escape one's own demons. The first stanza sets the tone of the song, with the singer admitting to feeling hopeless and lost - "I've reached this point with fear my only fuel". Despite the darkness, the voice claims to have found faith in something beyond themselves, even if it's not explicitly identified.
However, this newfound faith is challenged by an unidentified figure who is "binding me in sin". It's unclear whether this voice represents a specific person or just the singer's internal battles. Nonetheless, the repeated entreaty to "run" away from this influence suggests a desperate need to escape its grasp. The chorus is particularly forceful, with the singer pleading with this unknown entity to let them go: "You've got to run / I keep on running from you / Keep on fighting me, come on".
The final lines of the song are jarring but ambiguous. The repeated insult of "Slipper / Whore" seems directed back at the same entity the singer has been struggling to escape, but it's difficult to discern the intended meaning. The overall impression is of someone who is fighting with everything they have just to keep moving forward, even if they don't know exactly what they're fighting against.
Line by Line Meaning
I've reached this point
The singer has arrived at a specific point in their life
With fear my only fuel
The singer is motivated solely by fear
I found my faith
The singer has found their religious faith
With nothing, nothing to do
The artist is aimless and lacks purpose
Run from you... you're binding me in sin
The person addressed is a source of temptation that the artist is struggling to resist
You've got to...
The singer is urging the addressed person to take some action
I drowned my left side
The singer has suppressed certain emotions or traits within themselves
With lies I see as real
The artist is deluding themselves with false beliefs
I push what doesn't move
The artist is trying to force something that won't change or give way
I keep forgetting what is real
The artist is losing touch with reality
Slipper
Title of the song, meaning unclear
Whore... you fuckin' whore
Insult directed at a person, implying promiscuity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONNY SANTOS, MIKE SARKISSIAN, ROBERT GARCIA, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind