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."
Smothered
Spineshank Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of all the distance we have crossed
And if your darkness blinds me
I could never be more lost
But I'm not the one who seeks your protection
I'm not the one to share the disguise
And I'm not the one who reeks of rejection
You push from the inside, smothered
You push from the inside out, smothered
Have all your walls surround me
They're closing in they block my sight
The violence around me
Found me when I could not fight
But I'm not the one to take your direction
I'm not the one who wears the disguise
And I'm not the one to share your reflection
I'm not the one you break the same way twice
I will never win
I will never win with you
I read you
I fear you round up no more than you know
I hate you
I still do every time you let me go
The lyrics to Spineshank's "Smothered" convey feelings of being suffocated and entrapped in a toxic relationship. The first verse talks about the "black and cold" reminding the singer of the distance they have crossed, and how the darkness of their partner could blind them forever. However, the singer is unwilling to seek protection from their partner, nor are they willing to hide behind a facade. They refuse to be rejected again, and will not tear the same way twice.
The chorus emphasizes the theme of being smothered by the relationship from the inside, with walls closing in and blocking the singer's sight. The violence within it has found the singer in a state of powerlessness, as they could not fight back. The second verse reiterates that the singer will not take their partner's direction or share their reflection. They refuse to be broken repeatedly. The bridge emphasizes that the singer cannot win with their partner, and that they can read and fear them, but also hate them every time they are let go.
The overall mood of the song is one of angst, frustration, and a sense of being trapped in a suffocating relationship. The lyrics express the singer's desire for independence and refusal to be controlled by their partner. The chorus is particularly powerful in conveying the sense of being smothered from within, where one's own thoughts and feelings can become a prison.
Line by Line Meaning
The black and cold reminds me
The darkness of the situation reminds me of how distant we have become.
Of all the distance we have crossed
Despite how far we have come, we are still distant.
And if your darkness blinds me
If your darkness is too much for me to handle,
I could never be more lost
I will feel beyond lost.
But I'm not the one who seeks your protection
I am not the one begging for your help.
I'm not the one to share the disguise
I will not join you in pretending everything is fine.
And I'm not the one who reeks of rejection
I am not the one who emanates rejection.
I'm not the one to tear the same way twice
I will not let you hurt me the same way twice.
You push from the inside, smothered
You suffocate me with your controlling nature.
You push from the inside out, smothered
You control and oppress me, making me feel trapped.
Have all your walls surround me
You have enclosed me with your walls.
They're closing in, they block my sight
I feel like I am trapped and unable to see the bigger picture.
The violence around me
The hostility in this situation
Found me when I could not fight
Overtook me when I was unable to stand up for myself.
But I'm not the one to take your direction
I do not want to follow your guidance.
I'm not the one who wears the disguise
I refuse to pretend everything is okay.
And I'm not the one to share your reflection
I don't want to be like you or see things from your perspective.
I'm not the one you break the same way twice
I won't let you repeat the same cycle of hurt.
I will never win
I know I can't come out on top
I will never win with you
I can't win this fight with you involved.
I read you
I understand you and your motives.
I fear you round up no more than you know
I fear you more than you realize.
I hate you
I have deep anger and resentment towards you.
I still do every time you let me go
I will always feel this hatred when you release me from your grasp.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: BRAD KANE, JONATHAN SANTOS, SOREN SARKISYAN, THOMAS DECKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@monkeyhouseguitars
Damn I wish spineshank would get back together. Such an underrated band!
@jeremyv516
Sadly Rob said no reunion
@NeroBaelside13
Jonny Santos is making a new Silent Civilian album. Two tracks released so far
@lee.strings_
@@NeroBaelside13Honestly, though criticized, Spineshank’s style is way better than Silent Civillian’s. I don’t understand why people hated it.
@patrickskramstad1485
Much needed, for sure.
@nikkimiddlekillsday5161
Silent Civilian is good but I agree I feel like they don't go as hard as Spineshank, Johnny still hits those vocals good nonetheless
@misterparmi
Fun fact: This song was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the Grammy's in 2004.
@adrianscoggin7212
Fun fact, that's just proof people are idiots. This isn't even close to the metal genre.
@robertwrona3497
@@adrianscoggin7212 so what it is? Hard rock? Rock? Maybe it's not classic metal, but sounds enough heavy and groovy to say that's metal
@adrianscoggin7212
@@robertwrona3497 No response can be made to your comment. I just want you to figure out for yourself wtf is wrong with it.