Spineshank
– Self-Destructive Pattern
The Hobo Review
Genre: Aggressive Numetal
For Fans Of: Mudvayne, Mushroomhead
Rating: 
Best Track: Slavery
Spineshank began in Los Angeles in February
1996, managing to break into the mainstream by befriending guitarist Dino
Cazares just after the Fear Factory’s Remanufacture release. Nine
years onward - after scoring a record deal with Roadrunner - comes the
third album from the foursome entitled Self-Destructive Pattern.
Casting off their old sound, Spineshank
have attempted to reinvent themselves by reducing the electronical element
in their music, and focusing on a simpler, and heavier rock album. The
band has managed to recognize the stale elements in their two prior releases
and attempted to eliminate them.
Self-Destructive Pattern, Produced
by GGGarth Richardson (Mudvayne, Chevelle, Kittie), took a grueling sixteen
months to complete. The album itself is very anger orientated, as Jonny
Santos (vocals) commented, “We’ve tapped into something we haven’t been
able to tap into. We took a lot of risks and chances on this (album).”
The result is a furious, more determined
Spineshank. The album itself features a varied sound, demonstrating the
bands newfound flexibility. There are anthems of unrelenting fury in tracks
such as "Violent Mood Swings", "Slavery" and "Dead To Me". However this
fury is not consistent throughout the album. "Tear Me Down" brings the
album to a halt with a dark, brooding buildup track, and "Forgotten" represents
a progressive-metal ballad, which starts calmly but ends in a wave of screams
and anger.
The most dominant sound on the album lies
in a heavy mixture of progressive-metal, numetal and to a (much) lesser
extent, punk; as evident in the songs "Smothered", "Consumed", "Stillborn"
and "Falls Apart". The punk influences can clearly be heard in the track
"Fallback", which almost seems out of place in the album. The only
real matter of concern is how much Jonny Santos’ voice sounds like Chüd’s
(Mudvayne). Although it is apparent Santos is not trying to mimic Chüd’s
voice, the similarities at times are uncanny (perhaps due to Richardson’s
production?).
Spineshank have ripped away all the elements,
which have haunted the vast majority of modern metal artists, hitting back
with redoubled fury and a brand new metal catalogue. The band feels and
sounds much more comfortable, and seem prepared for the risks involved
in the slight change in direction.
Spineshank have shattered the numetal scene
once more, heading towards the heavier end of the spectrum with remorseless
speed. If you are a fan of the newer Mudvayne album, then Spineshank’s
Self-Destructive Pattern will provide you with a much-needed fix. Like
a junkie and his drugs, there is a consistent progression to heavier doses
–but will Spineshank be strong enough to satisfy the hordes for long?
Spineshank’s reinvention brings to life
the more likeable elements of numetal, dormant in most mediocre bands.
This album has the power, the aggression as well as the catchy hooks and
ear shattering screams to compete with the traditional metalists. Self
Destructive Pattern is definitely a positive progression for the band,
and may even interest less-militant metal fans. An apt demonstration of
why I refuse to dismiss all numetal bands purely based on the genre they
lie in.
CD Info
Spineshank
– Self-Destructive Pattern
Tracks:
1.Violent Mood Swings
2.Slavery
3.Smothered
4.Consumed (Obsessive Compulsive)
5.Beginning Of The End
6.Forgotten
7.Self-Destructive Pattern
8.Tear Me Down
9.Stillborn
10.Falls Apart
11.Fallback
12.Dead To Me |
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