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.
 
 

• Visit the Official website.
• Listen to samples and Purchase this CD online
• Check out past coverage of Spineshank

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