Have you ever been betrayed? You know, where someone you trusted did a complete 360 and stabbed you right in the back? The pain of a trust dishonored and friendship destroyed leaves nothing but a feeling of emptiness so profound and thick, it's practically blinding. Now put a soundtrack to that endless black pain and you'll understand what Spineshank is about.

Formed in February of 1996, Spineshank is made up of Johnny Santos (Vocals), Tom Decker (Drums), Mike Sarkisyan (Guitars) and Robert Garcia (Bass). Spineshank rose from the ashes of BASIC ENIGMA which featured Johnny, Mike, and Tom. That band broke up after hearing the ground breaking Demanufacture by Roadrunner Recording artists, Fear Factory. The undeniably brutal sound of FF's industrial-meets-death metal caused Basic Enigma to realize that the direction in which they were headed was not where they wanted to go.

Johnny, Mike, and Tom got back together in early `96 and started writing material that combined the power and aggression of Fear Factory and Sepultura fused with the groove and dynamics of Tool and Deftones. Tom came up with the name "Spineshank" as a nod to the years of being back-stabbed by their so-called friends in the unforgiving LA scene. "A lot of people will step on you to get what they want," says Tom. "Everybody's too worried about getting signed and not where they're going with their music," asserts Mike.

Spineshank hit a local studio to record their first demo in Sept of `96. The band produced one of the most sought after demos in LA with three extremely powerful tracks: "Stain," "Mend," and "Novocaine." For a debut demo, it displayed a level of aggression so severe and fresh it attracted the attention of Fear Factory guitarist, Dino Cazares. Dino became the band's biggest supporter and friend, and provided Spineshank the opportunity of a lifetime: opening for Fear Factory and local faves Coal Chamber at the Whiskey A-Go-Go in Los Angeles. This show has become legendary and was the spring-board for bigger and better things.

While Spineshank's demo was a fierce display of anger and strength, their live shows take their power to a new level. People who witness Spineshank for the first time are floored by the musicianship and intense energy. Deeply passionate and energetic, Spineshank have taken their trademark heavy sound and, with the addition of electronics, given their songs a feeling of immediacy that can't be denied. Combined with Johnny's intense vocals Spineshank have the ability to push you far into the reaches of heavy groove and bring you back in with their undeniable hooks. Their live shows have led them to be hand-picked for shows with Fear Factory, Coal Chamber, Snot, Soulfly, Sepultura, and Danzig.

Spineshank have always been a band that has never settled for less than the best. So, with a freshly signed deal with Roadrunner Records, Spineshank entered the studio to record their debut album, Strictly Diesel with co-producers Jay Baumgardener and Amir Derakh (Coal Chamber.) Also on board was electronic programmer, Josh Abraham (Orgy, Limp Bizkit remixes) who helped to bring out Spineshank’s industrial side.

Feeding off the rage and insanity of their live shows, Strictly Diesel contains some of the most powerfully aggressive and dynamic songs put on disc. There are no personal politics that drive this band, no stories about "the Man" trying to keep them down or how living on the streets has made them tough guys. Their lyrics are about their lives and how overcoming their hardships have made them stronger, "Where we fall/Is where we rise" sings Johnny on "Where We Fall." Lyrical bandwagons have no place in an album this personal. Complete with Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory lending his vocal strength to the band's song "Stain," Spineshank is full on and ready to hit the big time.

"Strictly Diesel is the backbone of Spineshank," says Johnny, "it's about coming from nothing to something. For a long time we got no respect. The more people talked shit, the more it turned us into a machine." Being the bastard child of a cruel society and a back-stabbing music scene have hardened Spineshank into a well oiled machine that stops for no one. With the average age of the band being only 22, Spineshank are out to prove they can be matched by few and challenged by none. Powered by thick diesel fumes of anger and a lust for retribution against non-believers, the Spineshank machine is roaring on maximum overdrive. Loud enough to knock you down--and keep you there.