January 25, 2019

Spineshank - Self-Destructive Pattern (2003)

Country: U.S.A.
Genre: Alternative Metal
Label Number: RR 8454-2

© 2003 Roadrunner Records
AllMusic Review by Eduardo Rivadavia
After launching their career with a debut album inspired largely by Fear Factory's patented brand electro-death metal, and then transitioning towards the era's prevalent nu-metal trends with their second, Los Angeles' Spineshank succumbed even further to commercial pressures with their third opus, 2003's Self-Destructive Pattern. Essentially a hard rock album accentuated with sporadic metallic attitude, spiked with pseudo-techno inflections, and sprinkled with rap-metal distractions, Self-Destructive Pattern didn't do much justice to the band's aggro roots, but it did contain a handful of singles boasting serious crossover potential, in an Alien Ant Farm or Papa Roach kind of way. "Violent Mood Swings," "Smothered," "Tear Me Down." and the almost Linkin Park-esque "Forgotten," in particular, seemed ideally suited for both rock radio airplay, and allowing them to barely squeak onto Ozzfest's second stage, if they were so inclined. But despite showcasing a budding versatility from vocalist Johnny Santos, neither these nor cosmetically correct (if terribly derivative) nu-metal candidates like "Slavery," the title track, and "Stillborn" (containing a final few nods to Fear Factory) seemed likely to distinguish Spineshank from the growing mass of self-parodying (yet, for the most part, less conflicted) bands of their ilk. And a verdict would never be reached, in any case, since the internal strife that had contributed to Self-Destructive Pattern's convoluted creation wound up culminating in Santos' departure mere months after its release -- thus somewhat fulfilling the prophecy of its title, if nothing else.

tags: spineshank, self destructive pattern, 2003, flac,

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