Ex-Spineshank Singer: "I Wasn't Having Fun Anymore"

MTV.com reports:

It's been two years since Jonny Santos left Spineshank, and the singer says he has no regrets about the move. He's starting from scratch with his newest project, Silent Civilian. The band is on the road through the end of the month with Nothingface, and on April 18 its debut offering, Rebirth of the Temple, will hit the streets. Santos says he couldn't be doing better these days.

"I think I made the best record I've made in my entire life, to be honest with you," he said from the back of Silent Civilian's RV. "This was the first time I didn't have anyone telling me, 'Oh, we need a single. Oh, we need this. Oh, we need that. We have to keep the songs under three minutes and 30 seconds.' It's a very dynamic record — it's brutal and passionate. I'm in the band now that I've always wanted to be in."

Spineshank had run their course for Santos. "I wasn't having fun anymore," he said. "I didn't feel like I was making the music I wanted to make, and I wasn't happy with the way our relationships were going as individuals. Spineshank did what it was going to do, and I don't regret one day of being in that band. It was just done. We were nominated for a Grammy, and I wanted to go out on a high note."

While he left the remaining members of Spineshank behind to pick up the pieces — they've since recruited Brandon Espinoza to replace Santos and will soon rename the group — Silent Civilian are in fifth gear. The band recently shot a video for the album's title track with director Scott Culver (Yellowcard, Mikoto) at Santos' childhood home — the singer hosted a barbecue in the backyard and invited all of his friends down to throw 'em back. Static-X's Wayne Static, former Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader and Soulfly's Roy Mayorga all make cameos in the clip.

Santos says there are big things in the works for the summer. Nothing is set in stone yet, but he'd like to see Silent Civilian added to this summer's Sounds of the Underground run, which will feature As I Lay Dying, Trivium, Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder and Cannibal Corpse, among others.

As for Silent Civilian's debut, the band recorded 15 tracks, 13 of which will make the final list. One of the leftovers, he says, was a cover of Slayer's "War Ensemble," which will appear on a forthcoming, yet-untitled tribute to the band due in stores June 6. Other songs include "Funeral," "Lies in the House of Shame," "Live Again," "Force Fed" and "Falling Down," which was inspired by the Michael Douglas flick and, Santos said, "is like the most brutal thrash song ever, dude — it just f---ing kicks your ass for four minutes straight."

Source: MTV.com