Spine of God

Spine of God is the debut studio album by American rock band Monster Magnet, released in Europe in 1991 and in the United States the following year. The album represents one of the earliest examples of the emerging 1990s sub-genre of stoner rock. Spine of God did not perform well commercially upon its initial release, but was praised by critics and would later be considered a major influence on stoner rock bands.^[6] The song "Medicine" was released as a single with accompanying music video.

Spine of God
Studio album by Monster Magnet
Released	1991
Recorded	1991
Studio	Subterranean Sound, (High Street, USA) Long Branch, New Jersey
Genre	Acid rock[1] hard rock[2] psychedelic rock[2] heavy metal[3] stoner rock[4] grunge[5]
Length	49:48
Label	Caroline
Producer	Dave Wyndorf, John McBain
Monster Magnet chronology
Tab (1991) Spine of God (1991) Superjudge (1993)
2006 reissue
Cover of the 2006 reissue

Overview

Spine of God features a cover of Grand Funk Railroad's "Sin's a Good Man's Brother". It was re-released in March 2006 on Steamhammer records with new artwork, new liner notes, compressed dynamic range, and a previously unreleased demo version of "Ozium" included as a bonus track.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Blabbermouth.net	9.5/10[4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	7/10[8]
Kerrang!	[9]

The Philadelphia Inquirer called the album "a mixture of grunge, metal, and late '60s acid rock, loaded with feedback noise, and more than a little depravity".^[5] Spin, in its December 1991 issue, referred to the album as "a total KO" while comparing it favorably to the work of grunge rock icons of the day such as Soundgarden, Tad, and Mudhoney; it was listed on Spin's "Ten Best Albums of the Year You Didn't Hear" for 1991.^[10]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Pill Shovel" (McBain, Wyndorf)	4:00
2.	"Medicine"	3:21
3.	"Nod Scene" (McBain, Wyndorf)	6:46
4.	"Black Mastermind" (McBain, Wyndorf)	8:13
5.	"Zodiac Lung"	4:44
6.	"Spine of God"	8:02
7.	"Snake Dance"	3:10
8.	"Sin's a Good Man's Brother" (Mark Farner)	3:31
9.	"Ozium"	8:01
Total length:		49:48

All tracks are written by Dave Wyndorf, except where noted.

Personnel

Musicians

• Dave Wyndorf – guitar, vocals
• John McBain – guitar
• Joe Calandra – bass
• Jon Kleiman – drums
• Tim Cronin – (credited as "Dope/Lights/Center of the Universe")

Production

• Dave Wyndorf – producer
• John McBain – producer
• Stacy "Springdale" Phelon – engineer

Art and design

• Rob Leecock – bullgod design
• Samantha Muccini – photography
• Reed Linkletter Jr. – art direction
• Alexander von Wieding – reissue artwork

References

1. Rivadavia, Eduardo (June 13, 2018). "Monster Magnet Albums Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
2. Swanson, Dave (June 16, 2018). "When Monster Magnet Took Us on a 'Powertrip'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
3. Phillips, William; Cogan, Brian (March 20, 2009). Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal Music. ISBN 9780313348013.
4. Alisoglu, Scott (April 24, 2006). "Monster Magnet - Spine of God (SPV re-issue)". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
5. Sokolic, William H. (May 4, 1992). "Monster Magnet". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. C1.
6. Tepedelen, Adem (December 4, 2017). "Monster Magnet - "Spine of God"". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
7. Ankeny, Jason. "Monster Magnet Spine of God review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
8. Popoff, Martin (2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 286. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
9. Gitter, Mike (October 12, 1991). "Monster Magnet 'Spine of God'". Kerrang!. Vol. 362. London, UK: EMAP.
10. Levy, Joe (December 1991). "10 Best Albums of the Year You Didn't Hear". Spin. p. 88. Retrieved February 1, 2011.