Shrinebuilder
Shrinebuilder was an American stoner/doom metal supergroup formed in 2008 in San Francisco, California, consisting of Al Cisneros on bass and vocals, Scott Kelly on guitar and vocals, Scott "Wino" Weinrich on guitar and vocals, and Dale Crover on drums.[1][2] The project emerged as a collaborative effort among established figures in the doom and stoner metal scenes, with Cisneros from Om and Sleep, Kelly from Neurosis, Weinrich from Saint Vitus, and Crover from Melvins.[3][1] The band's formation was initiated through a phone call among the members, who sought to create heavy, transcendent music described as "Wagnerian and Iommic," exploring themes of spirituality, isolation, mysticism, and fantasy.[3][2] Rumors of the supergroup circulated as early as 2007 during the breakup of Weinrich's prior band, The Hidden Hand, with initial drum duties handled by Chris Hakius before Crover's involvement.[1] The group recorded their self-titled debut album at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood, California, from January 9–11, 2009, produced by the band and Deaf Nephews, and released it on October 20, 2009, via Neurot Recordings.[4][1] The album Shrinebuilder features five tracks—"Solar Benediction," "Pyramid of the Moon," "Blind for All to See," "The Architect," and "Science of Anger"—blending sludgy riffs, atmospheric elements, and vocal harmonies to evoke a sense of worship and purpose.[4][1] Despite critical interest in the lineup's potential, the band issued no further material and is considered split-up, with a vinyl reissue of the album appearing in 2020.[2][3]Formation and Lineup
Origins
Shrinebuilder's origins trace back to around 2003–2004, when Al Cisneros, known from bands such as Sleep and Om, initiated contact with Scott "Wino" Weinrich, proposing a doom metal trio that would also include Chris Hakius, the drummer from Sleep and Om.[5][6] Though initial ideas emerged at that time, the project gained momentum in 2007–2008, aligning with rumors during the breakup of Weinrich's band The Hidden Hand. Cisneros envisioned the group as a collaborative effort centered on heavy, riff-driven music, drawing on the established connections among the members from influential doom and stoner rock acts like Sleep, Saint Vitus, and Neurosis.[7] As the project developed, Cisneros expanded the lineup by inviting Scott Kelly of Neurosis to join on guitar and vocals, transforming the intended trio into a quartet and broadening the creative input.[5] Cisneros also selected the band's name, "Shrinebuilder," which Kelly later described as evocative of music's role as a spiritual and communal practice, telling him upon the invitation to join, "He [Cisneros] told me that this would be the name... and I thought it was great. It makes sense to me."[7] Initially, the plan was for Weinrich to serve as the sole vocalist, leveraging his distinctive style from prior work in Saint Vitus and The Obsessed.[5] The early momentum was disrupted in early 2008 when Hakius retired from music due to personal commitments, prompting a search for a replacement and delaying further progress.[8][9] This shift marked the end of the original configuration, though the core vision established by Cisneros persisted into the band's subsequent activities.[5]Members
Shrinebuilder's core lineup, established after 2008, consisted of Scott "Wino" Weinrich on guitar and vocals, Scott Kelly on guitar and vocals, Al Cisneros on bass and vocals, and Dale Crover on drums.[10][11] This configuration recorded the band's self-titled debut album and performed live during the group's active period.[12] Scott "Wino" Weinrich brought a storied legacy in doom metal, having fronted influential acts like Saint Vitus, The Obsessed, and Spirit Caravan, where his raw, soaring vocals and riff-heavy guitar work helped define the genre's heavy, Sabbath-inspired sound.[13] Al Cisneros contributed his signature psychedelic and meditative bass lines, drawn from his tenure in Sleep—pioneers of stoner metal—and the drone-oriented Om, emphasizing repetitive, hypnotic grooves infused with spiritual undertones.[13] Scott Kelly added experimental depth through his role as Neurosis's guitarist and vocalist, a band renowned for blending sludge, post-metal, and atmospheric elements in explorations of emotion and nature.[14] Dale Crover provided versatile drumming and production insight, leveraging his long association with the Melvins—where he has been a core member since 1984—and his broader work as a multi-instrumentalist across punk, metal, and alternative scenes.[15] The band's original drummer was Chris Hakius, formerly of Sleep and Om, who participated in early rehearsals but retired from music in early 2008 due to personal reasons, prompting Crover's recruitment to complete the lineup.[10] This change occurred before the album's recording sessions, ensuring continuity in the project's momentum.[16] Scott Kelly described the group's dynamic as deeply collaborative, stating, "The fifth member of Shrinebuilder is the godhead," highlighting the spiritual and collective essence that bound the musicians beyond individual roles.[12]Debut Album
Recording Process
Shrinebuilder's debut album was recorded over three days from January 9 to 11, 2009, at Westbeach Recorders in Hollywood, California.[17][18] The sessions marked the first time the full lineup—comprising Scott Kelly on guitar and vocals, Al Cisneros on bass, Scott "Wino" Weinrich on guitar and vocals, and the recently added Dale Crover on drums—convened to track material that had been sketched out in advance through file-sharing and individual contributions.[13][19] The production was handled by Crover and Toshi Kasai, operating under their collective moniker The Deaf Nephews, with an emphasis on a straightforward, efficient workflow to preserve the band's organic chemistry.[20][21] Songwriting unfolded collaboratively, as members exchanged riffs and structural ideas remotely before refining them collectively during the sessions; for instance, Kelly, Cisneros, and Weinrich each brought foundational elements that were assembled and tested in the studio.[19][22] Technical aspects prioritized a raw aesthetic suited to doom metal, employing limited overdubs—primarily percussion additions by Crover and select guitar layers—to maintain a live-in-the-studio intensity without excessive polishing.[19] While specific equipment like vintage amplifiers was not detailed in accounts, the abbreviated timeline and focused engineering by Kasai and Crover ensured the recordings captured the unadorned power of the ensemble's interplay.[23][24]Release and Content
Shrinebuilder's self-titled debut album was released on October 20, 2009, through Neurot Recordings, the independent label co-founded by band member Scott Kelly.[3][4] The record, which emerged from efficient three-day recording sessions earlier that year, marked the supergroup's sole full-length output.[25][26] The album consists of five tracks, blending heavy riffs and psychedelic elements across a runtime of approximately 39 minutes:- "Solar Benediction" (8:44)
- "Pyramid of the Moon" (7:35)
- "Blind for All to See" (7:27)
- "The Architect" (5:56)
- "Science of Anger" (9:24)