Shrinebuilder
American stoner/doom supergroup with one self-titled album.
Shrinebuilder was an American stoner/doom metal supergroup that released a single self-titled album in October 2009. The band’s origins trace to around 2003–04, when Om’s Al Cisneros contacted Scott “Wino” Weinrich about forming a three-piece with Om drummer Chris Hakius. Cisneros chose the band’s name, and Wino was initially intended to be the sole vocalist. Over the next few years, the trio worked sporadically on music, and Cisneros later brought in Neurosis frontman Scott Kelly on guitar and vocals, expanding the group to four members. Kelly later said Cisneros told him the name when asking him to join, and he felt it fit because “music is shrine, music is religion, music is a way of life.”
As word spread online, anticipation grew despite no music being released. In early 2008, Hakius retired from playing, and Dale Crover of the Melvins replaced him. Over the following year, the band exchanged computer files to refine material and rehearsed in small groups in Baltimore, San Francisco, Ashland, and Los Angeles. The full band met for the first time in January 2009 to record the songs they had sketched. The debut album was recorded in three days, with Crover and Toshi Kasai (as the Deaf Nephews) producing. Kelly described the experience, saying the weight of the project pushed it “into another realm.” Wino later added guitar overdubs, and the album was released in October 2009.
After the album’s release, the band announced live shows. Their first U.S. performance took place on November 11, 2009, at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, where they played two sets. This show preceded a billed debut at Chicago’s Empty Bottle on November 14, 2009. Their first New York City show followed the next night at Le Poisson Rouge, where they covered Joy Division. Shrinebuilder played sporadically afterward, depending on members’ schedules. A planned European tour in 2010 was canceled due to the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption; the band instead returned to Los Angeles and completed writing for a second record. One year later, they performed on the main stage at the 16th Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands, a show originally scheduled for 2010.
In a late 2012 interview, Kelly said he did not know if another Shrinebuilder album would happen. In May 2014, Wino stated, “Cisneros is insane so Shrinebuilder is not going to happen.” The band’s only release is the 2009 self-titled
- origin
- United States
- genre
- Stoner/doom metal
- years_active
- 2003–04 to 2014 (on hiatus)
- label
- Neurot Recordings
- notable_members
- Al Cisneros, Scott 'Wino' Weinrich, Scott Kelly, Dale Crover
- discography
- One studio album: Shrinebuilder (2009)
Lore & Background
The band's origins trace to around 2003–04, when Al Cisneros of Om contacted Scott 'Wino' Weinrich to form a three-piece with Om drummer Chris Hakius. Cisneros named the band, intending Wino as the sole vocalist. After sporadic work, Cisneros enlisted Neurosis frontman Scott Kelly on guitar and vocals, expanding the group to a four-piece. Kelly later remarked that the name 'Shrinebuilder' resonated with him, saying music is a shrine and a religion.
In early 2008, drummer Chris Hakius retired from music, and Dale Crover of Melvins replaced him. The band exchanged computer files over the next year, refining material and rehearsing in various configurations in Baltimore, San Francisco, Ashland, and Los Angeles. In January 2009, the full band met for the first time to record their debut album, which was completed in three days with Crover and Toshi Kasai (as The Deaf Nephews) producing. Wino later added guitar overdubs, and the album was released in October 2009.
Following the album's release, the band played their first live show on November 11, 2009, at The Viper Room in the United States, followed by shows in Chicago and New York City, where they covered Joy Division. The band performed sporadically thereafter, including a main stage appearance at the 16th Roadburn Festival in the Netherlands in 2011, after a 2010 appearance was canceled due to the Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption. In a 2014 interview, Wino stated that 'Cisneros is insane so Shrinebuilder is not going to happen,' effectively ending the project.
Reader's Guide
Shrinebuilder represents a notable convergence of key figures in American doom and stoner metal, bringing together members of Sleep, Om, Neurosis, Saint Vitus, and Melvins. Their sole album, recorded in just three days, captured a raw, collaborative energy that fans and critics have regarded as a significant document of the genre. The band's brief existence and limited live performances—including a debut at The Viper Room and a set at Roadburn Festival—underscore the logistical challenges of coordinating such a supergroup. Despite only one release, Shrinebuilder's legacy endures as a testament to the creative potential of these musicians when united, and their inactivity has only heightened the album's cult status. The project's dissolution, attributed by Wino to interpersonal difficulties, highlights the fragility of supergroups formed from busy, established artists.
Did You Know?
- The band's name was chosen by Al Cisneros before any music was written.
- Dale Crover replaced original drummer Chris Hakius after Hakius retired from music in early 2008.
- The debut album was recorded in three days with Crover and Toshi Kasai producing.
- The band's first New York City performance included a cover of Joy Division.
More in American heavy metal supergroups 1-24
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