Wish Defense

Description

With their sixth album Wish Defense (still on Trouble In Mind Records), Chicago trio FACS take a long look in the mirror to face themselves. The return of original member Jonathan Van Herik - who stepped away from the group just before the release of their debut album Negative Houses in 2018 - in replacement of bassist Alianna Kalaba brings a renewed vigor and an angularity compared to the group's more recent output. The songs are still as impactful, but the approach is lateral - the roles have changed since Van Herik's first tenure and his time with Case and drummer Noah Leger in Disappears. Now on bass, Van Herik was originally the band's guitarist and featured on the first album, while current guitarist Brian Case played bass. This role reversal contributed to the band's dynamic, offering a different musical perspective, revisiting the trio's long collaboration with a bit of distance and time. Case notes that the lyrics of Wish Defense revolve around doppelgängers or doubles, addressing the idea of confronting oneself and observing one's ideas and motivations. Wish Defense is the last album produced by Steve Albini. For fans of Unwound, MBV, The Jesus Lizard, SUUNS, Preoccupations, METZ, Les Rallizes Denudes, The Dead C, Echo & The Bunnymen, Liars, This Heat, PIL.