{"id":41256,"date":"2025-02-20T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T17:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41256"},"modified":"2025-02-09T08:06:10","modified_gmt":"2025-02-09T13:06:10","slug":"facs-unleash-wish-defense-the-final-album-engineered-by-steve-albini","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41256","title":{"rendered":"FACS unleash \u2018Wish Defense\u2019\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 The Final Album Engineered by Steve Albini"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Chicago trio\u00a0<strong>FACS<\/strong>\u00a0return with their\u00a0<strong>sixth studio album, \u2018Wish Defense\u2019<\/strong>\u2014out now via <strong>Trouble In Mind Records<\/strong>\u2014a raw and unflinching exploration of duality, identity, and self-confrontation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The album delves into the concept of&nbsp;<strong>doppelg\u00e4ngers and \u201cdoubles\u201d<\/strong>, as vocalist&nbsp;<strong>Brian Case<\/strong>&nbsp;reflects on the unsettling experience of facing oneself, questioning motives, and examining inner conflicts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But \u2018Wish Defense\u2019 is more than just a sonic reckoning\u2014it\u2019s also a historic moment in music. The album marks the&nbsp;<strong>final recording engineered by the legendary Steve Albini<\/strong>. Just days before his passing, Albini helmed the initial sessions at&nbsp;<strong>Electrical Audio<\/strong>, with long-time friend and engineer&nbsp;<strong>Sanford Parker<\/strong>&nbsp;stepping in to complete the project within 24 hours. The album was mixed by&nbsp;<strong>John Congleton<\/strong>, staying true to Albini\u2019s vision\u2014tape-driven, raw, and unrelenting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen to\u00a0\u2018Wish Defense\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/facs-wd-album.lnk.to\/iuh87t\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A New Chapter in FACS&#8217; Evolution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Wish Defense\u2019\u00a0also heralds the return of\u00a0<strong>Jonathan Van Herik<\/strong>, an original FACS member who left just before their debut. Now rejoining the fold\u2014this time on bass\u2014his presence reshapes the band\u2019s\u00a0<strong>sound and chemistry<\/strong>, building on the rhythmic force of\u00a0<strong>Noah Leger\u2019s<\/strong>drumming and the band\u2019s signature angular, atmospheric tension. The shift in roles brings fresh energy, allowing FACS to\u00a0<strong>reinvent their sonic landscapes<\/strong>\u00a0while still delivering the\u00a0<strong>uncompromising post-punk intensity<\/strong>\u00a0they\u2019re known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Catch FACS on Tour<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresh off their&nbsp;<strong>European tour<\/strong>, FACS return to North America in April for a run of select dates\u2014including stops in&nbsp;<strong>Philadelphia, New York, Chicago<\/strong>, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>February (Europe)<\/strong><br>Feb. 20\u00a0\u2013 Z\u00fcrich, CH \u2013 Ziegel Oh Lac<br>Feb. 21\u00a0\u2013 Trier, DE \u2013 Mergener Hof Trier<br>Feb. 22\u00a0\u2013 Li\u00e8ge, BE \u2013 Jaune Orange<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>April (North America)<\/strong><br>Apr. 07&nbsp;\u2013 Washington, DC \u2013 Songbyrd<br>Apr. 08&nbsp;\u2013 Philadelphia, PA \u2013 Johnny Brenda\u2019s<br>Apr. 09&nbsp;\u2013 Ridgewood, NY \u2013 TV Eye<br>Apr. 10&nbsp;\u2013 Medford, MA \u2013 Deep Cuts<br>Apr. 11&nbsp;\u2013 Montreal, QC \u2013 Quai des Brumes<br>Apr. 12&nbsp;\u2013 Toronto, ON \u2013 Dance Cave<br>Apr. 13&nbsp;\u2013 Grand Rapids, MI \u2013 Pyramid Scheme<br>Apr. 17&nbsp;\u2013 Chicago, IL \u2013 Thalia Hall<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3834.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3834.jpeg?resize=900%2C900&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"FACS Wish Defense cover artwork  \" class=\"wp-image-41257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3834.jpeg?w=900 900w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3834.jpeg?resize=300%2C300 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3834.jpeg?resize=150%2C150 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3834.jpeg?resize=768%2C768 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cover Art by: Morgan Cuinet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2018Wish Defense\u2019 track listing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Talking Haunted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ordinary Voices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wish Defense<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Roomb<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Desire Path<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sometimes Only<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You Future<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow FACS:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/chatgpt.com\/c\/67a66055-d3d0-8013-86dc-a8daeb7d32d9\">Bandcamp<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/chatgpt.com\/c\/67a66055-d3d0-8013-86dc-a8daeb7d32d9\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/chatgpt.com\/c\/67a66055-d3d0-8013-86dc-a8daeb7d32d9\">Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Chicago trio\u00a0FACS\u00a0return with their\u00a0sixth studio album, \u2018Wish Defense\u2019\u2014out now via Trouble In Mind Records\u2014a raw and unflinching exploration of duality, identity, and self-confrontation. The album <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=41256\" title=\"FACS unleash \u2018Wish Defense\u2019\u00a0\u00a0\u2013 The Final Album Engineered by Steve Albini\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22,23,25,28,29,30,1907],"tags":[11000,925,1245,12056],"class_list":["post-41256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-live","category-music","category-music-video","category-new-release","category-news","tag-facs","tag-post-punk","tag-tour-dates","tag-wish-defense"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_3835.jpeg?fit=900%2C900","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-aJq","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35898,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=35898","url_meta":{"origin":41256,"position":0},"title":"DISHPIT share Steve Albini-produced debut album \u2018DIPSHIT\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 12, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Montreal\u00a0trio\u00a0DISHPIT\u00a0has shared their\u00a0Steve Albini-produced debut album,\u00a0\u2018DIPSHIT,\u2019 via\u00a0New Noise Magazine. The album is out now via all digital platforms. Led by vocalist\/guitarist\u00a0Nora Kelly\u00a0and bassist\u00a0Jed Stein, DISHPIT brings an attitude of feminist absurdism to post-punk\/grunge in order\u00a0to take up\u00a0as much space as possible in a male dominant genre. Watch the video for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Dishpit press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/AF7D79F9-2F1E-4E3F-B640-7A50B437CC30.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1026&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/AF7D79F9-2F1E-4E3F-B640-7A50B437CC30.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1026&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/AF7D79F9-2F1E-4E3F-B640-7A50B437CC30.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1026&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/AF7D79F9-2F1E-4E3F-B640-7A50B437CC30.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1026&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/AF7D79F9-2F1E-4E3F-B640-7A50B437CC30.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1026&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":39175,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=39175","url_meta":{"origin":41256,"position":1},"title":"FACS share \u2018Constellation\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"April 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Chicago art-rock band\u00a0FACS\u00a0will release their monolithic new album\u00a0\u2018Still Life In Decay\u2019\u00a0via Trouble In Mind Records.\u00a0The album's opening track, Constellation, kicks things off with a squall of white noise before collapsing into the songs lumbering groove.\u00a0Guitarist Brian Case's guitar bares a ghostly presence, appearing and disappearing in washes of gauzy feedback\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"FACS press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/EA717542-87FB-480D-83CD-CA2DFF2C3B30.jpeg?fit=900%2C583&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/EA717542-87FB-480D-83CD-CA2DFF2C3B30.jpeg?fit=900%2C583&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/EA717542-87FB-480D-83CD-CA2DFF2C3B30.jpeg?fit=900%2C583&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/EA717542-87FB-480D-83CD-CA2DFF2C3B30.jpeg?fit=900%2C583&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38637,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=38637","url_meta":{"origin":41256,"position":2},"title":"FACS spiral and soar on new single \u2018Slogan\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"On their forthcoming album\u00a0\u2018Still Life in Decay,\u2019 Chicago's\u00a0FACS\u00a0have never been more solid.\u00a0The trio has\u00a0been perfecting their brand of intense, cathartic art rock over their four ever-evolving albums, and\u00a0\u2018Still Life in Decay\u2019\u00a0is their most focused effort. The apocalyptic chaos that once defined them is waved away in favour of an examination\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"FACS press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/2D054568-1586-44C4-8837-38181DE23296.jpeg?fit=900%2C1125&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/2D054568-1586-44C4-8837-38181DE23296.jpeg?fit=900%2C1125&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/2D054568-1586-44C4-8837-38181DE23296.jpeg?fit=900%2C1125&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/2D054568-1586-44C4-8837-38181DE23296.jpeg?fit=900%2C1125&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15312,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=15312","url_meta":{"origin":41256,"position":3},"title":"Powell releases &#8216;Insomniac&#8217; video featuring Steve Albini sample","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"October 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Powell has unveiled his new single \u2018Insomniac\u00a0\/\u00a0Should\u2019ve Been A Drummer\u2019, which is his second release via\u00a0XL Recordings. Following \u2018Sylvester Stallone \/ Smut\u2019 double A-side released earlier this year,\u00a0the new\u00a0single continues to blur the lines between contemporary club music, punk and forward-thinking computer acid - it's pretty gritty and disjointed sounding\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;music&quot;","block_context":{"text":"music","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=28"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/powell.png?fit=574%2C646&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/powell.png?fit=574%2C646&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/powell.png?fit=574%2C646&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26827,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=26827","url_meta":{"origin":41256,"position":4},"title":"Ben Frost shares new track &#8216;Ionia&#8217;","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"September 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Ben Frost has shared a new track ahead of the release of his fifth studio album, 'The Centre Cannot Hold,' which will be out via Mute on September 29, 2017. Take a listen to \u0093Ionia via YouTube\u00a0below. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=t3A4nGQJMLg The track follows the release of Threshold Of Faith,\u0094 and is available\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ben Frost","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/HZbXFvN.jpg?fit=1200%2C794&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/HZbXFvN.jpg?fit=1200%2C794&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/HZbXFvN.jpg?fit=1200%2C794&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/HZbXFvN.jpg?fit=1200%2C794&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/HZbXFvN.jpg?fit=1200%2C794&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22884,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=22884","url_meta":{"origin":41256,"position":5},"title":"Poster Children announce vinyl reissue of Daisychain Reaction + share demo version of &#8216;If You See Kay&#8217;","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"July 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Recorded by Steve Albini in 1990,\u00a0'Daisychain Reaction'\u00a0is a raw blast of Midwestern post-punk from the heyday of indie rock. It includes Poster Children's most well-known song If You See Kay. Take a listen to the demo version of the track via Soundcloud below. \u00a0 The album was released by\u00a0Twin\/Tone Records\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Poster Children","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/50235f94-61ed-4f94-bb7e-8e84122c06ee.jpg?fit=800%2C290&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/50235f94-61ed-4f94-bb7e-8e84122c06ee.jpg?fit=800%2C290&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/50235f94-61ed-4f94-bb7e-8e84122c06ee.jpg?fit=800%2C290&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/50235f94-61ed-4f94-bb7e-8e84122c06ee.jpg?fit=800%2C290&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41256"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41256\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41260,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41256\/revisions\/41260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}