The duality of “man” is a subject that has been explored in art for centuries, from writings of the Bible to Descartes, all the way up to filmmakers like Lynch, Cronenberg, and Carpenter. Who is your “true self” and what do they want?

With their sixth studio album Wish Defense (Trouble In Mind Records), out on Feburary 7, 2025, Chicago trio FACS take a good, long look in the mirror to face themselves.  FACS’ Brian Case notes that the album’s lyrical content revolves around doppelgängers or “doubles,” tackling the idea of facing yourself and observing your ideas and motivations.

Look no further than the album’s title track— which premieres today: “Enter the mirror / Double walker / An intimate / Wish defense / Is it real? / You beside me / The detail / Terrifying / Abject self / Your grief / A public / Performance.” Case lays out the entire album’s theme in one stanza; Are your actions and emotions your true self? Or are they a performative aspect of that “other” person you put forward? Case says that ultimately the sentiment is “…don’t let the bastards get you down, there’s something beyond this moment, like hope—  but not in the naive belief that ultimately people are good.”

FACS on tour:

Feb. 07  Den Haag, NL – Grauzone Fest
Feb. 08  Amsterdam, NL – OCCII
Feb. 09  Hamburg, DE – Ms Stubnitz Boat
Feb. 10  Berlin, DE – Neue Zukunft
Feb. 11  Brussels, BE – Magazine 4
Feb. 12  Luxembourg, LUX – Rotondes 
Feb. 13  Metz, FR – Trinitaires
Feb. 14  Lyon, FR – Periscope
Feb. 15  Nïmes, FR – Paloma
Feb. 16  Marseille, FR – Emma Vortex
Feb. 18  Savona, IT – Raindogs
Feb. 19  Grenoble, FR – Le Ciel
Feb. 20  Zürich, CH – Ziegel Oh Lac
Feb. 21  Trier, DE – Mergener Hof Trier
Feb. 22  Liege, BE – Jaune Orange