DECEIVER / MIRROR by Birth (Defects)

The band explains that it’s “loosely about how anyone can be a liar no matter how good of a person they are and about the impact lying has on not just the people you lie to but those connected to that person you've lied to -- or even the people connected to you as the liar. Basically, the Deceiver side acknowledges of the weight everyone has to bear due to your mistakes; the Mirror side is about the acceptance that you (or anyone, really) are capable of hurting others and trying to learn from it and actually listen to the people you've hurt.” This record was born in an era of significant lies and is being released into another, where theoretically suffering people find salvation through lies that destroy communities in real time -- as if somehow that justifies telling these untruths in the first place.

What, then, are the truths in this work? It’s heavily indebted to ‘90s grunge and noise, heartily recalling the whammy bar bend and distortion pedal power dynamic of Bleach- era Nirvana, the burly backwoods horror of Tad, and the deafeningly laconic riffs and studda-step rhythms of Cherubs. It dispenses with the need for ballads, each track swinging the bat around and hitting anything that walks into its flail.

It’s gloriously not of this time nor any other – far too late for the trend, too early and unconcerned with any impending revival. It’s packaged with care in a gatefold sleeve and sonically in good hands from the start (recorded by Multicult’s Nick Skrobisz, mixed by Matthew Barnhart at Electrical Audio, mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service). And it lurches forth in a mode that becomes more unhinged and intense as the record goes on, in particular, the closing duo of “Trapped” and “Throne.”

Ultimately, the real truth is that record was made for the band, their friends and family, and a slowly expanding circle of individuals who’ll connect to Birth (Defects)’ direct themes and broken angles as a self-fulfilling prophecy. No lies needed, no hopes of “making it,” no need for any further validation. There are a couple dozen bands in 2025 that’d kill to make something like this, and it’d never even occur to them.
- Doug Mosurock

RIYL: Distorted Pony, Afghan Whigs (Gentlemen era), Chokebore, Hijokaidan, Nirvana, No Fucker, Tad, Cherubs, Unwound, Lowercase, No Trend.

Birth (Defects) tour line-up:

SG, vocals
RS, guitar
JR, guitar
IG, bass
JG, electronics
MB, drums

Birth (Defects) was:

SG, vocals
RS, guitar
IG, bass
EW, drums

JB, guitar
CM, bass
TP, drums
MB, drums
BL, drums