Birth(Defects) has today premiered their new album titled ‘Deceiver/Mirror’, dropping tomorrow (May 30th) via Reptilian Records. Timeless music that may seem to have been recorded from a different time, in this case 2017, but seeing the light of day tomorrow, it gives that feeling that maybe history had to catch up to ‘Deceiver/Mirror’ in many more ways than one.
Like a scab on your leg that won’t heal, on the verge from pre-diabetes to post-apocalyptic, these songs stay in your mind like a headrush long after that first listen—examining the traits of humanity via popularity seeking and groupthink, showing us how one can skate the line between burden of proof and proof of purchase, exposing the contrivance in us all with each abrasive note and bruising lyric.
I have to say that this is what music should be. Experimental. Evolutionary. Extraordinary. Accessible.
About Birth(Defects)
Some records are made with grand aspirations. Others emerge from necessity—uncompromising, raw, and deeply personal. Birth (Defects)’ Deceiver / Mirror belongs to the latter, a volatile document of a band that once was, nearly lost to time, but now is finally seeing the light in 2025 through Reptilian Records. Originally recorded in 2017, Deceiver / Mirror sat in limbo as the band unraveled. What should have been a defining statement instead became a ghost, shelved indefinitely. “It’s not all the time—very rarely, actually—that you can finish a work and look back on it almost a decade later and complete it in a way that lives up to your original vision,” says Birth(Defects)’ Sean Gray.
At its core, Deceiver / Mirror is an unflinching examination of lying, not in the broad, political sense, but in the deeply personal, messy, and inescapable way it shapes relationships. “The album is about interpersonal relationships,” Sean shares. “We drew from our own experiences at the time with the intent to explore themes of deception and self-reflection that would appeal universally to any listener.”
Tour Dates 2025
- May 29 – Ithaca, NY – @Angry Mom Records
- May 30 – North Adams, MA – @Belltower
- May 31 – Newark, DE – @The Newark Bike Project
- June 1 – Philadelphia, PA – @1026 Space
- June 13 – Baltimore, MD – @Holy Frijoles
The band explores deceit from the perspective of the liar, examining how dishonesty not only damages the person being lied to but ripples outward, affecting everyone around them. The two halves of the record—Deceiver and Mirror—reflect different aspects of this theme. “It’s loosely about how anyone can be a liar, no matter how good a person they are,” Sean explains. The writing process for Deceiver / Mirror began in the mid-2010s, culminating in their first studio session in 2017 at Nick Skrobisz’s (Multicult) Baltimore studio. But even that almost didn’t happen—a then-band member, filled with doubt, nearly pulled the plug on the entire process the night before recording.
Despite the uncertainty, the band pushed forward, laying down eight tracks in a single day. Yet something still wasn’t right. Then, in 2019, BIRTH(DEFECTS) imploded—burdened by internal struggles, leaving the album unfinished. For years, it remained untouched, weighed down by both personal and creative baggage. It wasn’t until late 2023—six years later—that they could even consider returning to it. The band comments: “Returning to the project required some emotional work on our parts,” Sean admits. “But we had to cut the session short when Rob got a call about his father going to the hospital. He would pass away a few weeks later. For Rob, this album is dedicated to his dad.”
Determined to see the album through, the band booked Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago to mix the record—a dream opportunity. But just months before their session, Albini tragically passed away. Instead, they worked with Matthew Barnhart, whose approach honored the band’s vision. Sean recalls: “Every day started with one of Steve’s famous fluffy coffees. We mixed everything through Electrical’s analog board and rack units, adding the final touches we always wanted”.
The final step was mastered by Bob Weston (Chicago Mastering Service), a name synonymous with the sound that had influenced Birth (Defects) from the start.
Images by Josh Sisk.
