There is no denying that Amnesty (I) marks a new and rather daunting post-Glass era for Crystal Castles and its long-held fans. However, in spite of those realities, it is also an endlessly playable record that could just be the start of something much more promising than expected.
At its core, Amnesty (I) maintains the crux of what made Crystal Castles so great: ethereal electronic soundscapes, glitchy melodies, piercing vocals and cacophonous outbursts just jarring enough to keep listeners on edge.
It doesn’t feel as exciting or dangerous as their previous albums - it’s still a rewarding listen, despite it being the first post-Glass ... but it seems that no matter how good the music here is, nothing can stop Glass’ spectre from haunting the album, as she was such a monumental loss to the band.
Amnesty is a great comeback from the threatening brink of extinction for Crystal Castles. The dealing in of Edith Frances on vocals has no negative effects on the release. Kath’s apt producing and guiding of the content leads to a satisfying release that will thrill their fans.
All in all, Amnesty (I) is a good album, but not an album that stacks up to the first three that Crystal Castles put out.
Even if Amnesty lacks some of the intensity of Crystal Castles' earlier work, it accomplishes the tricky task of providing common ground and a fresh start.
Like him or hate him, Kath can compose stirring electro-maniacal rhythms like no one's business. And Frances captures and carries the tortured exclamation of the first three Crystal Castles albums with conviction.
The truth of the matter is that, as long as it's Ethan Kath behind the mixing desk, it doesn't really matter who the singer of Crystal Castles is.
The first Crystal Castles album without vocalist Alice Glass is also the first safe album from an act that once would have recoiled at such a thought.
It might be the most durable Crystal Castles has ever sounded, pushing things forward whereas Kath and Glass used to pull from ‘80s pop and 8-bit sounds.
The album meets all goth-adjacent indie-dance needs squarely. It doesn't, however, ever transcend those needs.
Glitchy beats, heavily treated vocals and passages of pulverising electronic noise are all still present, and there’s an abiding mood of kohl-eyed gloom.
Crystal Castles without Glass has revealed itself to be little more than a vanity project.
Without Glass, Crystal Castles has become diluted and Amnesty (I) feels like an awkward side-step, rather than a forward leap.
Amnesty's dark, metallic electro-pop creates an overwhelming Strum Und Drang.
An album that, while impressively intense, lacks the human urgency of their earlier work.
While this record is an enjoyable nod to their legacy, it could have given a bolder account of itself.
Crystal Castles always were an uncomfortable band, but the bumpy conception of this album and the awkward introduction of new ideas dampen even its most teeth-chattering moments.
Amnesty (I) is an odd affair; the sound of a band reborn out of pure necessity yet one where all component parts ring meticulously familiar.
The first product from Crystal Castles 2.0 is a mixed bag of nostalgia, proficiency, and carefully staged continuity.
What do you get when you strip Glass out of the equation? A competent Crystal Castles record without the message, and competent is a bit of a stretch considering Kath is trying to step into the zeitgeist with the sort of electronic styles they would’ve otherwise dismissed.
At 11 tracks, it's tight like a pop album should be. Unfortunately, none of the songs leap out as highlights in the catalogue.
This album is boring.
Kept on the other hand is for me atleast. The best thing the band ever made and one of the best songs in general.
It is a dissociative anthem for the digital anthem which is somehow slow and mile a minute. It contains multitudes in it's soundscapes.
Honestly, it's not that bad for a Crystal Castles album without Alice Glass. It can be boring, repetitive, and sometimes so overblown in its sound, but it still feels like Crystal Castles and sometimes it's really catchy. I kinda like the simplicity of this album, because it reminds me of their experimental, simple sound from their first album, with a small hint of the atmosphere that we got for the third album. And I'll also give this album extra points for including one of my favorite Crystal ... read more
1 | Femen 2:32 | 69 |
2 | Fleece 2:35 | 76 |
3 | Char 3:08 | 86 |
4 | Enth 3:29 | 72 |
5 | Sadist 2:30 | 64 |
6 | Teach Her How to Hunt 1:55 | 61 |
7 | Chloroform 3:08 | 68 |
8 | Frail 2:49 | 77 |
9 | Concrete 3:16 | 75 |
10 | Ornament 4:07 | 70 |
11 | Kept 4:04 | 92 |
12 | Their Kindness Is Charade 3:45 | 74 |