Crystal Castles on DeBaser: reviews, quotes and key tracks

The Profile

Crystal Castles are a Canadian electronic duo from Toronto formed by producer Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. Renowned for abrasive, high-energy shows and a sound that evolved from chiptune-laced electropunk to darker, witch house–leaning electronics, they released Crystal Castles (2008), Crystal Castles (II) (2010), (III) (2012), and Amnesty (I) (2016).

Canadian duo (Toronto) formed by Ethan Kath and Alice Glass; key albums: Crystal Castles (2008), Crystal Castles (II) (2010), (III) (2012), Amnesty (I) (2016); signature tracks include Untrust Us, Crimewave, Celestica, Baptism, Not in Love, and Plague.

Three DeBaser reviews dive into Crystal Castles’ shift from chiptune-fueled electropunk to a colder, darker electronic sound tied to witch house and techno. Alice Glass’s spectral vocals and the duo’s oppressive atmospheres are recurring themes. Key tracks like Untrust Us, Baptism, and Plague map the evolution. Overall sentiment is enthusiastic yet critical, with 4/5 ratings.

Notable Quotes

❝ This first album by Crystal Castles consists of 16 tracks of electronic music with a very high danceability factor, all composed with a blend of retro sounds and modern technologies.

❝ a relentless tour de force for the synapses connecting the brain to the butt.

❝ House more in name, however, because it is techno that predominates in a record where thick keyboard blasts are omnipresent while the rhythmic section is functional and fundamental but not very interesting from an expressive point of view.