Crystal Castles

I think they’re fantastic; honestly, such a talented duo 😁

Alice Glass has a really great look—though, if she ever decided to switch up her hairstyle, I think she’d be even more striking 😛

There's really no question about it—this is easily one of my absolute favorite bands😁
Their music just seems to fit every single mood or occasion😁 😁
I’m honestly crossing my fingers for some sort of short EP release soon😍

In the US

Stumbled upon some gems on YouTube recently—mostly unreleased tracks and B-sides, if you can call them that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mOM-...ure=plpp_video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zwhgcj6uxA

They’ve got that charming 8-bit sound, but it isn't grating at all. They have plenty of other material out there, but these two are definitely the most listenable for me.

Also found this cover on YT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvlGu...ure=plpp_video

Ethan Kath mentioned in a recent interview with Rolling Stone that the third Crystal Castles album might drop sometime this summer. Apparently, recording will Begin during February in USA, mostly because they loved the vibe when they toured there recently.

"We played a show there earlier this year and figured it would be a perfect spot to just disappear for a while," he said. "It feels like a great place to really unplug from the rest of the world."

Kath also suggested that the new material might share some DNA with Crystal Castles ii, though he made sure to clarify that they aren't 'going soft' and intend to keep things feeling pretty 'bleak.'

"Everything we write is meant to feel bleak. That's honestly all we're interested in doing."

I wonder if anyone knows specifically where they'll be setting up the studio? 🙂

David Hall said:Does anyone happen to know where they'll be recording? 🙂

Give me a break. Does an essential band like this really record an album in America? 😲

Link?

The new album feels different. They’ve pivoted away from that signature 8-bit aesthetic; instead, there’s this dance-techno vibe going on (though I can't quite put my finger on the exact genre).
It might be premature to judge since I’ve only gone through it maybe two or three times, but honestly? It feels a bit weaker than their first two records. The vocals feel repetitive across almost every track—to me, the production just feels simpler and lacks that imaginative spark they used to have. That doesn't mean the album is bad, per se, but when you're coming off the heels of such massive masterpieces, the bar is set incredibly high.

That said, it makes total sense that they’d evolve their sound. If they just churned out the exact same thing every single time, they’d basically just be a cover band of themselves. Right now, my standout tracks are "Transgender" and "wrath of god."

Washington National Children's Choir performs a cover of "Untrust US" by Crystal Castles
🙏

Timothy Kim60 said:The Washington National Children's Choir covering "Untrust US" by Crystal Castles
🙏

Do they even realize that song is literally about cocaine?

Charles Fox8 said:Do they even realize that song is actually about cocaine?

🤷 I didn't even realize that myself (I don't usually bother reading lyrics for tracks like this)

EDIT—just checked—the lyrics explicitly say it's bad for your health... Otherwise and far, how would anyone know without the lyrics right there?

Even if we’re talking about cocaine, there isn't some law on the books that forbids singing about it. Cocaine as cocaine has been celebrated in music a thousand times over.

Timothy Kim60 said:🤷 I didn't even realize (I don't usually bother reading lyrics for stuff like this)

EDIT: Okay, just checked—the lyrics actually say it's bad for your health... As if anyone could have guessed without reading the "lyrics"

The song is called "Untrust US" and they're basically saying cocaine isn't good for you... Just use some common sense here.

goldenscout14 said:Even if it is about cocaine, there's no rule against singing about it. Cocaine has been celebrated in songs a thousand times over.

Sure, but it's the Washington National Children's Choir

Charles Fox8 said:sure, but that Washington National Children's Choir

world shame!

I had no idea they were still making music:

"Frail," the latest track from Crystal Castles

This Crystal Castles thread is a mess; it’s hard to tell if this sounds good or bad, but it definitely feels like a throwback to their third album.

Man, this new album is definitely their weakest one yet. I’ve given it a few spins now and honestly? It just doesn't hit nearly as hard as those first three records... I don't see myself putting this on repeat very often. It’s a relief they didn't actually break up like everyone was predicting, though! But after hearing how much they leaned into that vibe on Amnesty (I), they just don't feel quite as fresh to me... They used to have that perfect mix of being depressingly moody and high-energy all at once, you know? Not really feeling it this time...

I didn't even realize they had dropped a new album

Otherwise and far, I still maintain that the third one just doesn't measure up to the first two

Timothy Kim60 said:I didn't even realize they dropped a new album!

Otherwise and far, I still feel like the third one just doesn't hit like the first two...

For me, though, the second and third ones are the heavy hitters. The third one feels a bit different, sure, but it’s got some seriously strong tracks. So much energy...

And this Amnesty International stuff? Nothing sticks with me at all.

I find the third one lacks stylistic freshness; the songs feel less original, less imaginative, and just don't grab you as much.

The first one hits you like a total cultural shock—it's something entirely new—while the second feels like an evolution of that initial spark. It’s distinct enough to avoid being a mere carbon copy, yet there’s still a clear common thread connecting them.

I'll give the new stuff a listen later today.

They’re just putting on an act
Their little handouts don't mean anything to me
Now they think they're suddenly special
It's like they've been begging for it...

I was listening to it, and well, there you go😬