Metro: Crystal Castles LP review

Track above is Baptism, from the new LP, which rather confusingly is called the same as the first album, Crystal Castles. Here's my review of the new LP which ran in today's Metro. In short, I heart Crystal Castles.


Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles (FOUR STARS)
Fiction

Canadian duo, Crystal Castles’ self-titled 2008 debut LP was a 200 000-selling surprise smash: Alice Glass’ barely-decipherable wailing and Ethan Kath’s mangled 8bit assaults proved thrilling, mysterious and danceable. CC’s second eponymous album, brings metronomic dance rhythms, abrasive rock and rave to Kath’s Gameboy-glitch and Glass’ caterwauling. Celestica’s house beat, smooth vocals and rave euphoria takes a sinister turn with Glass’ distant howling, her screeching reverberates unsettles Baptism’s smiley bleepy-trance, Doe Deer combines violent heavy metal and horror-show vocals, while Empathy’s old school electro hip hop meets dreamy electronica, offers a lull. CC’s cacophonic blues for Generation Sigh (Y), is music to lose yourself (and dance) in and although familiarity slightly dims Glass and Kath’s visceral impact, their cloak of mystery remains tightly drawn.