Crystal Castles May 5, 2013

Fusing low-res electronic noise and pop hooks so effortlessly that it can seem accidental, Toronto's Crystal Castles began as producer/multi-instrumentalist Ethan Kath’s solo project in late 2003. When Kath collaborated with singer Alice Glass on some songs in spring 2005, Crystal Castles’ lineup was complete.

Recorded mostly in Warsaw and Berlin, the highly anticipated III (2012) boasts the haunting and euphoric 5-minute mindbender ‘PLAGUE’, that quickly caused a cyber-storm amongst fans and media when the band unveiled it via their soundcloud page. "We wanted the new album to sound like a completely different and new experience," says Ethan Kath in an official statement. “We'd limit ourselves to one take on each song because we believe the first take is the rawest expression of an idea." By ditching their old synthesizers and keyboards used on I and II, Ethan enforced a “strictly no computers” rule in the studio and began recording everything directly to tape. Together the Canadian duo has conjured up a collection of songs that are as raw as they are well rounded. As III unfolds, each track will take you to greater heights and equal lows, as you enter the sometimes plagued, and often polarized world that is Crystal Castles. "Oppression is a theme, in general… A lot of bad things have happened to people close to me since II and it's profoundly influenced my writing as I've realized there will never be justice for them," explains Alice. "I didn't think I could lose faith in humanity any more than I already had, but after witnessing some things, it feels like the world is a dystopia where victims don't get justice and corruption prevails.”

Official Website: http://first-avenue.com/event/2013/05/crystalcastles