Crystal Castles

Since forming in the summer of 2004, Crystal Castles, the Toronto, Ontario-based duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass began their cult following by releasing a slew of limited edition singles (which sold out immediately), and shows packed solely from word of mouth.  By the time their self-titled debut album was released in 2008, the duo has amassed thousands of international fans from their enigmatic persona – equally immediate as their unique brand of intense, uncompromising electronic dance music.

Released to much critical acclaim, Crystal Castles was featured prominently in press including SPIN Magazine, Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, NME, Mojo, XLR8R among many other international outlets.  UK audiences were quick to raise their profile to the next level, eventually naming their debut album as #39 on NME’s list of “Top 50 Greatest Albums of the Decade”.  Transcending the media-hyped subgenres of “nu-rave” and “8-bit” music prevalent in 2008, Crystal Castles influenced a new generation of electronic artists no longer bound to restrictive definitions on what constituted punk, noise, or dance music. 

Throughout 2008 and 2009 Crystal Castles toured extensively throughout the world, reaching Japan, Australia, Europe, and several US tours including a support billing for Nine Inch Nails during their 2008 summer tour.  Festival appearances were numerous, including performances at All Points West, Coachella, Oxegen Festival in Ireland, Iceland Airwaves, Glastonbury and Reading Festivals in the UK, among many more. 

Crystal Castles’ highly anticipated sophomore full-length is slated for a spring 2010 release on Fiction Records, notably known as The Cure’s label for many years.  Early reports have revealed famed UK producer Paul Epworth (Bloc Party, Kate Nash, The Rapture) to be collaborating with the band on select album tracks.  Reporting on an early preview of select new songs, NME stated the material could be a “huge crossover hit”.  With the band at their creative peak, the nihilist aesthetic and diverse body of work suggests Crystal Castles intentions and potential are worth much more than ever before.