Amnesty (I) (2016)

"Amnesty's singles provide the bridge between old and new Crystal Castles: "Fleece" and "Frail" prove Frances can shriek admirably, with a backdrop of caustic synths on the former and hints of anthemic EDM on the latter. The album works best when Kath and Frances build on the past instead of trying to re-create it. "Chloroform" and "Sadist" feel like a natural progression from III in the way they balance the extremes of Crystal Castles' music, pairing whispery vocals with synths that pack a wallop. Fittingly, some of Amnesty's most soothing songs are the most genuine, whether it's the gentle bookends of "Femen" and "Their Kindness Is Charade," the delicate layers of "Ornament," or the gloomily beautiful "Char," which takes stock of a corrosive relationship. Even if Amnesty lacks some of the intensity of Crystal Castles' earlier work, it accomplishes the tricky task of providing common ground and a fresh start." (AllMusic)