Amnesty (I) is the fourth and final studio album by Canadian electronic duo Crystal Castles, released on August 19, 2016. The album represents a significant transition for the band, marking their first release since the departure of longtime vocalist Alice Glass in 2014, and introducing new singer Edith Frances. It is also notable as the band's only non-eponymous album, breaking from their tradition of self-titled releases.
The album's title reflects its humanitarian focus, with the band reportedly donating their share of proceeds to Amnesty International, the human rights organization after which the record is named. This charitable aspect aligned with the album's themes of social consciousness and activism.
The creation of Amnesty (I) began in earnest in April 2015 when Ethan Kath shared Frail on SoundCloud, introducing Edith Frances as the new vocalist with the simple note this is Edith on vocals. This was followed by Deicide in July 2015, which later became the demo for the album's closing track Their Kindness Is Charade. Frances made her live debut as Crystal Castles' vocalist in South Africa in late November 2015.
The album's release was preceded by a series of strategic leaks and announcements throughout 2016. The track Concrete leaked on a Korean website before being officially released as a single in July, while information about the album title, tracklist, and artwork was discovered through music recognition app Shazam. The band officially announced the album on July 11, 2016, premiering the single Char on BBC Radio 1.
Musically, Amnesty (I) continued Crystal Castles' signature blend of aggressive electronic textures and ethereal vocals, though critics noted how Frances brought her own distinct style to the band's sound. The album features samples from artists including Scala & Kolacny Brothers' cover of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit and Beach House's tracks from their 2012 album Bloom.
Critical reception was mixed, with a Metacritic score of 66 based on 16 reviews. While some praised the album as brilliantly disjointed electropop, others felt it lacked the innovative edge of the band's earlier work with Alice Glass. The album charted modestly, reaching number 82 on the UK Albums Chart and number 15 on the US Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.
Amnesty (I) stands as Crystal Castles' final statement, representing both an ending and an attempt at renewal that ultimately couldn't sustain the project's momentum without its original dynamic.
