Knifeplay’s sophomore full-length, and first ever studio album Animal Drowning is a sprawling landscape of shoegaze and lofty slowcore. The album finds the band in a blend of folk instruments, walls of distortion, orchestral strings and delicate vocals, all carefully organized by Philadelphia engineer/producer Jeff Zeigler, known for his work with Nothing, Kurt Vile, and more. Though their sonic palette is vast, Knifeplay craft a cohesive aesthetic to carry frontman Tj Strohmer’s thematically heavy songwriting, which touches on loss of all kinds against the backdrop of a nihilistic world. These songs cry out with urgency no matter their ever-varied tempo and dynamic, each painting a unique vignette of tragedy. Yet the band’s dense, meticulously composed instrumentation exudes beauty, creating a lightness to balance the subject matter. With Animal Drowning, Knifeplay goes deeper into the sonic experimentation and brutally honest lyricism so beloved on their early bedroom recordings, creating an enrapturing experience that deftly builds on previous work.
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Recommended equipment and accessories
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Audioengine A2 Plus
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Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
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Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
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Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
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Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
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Featured Upcoming Vinyl
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David Byrne Who Is The Sky?
Matador
September 5, 2025 -
Black Keys No Rain, No Flowers
Warner Records
August 8, 2025 -
The Warriors Burn Yourself Alive
Pure Noise Records
September 26, 2025 -
Mike Polizze Around Sound
Paradise Bachelors
July 25, 2025 -
Revocation New Gods, New Masters
Metal Blade
September 26, 2025 -
Demonstealer The Propaganda Machine
Black Lion Records
August 8, 2025 -
Oasis Complete Studio Album Collection [8xLP]
Big Brother Recordings Limited
August 22, 2025 -
Sydney Minsky Sargeant Lunga [2xLP]
Domino Record Co
September 12, 2025 -
Dean Johnson I Hope We Can Still Be Friends (“So Much Better Now Blue”)
Saddle Creek
August 22, 2025 -
Shabason, Krgovich, Tenniscoats Wao
Western Vinyl
August 29, 2025 -
As December Falls Everything's On Fire But I'm Fine (Red Marble)
As December Falls
August 15, 2025 -
Parcels Loved
Because Music
September 12, 2025 -
Conan Gray Wishbone (Black Cat Edition)
Republic Records
August 15, 2025 -
Clamm Serious Acts
Meat Machine
July 25, 2025