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.
Release date:
October 13, 2023
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Calum Scott Avenoir (Transparent Pumpkin Spice)
Capitol
September 12, 2025 -
Imha Tarikat Confessing Darkness
Prophecy
June 20, 2025 -
Deey & Leo Iwamura Lovers
Hungry Records
July 4, 2025 -
Tokutaro Hosoi Sakana_Sakana
Jet Set
May 30, 2025 -
Various Artists Y2K25: The Music That Made The Millennium
Legacy Recordings
June 20, 2025 -
Florry Sounds Like...
Dear Life Records
May 23, 2025 -
Femi Kuti Journey Through Life
Partisan Records
May 16, 2025 -
Teether Neil Yearn IV
Chapter Music
May 2, 2025 -
Orwell Orwell 1995 Discography - Pearl
Code 7 UK
May 9, 2025 -
Hooveriii Manhunter (Ice Black)
Reverberation Appreciation Soc
May 16, 2025 -
Rilo Kiley That's How We Choose to Remember It
Saddle Creek
May 9, 2025 -
Witchcraft Idag
Heavy Psych Sounds
May 30, 2025 -
Larry Peace-Love Yes Everyone On This Planet Is Family
Nadine Records
May 23, 2025 -
Preoccupations Ill At Ease
Born Losers Records
May 9, 2025