There is a long tradition of bands attempting to soundtrack social collapse through noise, distortion and cynicism. But few manage to make that collapse feel this physically alive. On their new album ‘Vivisect’, Knifing Around channel dread, exhaustion and emotional fragmentation into an album that never stops moving, even while staring directly into the darker corners of contemporary life.
The Richmond group’s latest record feels sharper and more focused than their earlier work, tightening their blend of industrial abrasion, dance-rock propulsion and nervous new-wave tension into something remarkably cohesive.
Musically, ‘Vivisect’ thrives on momentum. Thick layers of synthesisers pulse beneath rigid drum patterns while jagged guitar textures cut through the mix like exposed wiring. Yet despite the density of the arrangements, the record rarely feels cluttered. Every beat, synth line and rhythmic shift appears carefully positioned to maximise movement as much as atmosphere. Even at its most confrontational, the album remains deeply physical.
There are understandable comparisons to Nine Inch Nails in the album’s industrial edge and emotional claustrophobia, while traces of LCD Soundsystem emerge through the record’s dancefloor instincts and sharp observational tone. Elsewhere, flashes of Devo surface in the band’s ability to balance tension with sly absurdity. But Knifing Around avoid becoming trapped inside homage, as their sound feels less like retro revivalism and more like multiple generations of anxiety colliding in real time.
But what makes ‘Vivisect’ especially effective is its understanding of catharsis. Many politically charged or emotionally heavy records become weighed down by their own seriousness. But Knifing Around sidestep that trap by recognising that rhythm itself can become a release valve. The grooves matter as much as the themes, and the album understands that people often dance not to escape the chaos, but to survive it temporarily.
That philosophy runs throughout the project. Beneath the industrial textures and dark humour sits a record deeply concerned with human connection. Even when the lyrics cut toward political and cultural disintegration, the music keeps searching for movement, pulse, and collective release.
The production also deserves attention. The synth architecture throughout the album is particularly strong, balancing cold electronic precision with enough warmth and depth to avoid sterility. The arrangements feel immersive without collapsing into excess, allowing tension to build gradually rather than relying on constant maximalism.
Importantly, ‘Vivisect’ feels designed equally for headphones and crowded rooms. You can imagine these songs detonating live inside sweat-soaked clubs, yet the album also rewards close listening through subtle production details and carefully layered textures.
With this new offering, Knifing Around have delivered their most complete statement so far. It’s an album that captures the emotional exhaustion of the current moment without surrendering to paralysis. Even while dissecting anxiety, alienation and collapse, the record remains defiantly kinetic, insisting that movement itself might still be a form of resistance.