7/10

On their latest LP 'Vivisect', Knifing Around continue refining a sound that sits somewhere between industrial tension, dancefloor propulsion and emotionally charged alternative rock. The Richmond group have always balanced sharp rhythmic instincts with darker thematic undercurrents, but this latest release feels more focused and cohesive than their previous work.

Built around tightly structured grooves, distorted electronics and layered synth textures, 'Vivisect' explores contradiction constantly. Even during its most anxious or introspective moments, the album remains deeply physical, anchored by rhythms designed to pull us forward rather than trap us in stasis.

The band understand the emotional power of repetition and pulse in a way that recalls aspects of LCD Soundsystem, though Knifing Around approach those influences through a more contemporary and emotionally direct lens. There are industrial textures throughout the album, certainly, but they are balanced carefully against melody and space.

Lyrically and emotionally, the album reflects modern instability without reducing itself to broad political commentary or detached cynicism. Themes of anxiety, alienation and emotional exhaustion run throughout, but so does a quieter determination to remain connected to people, movement, and the body itself. That balance gives the record a surprising warmth beneath its darker exterior.

There is also a strong sense that these songs were shaped with live performance in mind. Even at its most layered and atmospheric, 'Vivisect' retains the immediacy of a band accustomed to physical spaces and audience energy. The grooves are insistent without feeling mechanical, allowing the album to remain engaging on both emotional and visceral levels.

With this new release, Knifing Around deliver their most complete statement to date. It's an album that embraces tension without collapsing into it by finding rhythm and release inside the noise.