KTL: Two

A mere six months after issuing their first collaborative session, drone-metal innovator Stephen O’Malley (Sunn O))), Khanate) and laptop-brandishing mischief-maker Peter Rehberg return for a second round of Coil-gone-Cronenberg soundscaping. Like the first KTL album, 2 is comprised of lengthy pieces that reward only the most patient of listeners. In fact, this collection drifts along even more slowly than its predecessor. “Game” and “Snow 2” creak and pulsate at barely audible frequencies, while “Abbatoir” builds deliberately to an opaque roar. “Theme” is a departure, and it’s also the best cut from either of the duo’s albums. Here, about seven different layers of oscillating strings and keyboards swell into a rhythmic, melodic fanfare that sounds like a Seefeel 12-inch playing at 16 rpm. Who said hastily released sequels always suck?