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KTL, "KTL3"
This vinyl only release from the Kindertotenlieder pair explores even gloomier realms than before. It is an impressive and intimidating but unfortunately brief collection of rather upsetting sounds and images. The duo focus more on dynamics on this EP with shades of the quiet loudness of Khanate echoing through the two pieces.
Initially I was disappointed that this third release from Stephen O'Malley and Peter Rehberg was only a one-sided vinyl. The two previous albums were both proper heavy headfucks and I wanted more and more. However, the two pieces on KTL3 manage to invoke an even more unsettling atmosphere than I was expecting. "Loud Game" features some classic O'Malley riffing before breaking down into a hacking mess of noise. "Sunday" is a quieter and more menacing affair: a treacly bass rhythm throbs in the background while squeals, scrapes and clangs ring out like an infernal blacksmith creating a torture machine.
Visually, this is the most impressive KTL release. The sleeve features a creepy photograph of a life size doll (which I believe is connected to the theatre piece that O'Malley and Rehberg teamed up to soundtrack) which sets the mood immediately. Once you take out the inner sleeve and cut through the seal, an etching of a horned beast on the flipside of the vinyl greets you. All of this combines with the music to create a nightmarish cocktail. The sounds here are a bit of break away from the wintry blasts of tinny noise on the first two albums which indicates that KTL have more in them than a single soundtrack work. There is no word from O'Malley and Rehberg if this project is to continue but based on the darker pastures of KTL3, pushing any deeper into the night might prove too much for mortal ears.
