"Since the last four years, there has been lot of darkness in the truth, a lot of hatred, humanity going mad, and a lot of people striving to find their tribe. I personally strive for hope and seek the higher realm of positivity always, but in the meantime, we find ourselves in the Vale of the Fallen." - Vas Kallas, Göden

The USA-based doom/death metal unit Göden is back, and, on its upcoming album, the sound is heavier than ever. Creator Stephen Flam is best known for his previous work with the band Winter, whose sludgy dirge earned a cult following for decades to come. Göden is the spiritual successor to Winter. One could say Celtic Frost is to Triptykon what Winter is to Göden. Its debut album, Beyond Darkness, stood on its own in creating a distinctive world.

Now, four years later, Göden explores new sonic territories with its second album, Vale Of The Fallen. While Beyond Darkness was a concept album that propelled listeners into space, whether inner or outer, Vale Of The Fallen brings us back to twisted reality. Its more in-your-face approach should only intensify the experience like a walk through a post-apocalyptic landscape in the bleakest imaginable conditions.

Sound-wise, Stephen Flam's heavier-than-life riffs, Vas Kallas's sardonic delivery and Tony Pinnisi's keyboards create oppressive atmospheres atop Jason Frantz's powerful drumming, while in contrast, Margaret Murphy's violin weaves ghostly motifs. Like its predecessor, Vale Of The Fallen features interludes which provide brief respites between some tracks, only to return to the crushing heaviness in yet another avalanche of sound. 

Vale Of The Fallen will come out on 17 May through Svart Records, while the band only recently unleashed the second album track, "In The Vale Of The Fallen". Composer Stephen Flam opens the dystopic story behind the single: "'In The Vale Of The Fallen' was the first song written and recorded during the pandemic in pure isolation... life was complicated for us in New York. I decided to continue writing to keep my sanity during this very dark time and was not able to record with the other members live like the first album". Link