Göden: Orchestrating ‘Conductor of Lightning’s Majestic Symphony’ within the ‘Vale of the Fallen’
If Stephen Flam’s previous tenure with death-doom legends Winter established the blueprints for sludgy, monolithic heaviness, his current vessel, Göden, is the architecture of its spiritual evolution.
With the release of ‘Vale of the Fallen’ on Svart Records, Flam solidifies a lineage that mirrors the relationship between Celtic Frost and Triptykon. “Göden represents the continuation of Winter from my vision,” Flam asserts, noting that while the DNA of that cult legacy remains, Göden’s sound has become “more distilled and focused.”
Where their debut ‘Beyond Darkness’ cast listeners into the cosmic void, ‘Vale of the Fallen’ crashes violently back to earth. Vocalist Vas Kallas describes the thematic pivot as a reflection of a fractured world: “If you stand back and look at humanity right now, it looks like we’ve fallen into a valley… darkness in the truth, a lot of hatred, humanity going absolutely mad.”
This crushing reality is best exemplified in the featured bonus track, ‘Conductor of Lightning’s Majestic Symphony.’ A dense artistic exploration, the piece serves as a microcosm of the band’s sonic expansion. Here, the interplay is visceral: Flam’s “primal sounding dirge” and Tony Pinnisi’s symphonic keys are anchored by the “tribal drums” of Jason Frantz. It is a track that operates as a spiritual journey, immersing the listener in a ritualistic soundscape that feels entirely untethered from the mortal coil.
The album’s texture is further complicated by the inclusion of violinist Margaret Murphy, whose “ghostly motifs” cut through the “heavier-than-life riffs” like light through smoke. “I made a conscious effort to use Margaret in sections where normally guitar solos or melodies would be,” Flam explains.
Visual artist and vocalist Eva Petrič, who helmed the album’s striking imagery, describes the project as a Gesamtkunstwerk—a total work of art. Unlike the “dark side of the moon” approach of their debut, Petrič suggests this record seeks a “bright side,” offering a sliver of breath and hope amidst the auditory avalanche.
Headline photo: Stephen Flam
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Göden | Interview | New Album, ‘Vale of the Fallen’
