Codex Omega cover

Codex Omega

Septicflesh · 2017

71 min · 13 tracks · black metal

Orchestral arrangements intertwine with guttural vocals and sweeping melodies, creating an epic soundscape steeped in darkness.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Dante’s Inferno — This track opens the album with ferocious energy and dramatic orchestration, setting the tone for a journey through themes of suffering and redemption.
  • →
    Martyr — Combining aggressive riffs with haunting melodies, this track exemplifies the band's mastery of blending heaviness with symphonic elements, highlighting their unique sound.
  • →
    Our Church, Below the Sea — This song contrasts heavy instrumentation with ethereal vocal harmonies, illustrating the album's exploration of light and darkness within its narrative framework.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

77 /100
Summit
Higher than 99% of albums we've rated

The album blends orchestral and metal elements effectively, creating a distinctive and immersive soundscape.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a dramatic orchestral introduction that sets a dark tone, followed by heavy guitar riffs and guttural vocals.
  • Each track features complex arrangements where orchestral elements are intricately woven with metal instrumentation, creating a layered sound.
  • Several tracks incorporate tempo changes, shifting from fast-paced sections to slower, more atmospheric passages that enhance the epic feel of the music.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
9/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
7/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • dynamic journey with emotional peaks
  • epic soundscapes for deep immersion
  • intense moments of orchestral grandeur
  • haunting vocals for reflective moods
  • suitable for late-night listening

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer instant gratification tracks
  • avoid lengthy, complex compositions

Where this album fits

Career context
Released on September 1, 2017, Codex Omega marks Septicflesh's tenth studio album and their first since returning from a hiatus that started in 2003. This album showcases their continued evolution, blending symphonic elements with their established death-doom sound, solidifying their position within the extreme metal genre.
Stylistic neighbors
Fleshgod Apocalypse· Dimmu Borgir· Behemoth

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Dante’s Inferno 5:34
  • 2 3rd Testament (Codex Omega) 4:08
  • 3 Portrait of a Headless Man 5:00
  • 4 Martyr 5:07
  • 5 Enemy of Truth 4:55
  • 6 Dark Art 5:24
  • 7 Our Church, Below the Sea 3:59
  • 8 Faceless Queen 5:20
  • 9 The Gospels of Fear 3:41
  • 10 Trinity 4:07

Disc 2

  • 1 Martyr of Truth 11:36
  • 2 Dark Testament 7:51
  • 3 Portrait of a Headless Man (orchestral version) 5:01

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata