The Ophidian Wheel
Septicflesh · 1997
69 min · 14 tracks · black metal
Orchestral arrangements intertwine with brutal riffs and haunting vocals, creating a darkly cinematic soundscape that defies genre boundaries.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Future Belongs to the Brave — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its epic orchestration and heavy guitar riffs, showcasing the band's unique blend of brutality and melody.
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Phallic Litanies — An exploration of dark themes through intricate song structure, this track exemplifies the band's ability to combine aggressive instrumentation with atmospheric elements.
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Tartarus — With its relentless pace and haunting melodies, Tartarus highlights the album's thematic focus on darkness while demonstrating skilled musicianship and dynamic contrasts.
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On the Topmost Step of the Earth — This track features powerful vocal performances alongside dramatic orchestrations, embodying the album's ambitious sound and emotional depth.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends orchestral and metal elements effectively, creating a unique sound that stands out in its genre.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that blend orchestral elements with aggressive guitar riffs, while the second half shifts to more atmospheric and melodic compositions.
- Several tracks incorporate choral arrangements, enhancing the cinematic quality and depth of the sound.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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
- dark atmospheric soundscapes
- wave-like pacing with peaks
- immersive two-halves listening experience
- haunting melodies for introspection
- dynamic progression with intensity
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer short standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1997, The Ophidian Wheel marked Septicflesh's third studio album and their first with a full orchestra. This album followed the band's earlier works, showing an evolution toward a more symphonic and complex sound, establishing them as key players in the melodic death metal scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Fleshgod Apocalypse· Dimmu Borgir· Behemoth
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Future Belongs to the Brave 6:11
- 2 The Ophidian Wheel 5:18
- 3 Phallic Litanies 5:53
- 4 Razor Blades of Guilt 5:00
- 5 Tartarus 3:35
- 6 On the Topmost Step of the Earth 6:41
- 7 Microcosmos 1:33
- 8 Geometry in Static 5:23
- 9 Shamanic Rite 5:16
- 10 Heaven Below 5:42
- 11 Enchantment 0:50
- 12 The Ophidian Wheel (unreleased mix) 5:17
- 13 Phallic Litanies (unreleased mix) 5:53
- 14 On the Topmost Step of the Earth (unreleased mix) 6:39
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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