AORNOS The Great Scorn CD

Hailing from the historic metal hub of Miskolc, Hungary, Aornos released their fourth full-length album, The Great Scorn, in April 2018. The record was a major co-release between the Belarusian label Symbol of Domination Productions (a sub-label of Satanath Records), Ira Aeterna (Italy), and two American labels, The True Plague and Black Metal Records. Primarily the work of the prolific multi-instrumentalist Algras (known for his tenure in the veteran band Bornholm), the album is a dense and professionally executed piece of Atmospheric/Symphonic Black Metal. Musically, The Great Scorn is heavily influenced by the second wave of Norwegian Black Metal, with critics often drawing direct comparisons to the grandeur of early Emperor and Satyricon. The album features a blend of blistering, high-speed tremolo picking and sudden, doomy breaks, all layered with cosmic keyboard passages that add an epic, mystical dimension to the chaos. Unlike many one-man projects that lean into a raw or lo-fi aesthetic, Aornos opts for a bombastic and clear production style that emphasizes the complexity of the arrangements and Algras's versatile vocal range, which shifts from high-pitched shrieks to deep death metal growls. Thematically, the album explores the cosmos, existential despair, and nature, with tracks like From a Higher Reality and Funeral March for the Death of the Earth showcasing Algras's ability to balance raw aggression with sophisticated, orthodox melodies. Limited to 500 copies on CD, and later re-released on cassette with live bonus tracks, this album is a standout in the modern Hungarian scene for those who appreciate Black Metal that is both ferocious and thoughtfully composed.