Hellripper – Coronach (Century Media)
Want to learn how to thrive in today’s metal world?
Just look at Hellripper.
Its creator, James McBain, has harnessed home recording tech, global digital reach and savvy merch drops to build a blackened thrashing, Venom-punking underground behemoth. Twelve years ago, the Scot was working on his debut EP, The Manifestation of Evil, in his Aberdeen bedroom. This year, he’s taking Hellripper, live band in tow, to stages across the world, with a Century Media-backed album to showcase. A ‘goat kvlt’ of devotees have thrown themselves behind his cause, lapping up the jogging pants, back patches and pin badges that have helped create a brand, as much as fund a band.
Yes, the multi-instrumentalist has played the DIY game right, from appearing on cult splits with the likes of Barbatos and Acid Cross, to self-releasing his debut album, Coagulating Darkness, to bagging deals with US label Reaper Metal Productions and UK institution Peaceville. He’s grafted hard at this, make no mistake… and he’s controlled his own destiny.
But at the core ‘ripper’s rise, the fundamental reason why McBain can charge around the Damnation Fest stage, flying-V in hand, is his songcraft. The guy simply knows how to write exhilarating, life-affirming heavy metal: the kind that reminds you why, back at school, often to much derision, you chose this journey; the kind that makes every shitty remark on your hair, style and musical tastes crumble into meaningless dust; and the kind that makes you stand taller and drive faster.
We praised McBain for spreading his wings on 2023’s Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags. It was a far more ambitious record than its predecessors, where vicious Motörthrash and primordial speed metal ruled supreme. The eight minute-plus Mester Stoor Worm was a long way from Black Mass Sacrifice and Total Mayhem, we noted.
But on Coronach, those wings have sent Hellripper soaring into the stratosphere. Symphonic BM, Bay Area thrash, NWOBHM, necrocrust, Swedish blackened death and (much) more form a rich sonic palette. There’s a twist around every turn. Tempo shifts to knock you into next week. Riffs that rival some of the best in the game. Solos (Hunderprest’s would be worthy of prime Hammett) that demonstrate McBain’s astonishing growth as a player.
And it’s all, unmistakably, Hellripper.
That means that Coronach simply never, ever, lets up.
Hunderprest leaps out the speakers like Megadeth’s naughty Nordic cousin, Mortercheyn alchemically blends discore and 80s steel and Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite) is rock ‘n’ roll damnation, blazing bright with the spirits of Lemmy and Algy Ward.
Need a hit of old school, primal ‘ripper? Inject Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm into your veins and let the rage take hold.
Something more subtle? Try the title track. McBain’s trademark rasp is interspersed with cleaner vocals in a sweeping, Bathory-esque epic that draws on Maiden’s intricate fretwork and wallows in glorious gloom before the accelerator gets punched. The leads are absolutely exquisite.
So could Coronach be McBain’s pinnacle?
His Master of Puppets or Reign in Blood?
As astounding as this album is, we doubt it.
The UK has a supreme talent on its hands.
And you get the feeling there’s a hell of a lot more to come…
Hellripper photo by MM Photography.
