Richard HolmesSong
If You Found This It’s Probably Too Late
Artist
Hellripper
Hellripper backstory
Hellripper founder James McBain is a flying-V wielding bezerker, who’s built a ‘goat kvlt’ of loyal followers hooked on blackened speed metal, motörthrash and outrageously good merch.
Emerging in 2014, he’s spearheaded the ‘ripper from Aberdeen pub shows to huge Euro metalfests, powered by exquisite songwriting talent, a DIY attitude and relentless hard work.
“He transmutes Bay Area thrash, Swedish black metal and the works of Lemmy, Cronos and Algy into something hopelessly addictive” was how we responded to 2023’s Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags.
We made fourth album, Coronach, our Record of the Week back in March. “The UK has a supreme talent on its hands”, we opined.
Hellripper’s trajectory is skyward, that’s for sure.
But McBain is not a guy to sit on his laurels (or backside).
Covers of Zeke’s Let’s Get Drugs and Mainline were unleashed in September.
And he’s also been playing around with Arctic Monkeys’ If You Found This It’s Probably Too Late – taken from the indie rockers’ 2007 Brainstorm release.
Packaged with Let’s Get Drugs and Mainline, it’s just been released on the Who the Fuck is Hellripper? EP.
In James McBain’s own words
“I wanted to record something that would perhaps be a little unexpected, and this Arctic Monkeys B-side was screaming for the Hellripper treatment.
“It may be kind of surprising to some, but they’re one of my all-time favourite bands, and though it may not be immediately evident in my music, they have always greatly influenced how I approach songwriting and production. Enjoy!”
The verdict on If You Found This It’s Probably Too Late
On paper, Hellripper’s takes on Let’s Get Drugs and Mainline made sense.
On paper, McBain covering Arctic Monkeys sounds absurd.
Turning Seattle speed punk into venomised black thrash is one thing.
Putting the ‘ripper stamp on an Alex Turner oddity? That’s some leap.
But McBain’s Monkeys obsession is channelled into a full-throttle, spectral onslaught.
This is a bite-size belter, which sees Turner’s Yorkshire twang swapped for McBain’s acid rasp, and the original’s rhythmic snap dialled up to 11.
What’s next? Devastator taking on I Predict A Riot? Midnight blazing through Shoot the Runner?
We live in hope…
What’s next for Hellripper?
The band were set to hit the US for the first time this autumn with Havok, Slackjaw and Xoth. Unfortunately, visa issues have delayed their trip across the Atlantic – but according to the band’s socials, they’re hoping to make it over for the tour’s second half.