Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Hellripper (UK)

Hellripper (Black/Speed Metal // UK)

Hellripper is a Scottish one-man black/speed metal band influenced by the likes of Venom, Sodom, Darkthrone, Metallica etc. With the release of the debut EP »The Manifestation Of Evil« at the start of 2015, the band have made their statement clear… Total mayhem!

2015 and 2016 saw the release of an EP and couple of splits to positive reviews in the underground as well as the assembly of a live line-up. The band’s debut album »Coagulating Darkness« was released in April 2017 to acclaim in the underground as well as positive reviews from the likes of Metal Hammer and Noisey with the former claiming Hellripper to be “Scotland’s King of the arcane mosh”.

2018 saw the the band sign to US-based record label Reaper Metal Productions – a division of Hells Headbangers Records and, the release of a 4-track EP in April 2019 through the label followed along with their first European tour in support of the release.

At the end of 2019, the band signed a deal with Peaceville Records and released their second album »The Affair Of The Poisons« in October 2020 to critical acclaim and led to the band’s first appearance on the US Billboard Chart.

2023 marked the release of Hellripper’s 3rd full-length album, »Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags« – a record inspired by the darker side of Scottish history and folklore, with the title itself is taken from a line in the Robert Burns poem, »Address To The Deil«.

Having released the masterful »The Affair Of The Poisons« in 2020 on Peaceville Records, James McBain and his electrifying brand of blackened thrash fast propelled Hellripper to the forefront of the UK metal scene – now get ready for »Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags« – Hellripper’s third studio album, out now!

»Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags« establishes a new threshold of excellence and raises the bar further over »The Affair Of The Poisons«, with an opus standing at the crossroads between the sound that Hellripper has become known for and a whirlwind of different influences up until now yet to be explored, resulting in James McBain’s most personal and diverse work to date. With a greatly expanded scope to the tracks, incorporating more epic and melodic blackened anthems alongside the high-speed metal attack and blistering solos, »Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags« marks a new high point for the band.

Inspired by the landscapes and legends of the Scottish Highlands, McBain explores the darker side of Scottish history & folklore – the title itself taken from a line in the Robert Burns poem, »Address To The Deil« – as well as including references to clan culture (including his own) throughout the album. Setting the scene with the release of their first single and accompanying lyric video, created by Matthew Vickerstaff, for »The Nuckelavee« – McBain comments “I wanted »The Nuckelavee« to be the first track released as it’s not only the album opener, but it is the song that I think best represents the overall sound and vibe of the record. It’s speed metal at its core but with a few twists. Lyrically, »The Nuckelavee« is based on the Orcadian tale of the eponymous creature – a grotesque and skinless horse-like demon that brings plague and death wherever it travels”

The theme is continued with, for example, the track, »The Cursed Carrion Crown«, being based on the legend of “Sawney Bean” and the Bean Clan (a spelling variation of “McBain”) and tells the story of a family of cannibals that lived in a cave and committed various gruesome acts.

As always, the writing and recording process was carried out by James McBain himself, with a few guests offering contributions in the form of additional vocals and instrumental parts. With recording taking place between March 2021 and June 2022, the album was also mixed by McBain, and mastered by Damian Herring at Subterranean Watchtower Studios.

The suitably sinister and ominous artwork appears courtesy of Adam Burke / Nightjar Illustration.

»Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags« is out now on CD, LP, limited edition green coloured vinyl LP via the band store, limited edition gold coloured vinyl LP, cassette and digitally and is available to order HERE.

Courtesy of Peaceville Records

Discography:
• »The Manifestation Of Evil« EP (2015)
• »Hellripper / Batsheva« Split (Label 2318, 2015)
• »Acid Cross / Kriegg / Hellripper« Split (Contaminated Tones Productions, 2015)
• »Prophecies of Ruin« Split (Iron Goat Commando, 2016)
• »Complete And Total Fucking Mayhem« Compilation (Granite Factory Records, 2016)
• »Coagulating Darkness« LP (2017)
• »Speed Motörized Bastards« Split (Basement Records, 2018)
• »Barbatos / Hellripper« Split (Granite Factory Records, 2018)
• »Black Arts & Alchemy« EP (Peaceville Records, 2019)
• »Spectres Of The Blood Moon Sabbath« Single (Peaceville Records, 2020)
• »Vampire’s Grave« Single (Peaceville Records, 2020)
• »The Affair Of The Poisons« LP (Peaceville Records, 2020)
• »The Nuckelavee« Single (Peaceville Records, 2022)
• »Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags« Single (Peaceville Records, 2023)
• »Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags« LP (Peaceville Records, 2023)
• »Fork-Tongued Messiah / Punk Rock Classic« Single (2024)

Hellripper is:
James McBain (Lock Howl, ex-Lord Rot, ex-Rats Of Reality) – Everything

Live musicians:
Joseph Quinlan – Guitars
Andy Milburn – Bass
Max Southall – Drums

FFO: Midnight, Venom, early Bathory, early Sodom, Toxic Holocaust, Motörhead, Celtic Frost, Darkthrone, Gehennah, Bewitcher, Sabbat

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well

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