It only seems like yesterday that James McBain and his project Hellripper roared out of Aberdeen with the scorching debut EP The Manifestation Of Evil. A raw combination of Speed and Black Metal, it was the first step in a journey that has seen the bedroom project evolve into one of the most important bands of the Blackened Thrash movement.
Hellripper – Coronach
Release Date: 27 March 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
Fresh in sound yet drawing from some of the most primitive influences, McBain has refined his art to the point where the new album, Coronach, feels much more mature than the fourth album by Hellripper.
Do not get me wrong. This is still vitally aggressive and ferociously extreme. But there is now a blended element to the music, with a melodic portion that underpins much of the raging torrent of riffs.
Opening track Hunderprest not only rips with the teeth of a hundred hounds, but there are now clean melodies in the blistering solos as well as Dimmu Borgir flavour with use of some keys to give it depth. This is a track we are already familiar with, and the dual guitar harmonies soar with a nod to the classics, Lizzy, Priest and Maiden.
Following on from the 2023 Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags, McBrain once more delves deep into Scottish history. He explains the background to the title track. “A coronach is a vocal lament traditionally performed at funerals in the Scottish Highlands. Intertwined with my own words is the poem of the same name by Sir Walter Scott, which served as an inspiration for this story: the funeral of an ambivalent and mysterious figure, revered by his community for his heroic deeds, but whose life hid many dark secrets.
“As well as lyrically, the track is also a musical experiment for me. It was primarily influenced by late ’80s Thrash Metal, along with bands like Bathory, Gallowbraid and Atlantean Kodex. A dash of post-punk, a fair amount of Iron Maiden-style guitar harmonies, some classical references and the haunting wail of the bagpipes fading in the distance. This song feels like the perfect farewell to the album.”
Before arriving at the epic conclusion, though, there is plenty to get your teeth into. You can certainly mosh to Kinchyle (Goatkraft And Granite), with its groove that gets into the brain and has you humming it for days, especially the creepy breakdown and addictive riff that echoes Opeth circa Blackwater Park.
Proof that McBrain is expanding his repertoire whilst retaining the intense barrage that has become the band’s trademark. Progression in any genre is welcomed, and the use of piano, cello and other instruments really gives Coronach a fresh style.
The Art Of Resurrection has an intro that momentarily changes the tempo before the snarling growls kick in. “For the first time, I experimented with piano, synthesiser, celesta, cello and violin,” McBrain says, “and there are some bagpipes present too, as with the last album.
“I felt that this helped create the ‘cold’ atmosphere that I wanted the album to exude. I’ve tried some new vocal approaches, too, that I think give a couple of the tracks a little more dynamics.
“But don’t get me wrong. Despite these new influences and the experimentation, it’s still most definitely a Speed Metal album and contains some of my fastest and most aggressive music to date. I’d like to think I haven’t gone completely off the rails.”
And that’s the bottom line here. Experimentation is good, and Hellripper’s fourth album is without doubt their most experimental to date. But with the tracks all embedded in McBrain’s Scottish heritage, they retain that ghoulish assault on the jugular that we desire and demand from Hellripper.
Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm storms the gates with unrelenting blackened blasphemy.
Powerfully aggressive is still the order of the day. The roaring frenzy of Sculptor’s Cave is another deeply rooted in Hellripper heritage. And when we do reach the title track, we are treated to a near nine-minute extravaganza which sees clean vocals and a song that is grandiose in every aspect.
“When I started Hellripper, the goal was to release one EP with the hope that a few people in my local scene at the time would enjoy it,” McBrain recalls. “It’s safe to say it’s gone further than I ever imagined, and I have no intention of stopping! I love what I do, and I appreciate the support from the fans so much. It means a lot to hear that the music I create at home resonates with people.”
He is not wrong. Drawing in so many influences could be a car crash. Coronach is the exact opposite. It is a glorious statement of a band/musician coming of age, Hellripper’s cleverest work to date.
Make sure you get yourself involved. You will not regret it.
Hellripper release Coronach on 27 March 2026 via Century Media Records. Pre-orders are available from hellripperband.lnk.to/Coronach-Album.
Hellripper embark on a European headline tour alongside Schizophrenia and Sarcator to promote Coronach, beginning this Friday at The Garage, Glasgow. For tickets and full dates, visit hellripper.com/tickets.
