Album review: Hellripper – Coronach

For more than a decade, Hellripper have provided sustenance for speed’n’blasphemy-hungry headbangers. But while blackened thrash is a realm often resistant, if not downright hostile, to progression, mainman James McBain has consistently pushed the boundaries. Coronach continues this momentum, embracing diverse sounds and influences without toppling the project’s evil edifice.

James has spoken of his desire to try something new on every song, something evident here from The Art Of Resurrection’s gothic piano intro, through the almost hair metal catchiness of Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite), to the title-track’s epic funeral march vibes and varied vocal approaches. The whole thing sounds incredible, too, the combination of high production values and dynamic songwriting lifting this out of the sonic dungeons inhabited by contemporaries like Midnight. Rest assured, however, that Coronach is certainly not lacking in frenzied riffs, galloping D-beats, moments that sound exactly like Motörhead, or indeed a tune by the name of Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm.

Admittedly, it’s unclear where that last number fits into the album’s central theme, but everything else here explores myths and history from Hellripper’s native land: uniquely Scottish vampire legends on Hunderprest and Baobhan Sith (Waltz Of The Damned), Edinburgh grave robbery on The Art Of Resurrection, even traditional Celtic wakes on the title track. While their musical ancestry takes in soaring Maiden-esque solos, cranked-up speed metal mayhem and the chewy ferocity of cult Brit thrashers Sabbat, this lyrical focus on the band’s cultural roots provides a distinctive identity to proceedings.

Coronach is a reinforcement of Hellripper’s compelling vision, 45 minutes of scything magnificence both ancient and timeless. It might hail from the grimiest reaches of the underground, but it deserves to be celebrated by metal maniacs everywhere.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Mercyful Fate, Kreator, Darkthrone

Coronach is released on March 27 via Century Media