Fusing black metal fury with traditional and speed metal sensibilities has long been a recipe for a damn good time, and possibly none have perfected this combination quite like the one-man outfit of Hellripper (AKA James McBain) There’s little subtlety to be found here (although more here than on records past) and most of it smacks you square in the face with a pace attack to rival even the fastest bands out there. The riffs roll over you like a knight hacking and slashing their way through a horde of orcs and goblins, and that’s very much the atmosphere of this record, Coronach.
It’s bursting to the brim with riffs that carve through listeners with unholy fury. ‘Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm’ encapsulates this perfectly, sounding like a journey through the biggest orgy hell has ever seen, galloping along as if being led by The Four Horsemen themselves. It’s lecherous and seedy, embodying all the excesses of rock’n’roll with absolute pleasure. This is the sound of everything that keeps your grandparents awake at night, worried about what sort of evil you might be getting into.
What’s especially remarkable is that it sounds this way without being a pastiche or coming across as just plain silly. The musicianship displayed across all areas is exceptional. ‘Hunderprest’ delivers some of the best shredding you will hear this year, and it adds a further layer of chaos and indulgence to something which is already bathed in over-the-top glory. Even with the title track opening with an almost doom-inspired riff on the funeral march, it serves the whole atmosphere perfectly. If listeners laugh when this kicks in, it’s a laugh of pure delight.
It becomes clear as the record barrels forward is just how strong the songwriting beneath all this carnage actually is. Hellripper has always been about speed and riffs first and foremost, but Coronach shows a clear sense of growth in how those elements are arranged. The pacing shifts more than one might initially expect, with moments of mid-paced stomp appearing between the whirlwind assaults, allowing the riffs room to breathe before the next attack arrives. When the throttle is inevitably slammed back down it lands even harder.
Another subtle addition that really helps build the atmosphere are the hints of symphonic elements scattered throughout the record. They’re never overbearing or theatrical enough to dominate the sound, but rather sit lurking in the background like some unseen demonic presence pulling the strings. These brief flourishes of dark melody and eerie ambience give the album an even stronger sense of menace, adding to the feeling that everything happening here is part of some grand, unholy ritual.
Tracks like ‘Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite)’ and ‘The Art of Resurrection’ continue the barrage, each packed with riffs and hooks that feel tailor-made for chaotic live settings. There’s a very particular energy here that recalls the earliest days of blackened thrash and speed metal, yet it never feels trapped in nostalgia. Instead it plays like a love letter to that era delivered with modern muscle, as if Venom, early Bathory and classic thrash were thrown into a cauldron and set ablaze.
A further element that helps the album stand out is its thematic connection to Scottish folklore and history. Beneath the leather, spikes and infernal debauchery there are tales of dark legends and sinister characters lurking throughout the tracklist. This gives the album a surprising sense of place, grounding all the madness in something almost mythic. Even if you don’t catch every reference, the atmosphere is thick enough that you feel transported somewhere between ancient battlefields, haunted abbeys and torchlit rituals.
Closing with the sprawling title track, Coronach ends the record on a note that feels almost grandiose by Hellripper standards. The song stretches its limbs a little further, weaving in haunting melodies and a darker, more dramatic tone before unleashing yet another barrage of ripping solos. It’s the sort of finale that leaves the listener feeling like they’ve just survived some glorious heavy metal war.
In short, Coronach is everything you could possibly want from Hellripper and then some. It’s vicious, decadent, ridiculously fun and packed with riffs sharp enough to draw blood. If speed, Satan and shredding guitars are your idea of a good night out then this record is less a recommendation and more a command. Turn it up, let it rip, and prepare to raise some hell.