Hellripper’s strengthening identity ties in with a strong sense of place. This being McBain’s Scottish Highlands home and its folklore, mythology and its landscapes is thrillingly explored on album number three. His deep dive pursuit into early black Metal and thrash underground scenes brings heartfelt fond memories for older metal-heads. And he has deservedly reaped continuous high praise for carving out freshly baked, gnarly high quality rebooted speed metal, which stands mightily strong on its own merits.
The wonderfully titled third album Warlocks Grim &Withered Hags opens in brutal, riffy, fast as Kreator fashion with ‘The Nuckelavee’, about the horse like demon of the sea from Orcadian mythology. While neck braces at the ready were always expected, it happily rages with speedily, relentless, frantic purpose as on the thrash-tastic ‘The Cursed Carrion Crown’, a track that recalls early era Exodus and Dark Angel with it’s ferocity. Motorhead fanatics will have their hearts warmed with ‘The Hissing Marches’ bass and drums opening assault for another album highlight.
However, this body of work isn’t just heads down no nonsense speeding. McBain has flexed out the possibilities with an extra dosage of musical influences for his most ambitious and epic album so far. Thrash at its core, it’s also seasoned with a more blackened form, culminating with the closing eight minutes Black Metal rhythmic pummelling contained within ‘Mestor Stoor Worm.’
Leading the album towards its most expansive ambitions is the generous amounts of majestic melodies, which are peppered throughout – and on occasions are totally unexpected – to recall early and classic Iron Maiden at their most adventurous. The grandstanding seven minutes plus title track (inspired by legendary Scottish poet Robert Burn’s ‘Address to the Devil’ poem) is Hellripper’s ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. It even has a slower, quieter moment, military drum roll, and yes, even bagpipes. It fittingly complements the creative scope McBain is working at here, and it’s epic.
Where Hellripper also sound fresh and bang up to date is in the production. Hark back to the production qualities of 80’s thrash – it’s safe to say they were very hit and miss, and a bad mix could ruin a thrash album’s quality instantly. No problem here, as Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags excels in hitting you straight through the eyes while enabling you to hear all the fine dexterities on display. The album never stands still, as the musical magician McBain throws in so many twisty tempo changes, finger flying, corking guitar solos, and a truckload of belting riffs all delivered in energy drink speed ‘n’ vitality – it makes for an exhausting, but exhilarating ride. Born from an mastered knowledge of the heavy metal artform and written as an ode to the mysterious of the highlands, this is crucial studying for all with a love for all things fast and heavy.