If you’re unaware of who and what is Hellripper, take this quick introduction it is James McBain and sheer speed, thrash, black metal with no regrets or lack of blasphemy intensity. This was an EP of his released-on April 5, 2019 through Reaper Metal Productions, coming two years after his stellar ‘Coagulating Darkness’ (2017) and while only using a full band for live gigs, he capably captures the sounds, with true black metal hellraising meaningful lyrics. He unleashes the fury of drum blasts and screaming riffs in audio bombardment to assault anyone for a full 13-minutes die-hard style while not exactly the rawest of black metal available this level brings the quality.
“All Hail the Goat” is the opening track and without missing a beat Hellripper delivers a great opening solid riff back by solid drumming leading to an infernal scream which becomes chorus chant of “All hail, all hail the goat” filling for about three minutes. The music throughout is fresh, well-performed, truly incorporating that thrash speed metal often missing from black metal, it’s just random notes, rather contains precision and melodic elements, frankly it is a punk format.
Next up is “Decrepit Christ” is a headbangers delight, ferociously attack laying waste to all those unworthy, a full metal assault, I feel the sound is similar from Venom mixed with both Toxic Holocaust and very early-on Midnight. Then “Black Arts and Alchemy” starts this interesting opening riff which reappears throughout the song and echoes back to roots of metal before launching back into sinister vocals, which shows excellent points of originality. The songwriting is straightforward, in your face, representing the blasphemy and hellish fight for the lister to rage too enthusiastically. Clearly tweaks were made to the production, which is respectful to the audience and provides all with the true professionalism of the artist, taking the time to perfect the solos and mixing it all. The final song that is available on Bandcamp download is “Headless Angels” again gives a nod to speed metal and thrash metal as the backdrop for the black metal to spread its darkness crushing those that oppose the essence of praise in the lyrics, a hint of King Diamond in the vocals. A fifth track is only available on actual disc is a cover of Running Wild’s “Iron Heads.”
The artwork (by Skadvulder), is always important to me, as it often conveys the inspiration of how the music is geared to the music, with a being crossover to the experimentation worship of cosmic forces and in creation of new powers, rather than merely just a connection to Lovecraft’s Necronomicon. I have listened to this album many times since its released, something always pulls back to it, perhaps the few moments hear music that really sounds if Motorhead is playing or a briefest hint of “Ride the Lightning” by Metallic, then again, the speed metal truly overtakes the entire album. That sound of thrash meeting black metal. Delivers great extreme metal music heavy dose for interested listener and would prove to become the right direction into darker work.
Baron’s Rating: 4.5/5.0
Album Artist Skadvulder:
https://www.facebook.com/skadvaldur
https://www.instagram.com/skadvaldur/
Band Links:
https://hellripper.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/Hellripper1
https://www.instagram.com/hellrippermetal/
https://twitter.com/hellrippermetal