When a fierce one‑man project like Hellripper crashes back into the metal fray, fans take note — and with Coronach, Scotland’s blackened thrash mercenary James McBain has delivered one of the year’s most invigorating metal statements.
Due for release on 27 March 2026 via Century Media Records, Coronach is Hellripper’s fourth studio album and arguably the most ambitious yet from the Aberdeen‑born speed metal veteran.
Ancestral Fury Meets Razor‑Edge Riffs
Hellripper has carved out a visceral niche in the extreme metal underground: lightning‑fast riffs, snarling blackened vocals, and intoxicatingly apocalyptic energy. What began in 2014 as McBain’s solo project has grown into a full‑on sonic assault — one that’s still rooted in the feral thrill of old school thrash and the occult mystique of black metal.
Coronach leans even deeper into McBain’s Scottish roots. A coronach itself is a traditional Highland funeral lament — a fitting metaphor for an album that feels like both a tribute and a dirge. From arcane folklore to battles carved in tartan and steel, the record’s eight tracks weave histories and horrors into a wholly immersive metal experience.
Tracks like the blistering opener “Hunderprest” — already unleashed alongside a live video — hit like a maelstrom, setting the tone with unrelenting velocity and atmosphere. Meanwhile, the title track melds melody and gravitas — balancing raw aggression with eerie, almost ritualistic hooks.
Epic Scope, Personal Vision
What’s thrilling about Coronach is how it expands Hellripper’s sonic palette while staying true to its core identity. McBain produced and mixed the album himself in Coronach Studios (Scotland) before it was mastered in the U.S., a testament to the DIY ethos that’s defined his career.
Throughout the album, McBain channels influences from thrash forebears like Metallica and Kreator to darker, atmospheric textures reminiscent of Watain or early Bathory. It’s a clever fusion: blistering speed and crushing weight, atmospheric dread and classic metal bravado — all wrapped in the unmistakable personality of Hellripper’s blackened thrash aesthetic.
The vinyl variants alone — from “Black Cuillin” to “Bean Nighe” editions — offer plenty of treasure for collectors and fans who like their metal packaged in both art and lore.
Legacy Riffs and Future Rituals
If recent fan reactions are anything to go by, Coronach might be the one that cements Hellripper’s cult status beyond the underground. Early reactions praise the record’s relentless pace, inventive songwriting, and genre‑hopping bravado. For many, this might be McBain’s best work yet — a true feast for followers of both blackened speed metal and technically adept thrash.
Whether you’re drawn in by folklore, enthralled by ferocious guitar work, or just here for the chaos, Coronach rips with stunning clarity — an album that’s equal parts homage and evolution. Hellripper isn’t just ripping through the blackened thrash canon… he’s redefining it.