Speed metal with a soul: Hellripper’s latest hit differently

If you’ve been following the one-man blackened-thrash machine known as Hellripper, you already know the drill: high-octane riffs, relentless energy, and a deep-seated love for the underground. James McBain has carved out a massive reputation for “black ‘n’ roll” that feels both filthy and meticulously crafted, and his latest release stays true to that legacy without just spinning its wheels. While it retains the gritty, neck-snapping foundation of his earlier work, this new chapter feels more expansive—and dare I say, a bit more sophisticated.

In classic Hellripper fashion, the guitar work remains impeccable, but there is a noticeable shift in the atmosphere this time around. The sonorities feel more melodic; it isn’t “soft” by any stretch, but the layering of the guitars suggests a move toward a grander, more epic style of black metal rather than just straight-ahead speed. You can really hear it in the way the production allows the interplay between the galloping bass lines and the tremolo-picked leads to breathe, giving the whole record a thicker, more professional weight.

That evolution becomes crystal clear when you hit the intro of “The Art of Resurrection.” Hearing a piano in a Hellripper track is a bit like seeing a tuxedo in a mosh pit—it’s unexpected and a little perplexing at first, but it works. This track serves as a pivot point for the entire album, trading the raw, punk-infused speed of the opening songs for a darker, more cinematic march. While the “speed signature” marks are still there—the blast beats are as crisp as ever—the song structures have clearly become more complex.

If you were expecting a total departure from his roots, this isn’t that album. Hellripper knows his lane and stays in it, but by injecting these melodic textures and experimental intros, McBain is proving that “raw” doesn’t have to mean “simple.” It’s a joyous, high-energy blast that manages to grow more haunting the deeper you listen, moving the project firmly toward a more sophisticated side without losing the “pure joy and blast” that made us fans in the first place.

Tracklist:

1. Hunderprest
2. Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite)
3. The Art of Resurrection
4. Baobhan Sith (Waltz of the Damned)
5. Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm
6. Sculptor’s Cave
7. Mortercheyn
8. Coronach