{{Short description|Music project by James McBain}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Use British English|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hellripper | image = Hellripper-11 (53455573905).jpg | landscape = yes | caption = James McBain performing with Hellripper in 2024 | origin = Aberdeen, Scotland | genre = {{flatlist| * Black metal<ref name="genres" >{{Cite web |last=A. |first=Alexandra |date=2024-02-09 |title=GALLERY: 28.1.2024 Hellripper, Toxic Holocaust, & Abbath @ Astra, Berlin |url=https://tuonelamagazine.com/gallery-28-1-2024-hellripper-toxic-holocaust-abbath-astra-berlin/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Tuonela Magazine}}</ref> * speed metal<ref name="genres" /> }} | years_active = 2014–present | label = {{flatlist| * Reaper Metal * Peaceville }} | website = {{URL|hellripper.com}} | current_members = James McBain }}
'''Hellripper''' is a one-man black/speed metal band formed by Scottish musician James McBain in 2014. Cited musical influences include black metal bands such as Venom and Darkthrone, thrash metal bands Megadeth, Metallica and Sabbat, and punk-oriented bands like Motörhead and Anti-Cimex.<ref> *{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/hellripper-10-albums-that-changed-my-life|title=Hellripper: 10 metal albums that changed my life|first=Rob Laing 14|last=September 2020|website=MusicRadar|date=14 September 2020}} *{{cite web|url=https://www.blessedaltarzine.com/2019/01/17/hellripper-interview/|title=Hellripper Interview – Blessed Altar Zine|date=17 January 2019 }} *{{cite web|url=https://peaceville.com/bands/hellripper/|title=Hellripper – Peaceville}}</ref> Lyrically, Hellripper focuses on witchcraft, Occult, and Satanic themes, sometimes drawing from historical events, eg. the possession of Anneliese Michel, as in the song "Anneliese", or the Affair of the Poisons in the song of the same name.
==Career== Hellripper was formed by McBain in 2014 and released the extended play ''The Manifestation of Evil'' shortly afterwards.<ref name=bravewords>{{cite news |title=Hellripper to release The Affair of the Poisons in October |url=https://bravewords.com/news/hellripper-to-release-the-affair-of-the-poisons-in-october |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |date=23 June 2020}}</ref> They released a 16-minute split album with Philadelphia artist Batsheva in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Kim |title=Shimmy Between Black'n'Roll and Black Metal on Hellripper and Batsheva's New Split Cassette |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hellripper-batsheva-split/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=Vice |date=1 September 2015}}</ref>
In 2017, they released the full-length album ''Coagulating Darkness'' through Barbarian Wrath.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sodomsky |first1=Sam |title=The Best Metal Albums of 2017 So Far |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-best-metal-albums-of-2017-so-far/ |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=Pitchfork |date=2 July 2017}}</ref><ref name=vice2017>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Kim |title=Hellripper's 'Coagulating Darkness' Is Bloody Good Black/Speed Metal |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/hellrippers-coagulating-darkness-is-bloody-good-blackthrash/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=Vice |date=11 April 2017}}</ref> According to McBain, it was recorded at his house, and his parents were among the guest vocalists on the album. In an interview, he stated that he "focused on incorporating a lot more of a speed/thrash sound into the mix."<ref name=vice2017/> It was promoted primarily on social media platforms.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petridids |first1=Alexis |title=Pornogrind and flying intestines: my journey into the labyrinth of underground metal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/07/underground-metal-basement-torture-killings-thus-defiled-crypt-of-the-wizard |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=7 November 2017}}</ref> ''Metal Hammer'' praised the album, labelling Hellripper as "Scotland's king of the arcane mosh" and writing that the songs "stab and slash like newly minted classics beamed in from the mid-80s underground, but laden with contemporary oomph".<ref>{{cite news |title=Scotland's king of the arcane mosh |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/metal-hammer-uk/20170919/282376924742545 |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=Metal Hammer |via=PressReader |date=19 September 2017}}</ref> Kim Kelly, writing for ''Vice'', wrote that ''Coagulating Darkness'' "feels as much a homage as it does an original creation", and called it "bloody good black/speed metal".<ref name=vice2017/>
2018 saw several releases alongside other artists including Barbatos, Nightrider, and Dulvel. They also appeared on the ''Worldwide Organization of Metalheads Against Nazis II'' compilation, alongside other metal bands such as Ghoul, Jucifer, and Immortal Bird.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Kim |title=Fuck Nazi Metal Sympathy |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/fuck-nazi-metal-sympathy/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=Vice |date=25 October 2018}}</ref>
The EP ''Black Arts & Alchemy'' was released on 5 April 2019. McBain stated in an interview that the album's four songs were "more punk-influenced" compared to ''Coagulating Darkness'', and that Joel Grind of Toxic Holocaust helped with the mastering.<ref name=decibel/> In a review for the heavy metal magazine ''Decibel'', Vince Bellino wrote that the extended play contained "some of Hellripper"s best songs yet".<ref name=decibel>{{cite web|url=https://grizzlybutts.com/2019/04/03/hellripper-black-arts-alchemy-2019-review/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001074205/https://grizzlybutts.com/2019/04/03/hellripper-black-arts-alchemy-2019-review/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=1 October 2020|title=Hellripper – Black Arts & Alchemy (2019) REVIEW|date=4 April 2019}}</ref>
Hellripper's second full-length album, ''The Affair of the Poisons'', was released on 9 October 2020 through Peaceville Records.<ref name=bravewords/> The album was inspired by the identically titled Affair of the Poisons, a murder scandal in France during the reign of Louis XIV that involved allegations of poisoning and witchcraft.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Poscic |first1=Antonio |title=MetalMatters: The Best New Heavy Metal Albums of October 2020 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/metalmatters-october-2020-2648648037.html |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=PopMatters |date=6 November 2020}}</ref> In an interview, McBain described his intention behind the album: "For this album, the primary goal was just to write eight good songs. I wanted fast songs with good riffs, catchy choruses, and plenty of guitar solos."<ref name=lawson2020>{{cite news |last1=Lawson |first1=Dom |title=Possession, child sacrifice and speed metal: welcome to the world of Hellripper |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/possession-child-sacrifice-and-speed-metal-welcome-to-the-world-of-hellripper |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=Louder Sound |date=23 December 2020}}</ref>
''The Affair of the Poisons'' was well-received by critics. Nick Ruskell, writing for ''Kerrang!'', gave the album 4 out of 5 stars and praised the energetic tempo of the songs, calling it "a speedy, Satanic delight that exhumes the corpse of early-'80s thrash and black metal".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ruskell |first1=Nick |title=Album Review: Hellripper – The Affair Of The Poisons |url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-hellripper-the-affair-of-the-poisons/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=Kerrang! |date=6 October 2020}}</ref> Dean Brown of The Quietus similarly said that the album was "all about manic energy and forbidden enticement",<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Dean |title=Hellripper |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/29061-hellripper-the-affair-of-the-poisons-review |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=The Quietus |date=12 October 2020}}</ref> and Dom Lawson of ''Louder Sound'' called it "one of the most unrelentingly balls-out metal albums of the year".<ref name=lawson2020/> ''Indie88'' named it to a list of the best metal albums of 2020, writing that it was "an unrelenting, heart-palpitating experience from front to back".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Dave |title=Crushingly excellent metal albums from 2020 |url=https://indie88.com/crushingly-excellent-metal-albums-from-2020/ |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=Indie88 |date=22 December 2020}}</ref>
''Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags'', Hellripper's third full-length album, was released through Peaceville Records on 17 February 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McBain |first1=James |title=Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags |url=https://www.hellripper.com/warlocks-grim-withered-hags |website=Hellripper.com |publisher=James McBain |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> McBain stated in an interview that the central theme of the album was the dark side of Scottish folklore,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belinno |first1=Emily |title=Interview: Hellripper's James McBain Finds a Unique Voice on Warlocks Grim and Withered Hags |url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2023/04/17/interview-hellrippers-james-mcbain-finds-a-unique-voice-on-warlocks-grim-and-withered-hags/ |website=Decibel Magazine |date=17 April 2023 |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> which is shown in songs like The Nuckelavee (based on the Orcadian legend of the same name) and the album's title track which takes its name from a Robert Burns poem. ''Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags'' gained positive reviews and debuted at 11th place on the UK Official Rock & Metal Album Charts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official UK Rock & Metal Charts Top 40 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20230224/112/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref>
In January 2026, Hellripper released a new single, "Hunderprest" from the forthcoming fourth album, ''Coronach'', set for release on 27 March.<ref>{{cite web|author=Teemu Hakala|url=https://chaoszine.net/hellripper-releases-new-single-hunderprest-ahead-of-fourth-album/|title=Hellripper releases new single “Hunderprest” ahead of fourth album|publisher=Chaoszine|access-date=16 January 2026|date=16 January 2026}}</ref> The album was released to positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Díaz |first=J. A. |date=2026-04-08 |title=Hellripper — Coronach |url=https://stairwaytorock.com/hellripper-coronach-critica-2026/ |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=Stairway to Rock |language=es}}</ref>
== Live performances == Hellripper began performing live shows in 2016, has done several European tours, and performed at music festivals such as Metaldays and Roadburn Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=146858 |title=Death Angel, Four Other Bands Added To MetalDays - in Metal News |publisher=Metal Underground.com |date=15 August 2011 |accessdate=28 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://roadburn.com/roadburns-pre-party-ignition-temple-fang-hell-ripper-wed-april-10/ |title=Roadburn's Pre Party: Ignition (Temple Fang, Hellripper, Wed, April 10) – Roadburn Festival |access-date=10 October 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929065609/https://roadburn.com/roadburns-pre-party-ignition-temple-fang-hell-ripper-wed-april-10/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> When performing live, Hellripper performs with additional musicians.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://drunkinagraveyard.com/2017/07/18/a-peek-inside-the-mind-behind-hellripper-james-mcbain/|title=A Peek Inside The Mind Behind Hellripper – James McBain|date=18 July 2017|website=DRUNK IN A GRAVEYARD}}</ref>
=== Live members === * Andy Milburn – bass (2024–present) * Jackal Batcharj – guitar (2026-present) * Max Southall – drums (2018–present)
=== Past members === * Joseph Quinlan - Guitar (2017-2026) * David Clark – bass (2016–2024) * Mark Lerche – guitar (2016–2017) * Peter Barron – bass (2017–2018) * Calum Carruthers – drums (2016–2017) * Ross Findlay – drums (2017–2018)
== Discography == === Albums === * ''Coagulating Darkness'' (2017) * ''The Affair of the Poisons'' (2020) * ''Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags'' (2023) * ''Coronach'' (2026)
=== Extended plays & compilations === * ''The Manifestation of Evil EP'' (2015) * ''Complete and Total Fucking Mayhem'' (2016) (compilation) * ''Black Arts & Alchemy'' ''EP'' (2019)
=== Splits with other artists === * Split with Batsheva (2015) * Split with Acid Cross and Kriegg (2015) * ''Prophecies of Ruin'' Split with Fetid Zombie (2016) * ''Speed Motorized Bastards'' split with Nightrider, Dulvel and Wastëland Riders (2018) * Split with Barbatos (2018)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.hellripper.com/ Official website] *{{allmusic}}
Category:British black metal musical groups Category:British speed metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 2014 Category:One-man bands Category:2014 establishments in Scotland