Hellripper – new album Coronach” out now; / Launch lyric-video for the track “Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm”
Scotland’s ibex-obsessed blackened thrash bastards of Hades otherwise known as Hellripper releasing their fourth studio album “Coronach” worldwide via Century Media Records today.
Hellripper’s mastermind, guitarist/vocalist and songwriter James McBain comments on “Coronach” as follows:
“‘Coronach’ is a personal exploration of Scottish Culture — its music, literature, history & folklore. The album is the culmination of 3 years of hard work, and is a project that totally consumed me.
From Pictish mysteries to Victorian Gothic literature, sinister lore, classic Scottish poetry and modern urban tales, the album tells stories of the country throughout the ages.
Inspired by anything and everything from Venom and Mercyful Fate, to Watain and Opeth, to Manic Street Preachers, film scores and traditional Scottish music, the album is a good representation of myself all wrapped up in a nice speed metal package!
Quite a bit of experimentation went into this album, and I wanted each track to contain something that I had never done previously. Whether it be the inclusion of a different instrument, or how a song begins, I aimed to offer some element of surprise in each track.
The album, named after the vocal lament traditionally sung at funerals in the Scottish Highlands, encompasses everything the band is about: mixing modern and old-school influences, past and present storytelling, the dark side of Scottish history and my personal interpretation of it.
As always, the writing and recording took place in my home studio, with various other people putting their stamp on a few of the tracks. The album was mixed by myself, and was mastered by Damian Herring at Subterranean Watchtower Studios and the artwork was done by Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustration).
Fàilte gu Alba – Welcome to Scotland!”.
To celebrate the release day of “Coronach”, a lyric video for the song “Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm” was produced by Cloud Motion Design / https://www.cloudmotion.design and can be now seen here: https://youtu.be/2CFw1spXt8A
Commented by Hellripper’s James McBain, “Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm” is “a tale of witchcraft and possession set in a bleak moorland village inspired by Victorian Gothic Literature – particularly the ghost story of “Thrawn Janet” by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. Lyrically, to match the vibe and energy of the track, I wanted my interpretation of the tale to feel like an 80’s horror film. This is perhaps the most “full-on” track on the album, and that’s reflected in its shorter length. It’s motorcharged, black ‘n’ roll in the vein of Venom, with a dose of classic heavy metal for good measure!”.
Previously, Hellripper have unveiled the following songs off “Coronach”:
“Hunderprest” (Official Video): https://youtu.be/yQpB78zs138
“Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite)” (Official Video): https://youtu.be/YLk4t-D7FBc
“Coronach” (Lyric Video): https://youtu.be/mcdrP2Mjh24
“Mortercheyn” (Official Video): https://youtu.be/8s4P68HrYNU
A few selected press reactions for “Coronach”:
“Coronach is a reinforcement of Hellripper’s compelling vision, 45 minutes of scything magnificence both ancient and timeless. It might hail from the grimiest reaches of the underground, but it deserves to be celebrated by metal maniacs everywhere.” – 4/5 review, Kerrang (UK)
“Hide all breakable objects in sight, blast the volume to a level you know is medically ill-advised, and succumb to the biting blackened speed metal power of HELLRIPPER as you listen to Coronach again. And again. And again.” – 10/10 review, Distorted Sound (UK)
“All hail the goat, and the new Celtic king of thrash.” – 8/10 review, Metal Hammer (UK)
Traditionally, “Coronach” was recorded and mixed by Hellripper’s James McBain at Coronach Studios in Scotland, UK and then mastered by Damien Herring at Subterranean Watchtower Studios in the USA. Cover artwork, as to be seen above, was created by Adam Burke / Nightjar Illustration. And here is the tracklisting for the album:
Hellripper – “Coronach” (44:09):
- Hunderprest (05:49)
- Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite) (04:33)
- The Art of Resurrection (05:44)
- Baobhan Sith (Waltz of the Damned) (06:24)
- Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm (03:53)
- Sculptor’s Cave (04:35)
- Mortercheyn (04:18)
- Coronach (08:48)
“Coronach” is available as Jewelcase CD, Digital Album and in the following LP variants on 180g vinyl:
– “Black Cuillin” LP on black vinyl (Unlimited, available in Europe)
– “Wild Thistle” LP on transp. magenta vinyl (Ltd. to 400x copies, available from UK retailers and Hellripper)
– “Saltire” LP on blue vinyl (Ltd. to 300x copies, available from selected German & Austrian retailers and from Hellripper)
– “Highland Mist” LP on grey vinyl (Ltd. to 1000x copies, available from Hellripper)
– “Baobhan Sith” LP on transp. forest green vinyl (Unlimited, available in the USA)
– “Granite City” LP on electric smoke colored vinyl (Ltd. to 500x copies, available in the USA)
– “Bean Nighe” LP on ultra clear vinyl (Ltd. to 300x copies, available in the USA from Hellripper)
The album can be ordered here: https://hellripperband.lnk.to/Coronach-Album
On the live-front, Hellripper are playing a special album release show in Glasgow, Scotland today and will next embark on a European headline tour alongside Schizophrenia and Sarcator to promote “Coronach”. Here is the list of upcoming live appearances for Hellripper:
Hellripper – Live:
FR 27.03.2026 Glasgow (Scotland) – Garage *
SA 28.03.2026 Bern (Switzerland) – EmMetal Festival
FR 03.04.2026 Nottingham (England) – Saltbox **
SA 04.04.2026 London (England) – The Dome **
MO 06.04.2026 Utrecht (Netherlands) – De Helling ***
TU 07.04.2026 Dortmund (Germany) – Junkyard ***
WE 08.04.2026 Hamburg (Germany) – Logo ***
TH 09.04.2026 Copenhagen (Denmark) – Pumpehuset ***
FR 10.04.2026 Berlin (Germany) – Lido ***
SA 11.04.2026 Warsaw (Poland) – Voodoo ***
SU 12.04.2026 Kraków (Poland) – Zascianek ***
MO 13.04.2026 Vienna (Austria) – Arena ***
TU 14.04.2026 Budapest (Hungary) – Dürer Kert ***
WE 15.04.2026 Munich (Germany) – Backstage ***
TH 16.04.2026 Prague (Czechia) – Subzero ***
FR 17.04.2026 Mannheim (Germany) – 7er Club / Sold Out! ***
SA 18.04.2026 Paris (France) – Glazart ***
TH 14.05.2026 Mexico City (Mexico) – Foro La Piedad
FR 15.05.2026 Guadalajara (Mexico) – Anexa Independencia
SU 17.05.2026 San Luis Potosi (Mexico) – San Luis Metal Fest
TU 02.06.2026 Athens (Greece) – Kyttaro ^
WE 03.06.2026 Thessaloniki (Greece) – Eightball Club ^
FR 05.06.2026 Emmen (Netherlands) – Pitfest
SA 06.06.2026 Maastricht (Netherlands) – South of Heaven Open Air
SA 13.06.2026 Hauptmannsgrün (Germany) – Chronical Moshers Open Air
TH-SA 25.-27.06.2026 Ukmergė (Lithuania) – Kilkim Žaibu
SA 27.06.2026 Campania (Italy) – Southammer Metal Festival
FR 03.07.2026 Villava (Spain) – Sala Totem Aretoa +
TU 07.07.2026 Zaragoza (Spain) – Teatro de las Esquinas +
WE 08.07.2026 Toulouse (France) – Le Bikini +
FR-SA 18.-19.07.2026 Ponteareas (Spain) – Arcanxo Festival
TH 13.08.2026 Carhaix-plouguer (France) – Motocultor Festival
TH 03.09.2026 Košice (Slovakia) – Collosseum Club
FR 04.09.2026 Ostrava (Czechia) – Metal!!! Festival
SA 12.09.26 Verona (Italy) – Arcanum Fest
SA 26.09.26 Hinte (Germany) – Coast Rock Festival
SA 09.01.2027 Mangualde (Portugal) – Mangualde Hardmetalfest
* w/ Sarcator
** w/ Schizophrenia
*** w/ Schizophrenia & Sarcator
^ w/ Midnight
+ w/ Testament
And many more shows to be announced soon!
Info and tickets: https://www.hellripper.com/tickets
Hellripper:
James McBain – All Instruments & Vocals
Hellripper live line-up:
James McBain – Guitar & Vocals
Joseph Quinlan – Guitar
Andy Milburn – Bass
Max Southall – Drums
Hellripper selected discography:
Coagulating Darkness – Album 2017
The Affair Of The Poisons – Album 2020
Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags – Album 2023
Coronach – Album 2026
Hellripper online:
http://www.facebook.com/hellripper1
https://www.instagram.com/hellrippermetal/
http://www.hellripper.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@hellripper
https://www.twitch.tv/hellrippermetal
https://discord.com/invite/Dy7habnWsh
https://www.tiktok.com/@hellrippermetal
https://linktr.ee/hellrippermetal
Century Media Records online:
http://www.facebook.com/centurymedia
https://www.instagram.com/centurymediarecords
https://www.tiktok.com/@centurymediarecords
