Hellripper is making a strong comeback.
Fresh off signing with Century Media Records, the project led by Scottish musician James McBain (multi-instrumentalist/vocals, Lock Howl, formerly of Lord Rot and Rats of Reality) has announced the 2026 release of its fourth album, Coronach.
James McBain is joined on stage by Max Southall (drums, Bastard Mycosis, Vacuous, Vaticinal Rites), Joseph Quinlan (guitar, Desert Heretic) and Andy Milburn (basse), with McBain handling guitar and vocals. Joseph Quinlan is also credited with some lead guitar parts, Max Southall with drums, and Marianne with additional vocals.
Hunderprest already packs a powerful punch with highly dissonant and aggressive riffs that showcase technical skill and raw fury, though this is sometimes tempered by more ethereal leads as the band’s speed metal roots come into full force. The piercing final leads into Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite), which is anchored in a catchy old-school vibe infused with heavy metal, and we notice these unifying backing vocals throughout the track before shifting to a more melancholic tone on The Art of Resurrection, which begins with piano before suddenly accelerating. Roars and bellicose riffs return, but the track remains influenced by its introduction, offering a rather somber approach in its harmonies—unlike Baobhan Sith (Waltz of the Damned), which returns to pure ferocity and delivers an immediately abrasive track. Complexity and speed are once again the order of the day for this epic composition, which shifts from moments of fury to more melodic passages, as with Jess Townsend’s violin (Autumn Tears), then Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm returns to pure efficiency, delivering Black/Thrash riffs that are as clichéd as they are motivating, and will undoubtedly provoke headbanging sessions. We continue with a fairly similar approach on Sculptor’s Cave, stringing together shrill lead sections between two furious charges before softening for the opening moments of Mortercheyn, then returning to epic rage for the rest of the track. We also recognize the coldness of Black Metal, which contrasts with the energy of the other influences, and then the album draws to a close with the lengthy Coronach, the eponymous track that holds its own against the greatest anthems of Atmospheric Black Metal, carrying us through its riffs across majestic landscapes until Antonio Rodriguez’s bagpipes definitively mark the end of this adventure.
Whether you’re a fan of Black/Speed Metal’s violence or of long melodies, Hellripper is the perfect band for you! Coronach offers both aspects depending on the track, and the flow is incredibly smooth!
90/100