One man black metal bands seem to be quite in vogue these days, although with James McBain’s Hellripper he certainly augments his sound live with additional musicians. Given the complexity and heaviness of the sound, this is a needs to an end as his music is such that it is so well formed it creates its only little world. Combining black metal, with speed and crust, it’s a dirty yet never too unforgiving sound, suitably bathed in classic metal bands such as Venom and Bathory, given it a timeless feel.
Coronach wastes no time in getting started with the intense and furious ‘Hunderprest’ which literally gallops out of the speakers. All raging riffs, pummelling drums, and even synths plinking away, it never lets you draw breath through its six minutes. ‘Kinchyle (Goatcraft and Granite)’ is less over the top furious but still gathers momentum at a pace which leaves you almost running after the album trying to grasp on to it. Anthemic and propulsive, in an alternate world it would stay at number one in the charts for a lifetime, such is its appeal.
A burst of piano opens up ‘The Art Of Resurrection’ before exploding in yet another furious riff. Indeed, you do find yourself hoping for a bit more respite, until McBain then starts throwing out some rather gnarly riffs which give the song a proper groove. Headbanging? Not for Hellripper, they want you to dance. At least until you get to another fist-pumping chorus.
‘Baobhan Sith’ verges on blackened folk metal, whilst all your Satanic thrills are delivered on ‘Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm’. Devil horns are required for the gallop of ‘Sculptors Cave’ which may be the most straightforward metal song here. By the time ‘Mortercheyn’ hits you start to feel a little exhausted from the music, and its left to the title track to see us out in epic fashion. We are not kidding when we say epic either. All metal albums should end in such a way.
For all its intense and furious (yes, that word again!) nature, Coronach is a whole load of fun which is something that has possibly never gone together with black metal before. Hellripper take the ridiculous inherent nature of heavy metal and crank it up to ten, but it never sounds like a joke. It’s triumphal, melodic and completely over the top, as all great metal should be. Unlike any other metal album you’ll hear this year.
