James McBain, Mastermind, Gitarrist, Sänger und Songwriter von Hellripper, zur Single „Hunderprest“:
“‘Hunderprest’, hits immediately with a chaotic deluge of dissonance, and is what I felt to be the perfect way to open the album — leaving the listener with no time to prepare. Based on the legend of Hunderprest, or “dog priest” - the vampire of Melrose Abbey. The sinful chaplain inherited his nickname because of his habit of hunting on horseback with his pack of hounds. After his death, legend says he was buried in the graveyard of Melrose Abbey; and because his spirit could not find peace, he would rise from his grave when night fell to harass the villagers and his former mistress to satisfy his bloodthirst.
He was eventually defeated when a group of monks from Melrose Abbey exhumed Hunderprest’s blood-soaked body in broad daylight and set it on fire, throwing the ashes into the wind to be sure that the vampire would no longer be able to torment the town. Musically, the track primarily takes influence from a mixture of thrash (Kreator, Merciless, Metallica) and black (Watain, Rotting Christ, Tribulation) metal, with a healthy dose of some more "atmospheric" d-beat elements from the likes of Oathbreaker and Fall of Efrafa.”
Zum kommenden Album "Coronach" äußert sich McBain wie folgt:
“‘Coronach’ is a personal exploration of Scottish Culture – its music, literature, history & folklore. 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!”
Traditionell wurde „Coronach“ von James McBain (Hellripper) in den Coronach Studios in Schottland aufgenommen und abgemischt. Das Mastering übernahm Damien Herring in den Subterranean Watchtower Studios in den USA.
Hellripper – “Coronach” Tracklist (44:09)
1. Hunderprest (05:49)
2. Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite) (04:33)
3. The Art of Resurrection (05:44)
4. Baobhan Sith (Waltz of the Damned) (06:24)
5. Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm (03:53)
6. Sculptor’s Cave (04:35)
7. Mortercheyn (04:18)
8. Coronach (08:48)
Hellripper:
James McBain – All Instruments & Vocals
Hellripper Live- und Video Performance Line-up:
James McBain – Guitar & Vocals
Joseph Quinlan – Guitar
Andy Milburn – Bass
Max Southall – Drums
Live wird Hellripper im Anschluss an die Veröffentlichung von „Coronach“ auf europäische Headliner-Tour gehen, gemeinsam mit Schizophrenia und Sarcator, um das neue Album zu präsentieren. Hier die Dates:
Hellripper – Live
TH 22.01.2026 Helsinki (Finland) - Tavastia
SA 21.03.2026 Aalst (Belgium) - Oilsjt Omploft Festival
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 (Venue Upgrade!) ***
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 ***
SA 18.04.2026 Paris (France) - Glazart ***
16.-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 25.06.2026 - 27.06.2026 Ukmergė (Lithuania) - Kilkim Žaibu
SA 27.06.2026 Campania (Italy) - Southammer Metal 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 09.01.2027 Mangualde (Portugal) - Mangualde Hardmetalfest
* + w/ Sarcator
*** w/ Schizophrenia & Sarcator
^ w/ Midnight
