Scottish blackened speed metal force HELLRIPPER — the one-man project of multi-instrumentalist James McBain — is set to release "Coronach," the highly anticipated fourth full-length album, on March 27 via Century Media Records. The album marks HELLRIPPER's major label debut after three critically acclaimed self-released and independent records that established McBain as one of the most vital voices in modern extreme metal.
"Coronach" spans eight tracks across 44 minutes, representing a significant expansion in scope from HELLRIPPER's earlier, more compact releases. The album explores Scottish culture in depth, drawing from history, folklore, Pictish mysteries, and Victorian Gothic literature to create a record that is as intellectually rich as it is sonically devastating. Track titles hint at the thematic territory: "Hunderprest," "Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite)," "Baobhan Sith (Waltz of the Damned)," "Sculptor's Cave," and the title track "Coronach" all reference specific elements of Scottish myth, geography, and dark heritage.
Musically, "Coronach" introduces several new elements to the HELLRIPPER arsenal. Piano, synthesizer, celesta, cello, and violin make their first appearances in McBain's work, adding atmospheric layers that create what has been described as a "cold" and haunting sonic landscape beneath the trademark blistering speed and razor-sharp riffing. Early reviews have praised the record's ability to blend unexpected melody and ambience with the raw aggression that HELLRIPPER is known for, suggesting that McBain has achieved a rare feat: expanding his artistic palette without diluting the ferocity that made the project essential in the first place.
McBain has confirmed a run of European festival appearances throughout the summer to support "Coronach," with a full headline tour expected in autumn 2026.