Today, we’re diving into the latest album by one of the contemporary representatives of blackened thrash metal, Hellripper. The album, Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags, is a testament to the band’s evolving sound and the creative vision of its founder, James McBain.

Founded in Scotland in 2014 by James McBain as a one-man band, Hellripper started its musical journey with what could be described as rebellious and raw productions. These early works quickly garnered a wider audience. Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags stands as the most successful product of the new genre James has created, which he calls witchcraft metal, evolving from his initial speed/black metal roots.

We already saw in the 2019 EP and the 2020 album that the chaotic rush of making music in the early days had calmed down for James. After a mix of good, meh, cheesy, and “did you really need to go that far?” productions, this album shows he has finally achieved the originality and vision he aimed for. The blending of Motörhead, Mayhem, and Judas Priest into tracks that start with manic black metal screams, transition into epic melodies, and feature grotesque breakdowns that morph into sweet heavy metal riffs, along with the masterful transitions, elevate this album to a special level. Even the songs that seem long on paper (3-4 minutes) don’t feel overwhelming in this context (except maybe for Mester Stoor).

We need to give a special mention to the brilliant work on both rhythm and solo guitars. In an era where music often feels disposable, with countless albums and songs featuring lackluster solos, the contributions of live guitarist Joseph Quinlan stand out. His technically impressive and melodically supportive solos, particularly evident in tracks like “The Cursed Carrion,” take the album to an even higher level.

I see WG&WH as an album that proves the importance of respecting your fan base. Rather than suddenly shifting to speed metal, Hellripper integrates these elements gradually, blending them into their music and incorporating what they’ve learned along the way. This approach not only keeps their long-time fans happy but also attracts new listeners with their unique and rare musical style (shoutout to Bewitcher). It’s commendable that, instead of following the current trend among new thrash bands of producing great work only to then pivot to disingenuous metalcore for extra popularity, Hellripper sticks to their guns, creating a distinctive blend of genres.

I consider this album a contender for one of the best of 2023 and recommend it to anyone, regardless of their familiarity with the mentioned genres.