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Hellripper – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
Peaceville Records
Release Date: 17/02/23
Running Time: 41:07
Review by Rick Eaglestone
10/10
Sprawling with folklore infused fury, Scotland’s Hellripper return with their very highly anticipated third album “Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags”. There are just some albums, that when they are announced cause a warmth inside like the fires of hell and then they give you the first offering, album opener and blistering first “The Nuckelavee” represents the sound and vibe of the album perfectly and is based on the Orcadian tale of the eponymous creature – a grotesque and skinless horse-like demon that brings plague and death wherever it travels. This is followed by ’, The Deceiver’ which although not a furious as the albums starts still packs a punch.
Title track ‘Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags’ is slower and solo driven, taking inspiration from the poem ‘Address to the Deil’ by Robert Burns would slot in place very nicely in the battle of Dagorland and the addition of the bagpipes only adds another string to the Hellripper bow. Fear not, the pace once again quickens with the bringing in the punkier side with “Goat Vomit Nightmare.”
Mr McBain then fully engages Slayer mode from the opening riff to Tom Araya-esgue scream at the start ‘The Cursed Carrion Crown’ recounts a tale of a family of cannibals who lived in caves off the coast of Scotland does shift a few more gears as it progresses, and this paired the Motörhead-laden ‘The Hissing Marshes’ is easily my favourite section.
The final two tracks ‘Poison Womb (The Curse of the Witch)’ and ‘Mester Stoor Worm’ have the very best Armageddon infused speed metal elements that are apparent in previous Hellripper releases especially previous album “The Affair of The Poisons”, but there is just something about this release that emphasises this more especially the combination of fury and Death / Black Metal style vocals in ‘Mester Stoor Worm’, which display a whirlwind of different influences not explored before.
I’m sure I won’t be the only one feeling that Hellripper have created something both spectacular and sinister here and I for one can’t stop playing this. High Octane, Goat Hailing at its finest
‘The Nuckelavee’ Official Lyric Video:
TRACKLISTING:
01. The Nuckelavee
02. I, The Deceiver
03. Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags
04. Goat Vomit Nightmare
05. The Cursed Carrion Crown
06. The Hissing Marshes
07. Poison Womb (The Curse of the Witch)
08. Mester Stoor Worm
LINE-UP:
James McBain, all instruments, and vocals
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rick Eaglestone and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of [user_login] and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.