EP REVIEW: Hellripper – Black Arts & Alchemy

Here I review the brand new EP from Scotland’s Hellripper, some bestial Blackened Speed Metal lies ahead… Out now via Reaper Metal Productions.

1. All Hail The Goat kicks right in with thrashing riffs, upbeat drums and production that perfectly encapsulates the old school Black-Speed attack of the music. The grisly screamed vocals hit hard over the frenzied warfare that is filled with sleaze. With such a forceful and uncompromising assault from the onset, this is perfect headbanger fuel with catchy songwriting and epic musicianship. Filled with blistering riffs, grinding drums and some killer shreds, boosted with menacing vocals, this opening track drives us in with no holds barred, fantastic.
2. Decrepit Christ fires out some nicely build in, monolithic instrumentals with a tormenting howl lurching forth into a maniacally heavy verse. The morbid ferocity of the music is contagious, truly inspiring a chaotic and hellish vision within the mind. With so much groove, the music is just as impactful as the first track with its punishing hell-fury that takes no prisoners. A piercing and totally crushing piece that has attitude to spare and some tasteful drum fills and shreds. Another killer one.
3. Black Arts & Alchemy has a more melodic starting riffs with nicely spaced out drums that soon descend into anarchy but with a haunting presence to the whole instrumental section. Ferociously throwing so much precise aggression into the gorgeously rich, melodic but also totally unrelenting music gives an enticing experience that is captivatingly heavy. While still damn brutal, this piece showed some diversity and melody from Hellripper, giving a unique touch to the EP. Brilliant.
4. Headless Angels is the closing number for this short release. Wasting no time and firing into monstrous grooves and blastbeats, this is certainly not going to be some weak or faltering finale. Well spaced guitars and drums with demonic vocals are used in a slightly more atmospheric way that still rips you apart with its huge soundscape of total mayhem. This final track is a well rounded ending to the EP, making it feel like a complete album, nothing has been overlooked. Much like this other three tracks, this was totally obliterating.

Hellripper is a band that truly conveys the feeling of the old school Blackened Speed Metal bands, with attitude, sleaze and killer musicianship. The tracks are all catchy, fun and raunchy with energy to spare. An essential listen for fans of Black/Speed/Thrash Metal! -9/10