AS HELLRIPPER MARKS A DECADE OF EXISTENCE, PEACEVILLE PRESENTS THE FIVE TRACK
2019 RELEASE OF BLISTERING BLACKENED THRASH. PRESENTED ON LIMITED ORANGE
VINYL.
Following the release of debut album 'Coagulating Darkness' in 2017 which thrust Hellripper firmly
into the gaze of underground metal maniacs, the 'Black Arts & Alchemy' EP brought even more
attention & notoriety to this special act upon its release in 2019, as Hellripper's ascent gained
further momentum. With four black/thrash anthems delivered in Hellripper's uncompromising &
unwavering style & including an additional cover version of Running Wild's 'Iron Heads', the release
demonstrated an ongoing mastery of composition & execution whilst remaining true to the firm
heavy metal roots which had brought so much appraisal to date. Featuring the band's trademark
intricate & expertly-crafted concoction of hyperspeed riffing & solos, 'Black Arts & Alchemy' was also
notably mastered by Joel Grind of celebrated US thrashers "Toxic Holocaust".
Inspired by the likes of old-school legends including Venom, Kreator, Sabbat [JPN] & Metallica, James
McBain formed Hellripper in 2014 & with the release of the debut EP 'The Manifestation Of Evil'
shortly after, the Scottish band was already making a very clear statement of hellish destruction with
an electrifying brand of blackened thrash. Building on the momentum of the debut EP with a string
of split releases, the debut album 'Coagulating Darkness' was released in 2017 to media acclaim,
with the UK's Metal Hammer hailing Hellripper as "Scotland's King of the arcane mosh" & the band
receiving attention throughout Europe & the US. This was followed by the EP - 'Black Arts &
Alchemy', before an eventual deal was inked with Peaceville, resulting in 2020's 'The Affair Of The
Poisons', leading on to 2023's monumental breakthrough release, 'Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags'.
This edition of 'Black Arts & Alchemy' is presented on limited orange vinyl.
