Black Arts & Alchemy, Hellripper, LP

Limited orange colored vinyl LP pressing. 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 it's 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'.