LIVE REVIEW: Hellripper @ The Mash House, Edinburgh
Scotland’s subterranean extreme metal scene is undergoing a renaissance at the moment. Death metal, particularly the old school variety, leads the new wave but tonight’s headliners HELLRIPPER have rapidly escalated in popularity. Spawned in Aberdeen in 2016, the brainchild of James McBain has garnered international adoration and festival invites. This bill is accentuated with two popular Glasgow acts, COFFIN MULCH and RANCID CADAVER, establishing the city as a prominent hot spot for death metal regeneration. This bill of exceptional fresh talent sold out this Edinburgh show at its original location, Bannerman’s and it had to be upgraded to The Mash House. Unsurprisingly, lucky punters bought all the extra tickets at this roomier venue too.
First up is the heaviest band on this bill, RANCID CADAVER. Birthed in 2021, they are armed with a just single EP, Flesh Monstrosity, bearing their putrid moniker. Their death metal is retro, infected with a dose of brutal death to engorge the riffs with bludgeoning weight. Their music channels other newer bone-scraping horror-devotees like SANGUISUGABOGG and 200 STABWOUNDS.
Despite taking the stage 15 minutes after the doors swung open, the venue is rammed with a bottleneck forming outside the main room. The mosh pit is vicious, fitting for a headlining act rather than openers, and pushes other spectators further back. These Glasgow lads’ performance is spirited, undoubtedly feeding off a dynamic reception. However, vocalist and bassist Ross Dunn‘s growls don’t sound as guttural as their recorded counterparts and other live stints; perhaps he injured it. Nonetheless, it’s inspiring to see RANCID CADAVER‘s enthusiasm mirrored by a hungry congregation to ignite the night.
Rating: 8/10
Securing a decent viewpoint for COFFIN MULCH is equally challenging. As soon as they play their first notes, the pit combusts into ferocity with bodies slung in every direction, despite the woeful sound engineering. Swedish death metal inspired by the mid 90s output of both DISMEMBER and ENTOMBED is the order of the night. Derek Milne‘s guitar torpedoes through belligerent, agonising and gloomy soundscapes. Once again, vocal disparities afflict the frontman, Al. His hybrid growl-shouts are much cleaner with barely any guttural snarl, resulting in a less maniacal result that subtracts from their death metal. His stage performance can’t be faulted though, as he emphatically strikes and writhes in front of adoring fans, many of whom he allows to bark the choruses into the microphone.
This year, COFFIN MULCH unleashed their debut album Spectral Intercession on the planet to keen praise. Their highlights tonight include Mental Suicide, Into The Blood and Infernal Mass. Before vacating the stage, they announce their final song to a dissatisfied crowd. “Don’t worry,” Al remarks. “It’s a long one”. He vocalises his support to Palestine, describing the conflict as a genocide. The closing song Eternal Enslavement concerns itself with the futility of warfare and ironically, the moshers undertake the opportunity for sustained violence again for the final time in front of COFFIN MULCH.
Rating: 8/10
Metalheads are still being admitted into the venue minutes before Aberdeen’s HELLRIPPER prepare to level The Mash House. When the black thrash metal horde take the stage, they begin with Spectres Of The Blood Moon Sabbath from The Affairs Of The Poisons. Frontman James McBain whips up sleazy, whisky-stained and punky riffs so thick, an anaconda couldn’t wrap its jaws around them. The energy is electrifying and assuming you’re not getting accosted by the circle pit, resisting headbanging is nearly impossible. The galloping blackened thrash translates sublimely live and HELLRIPPER warms up the beer-flecked deviants with some older material before moving on to this year’s new battleaxe, Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags.
Goat Vomit Nightmare, I, Deceiver and The Nuckelavee represent this beloved full-length. This album sees HELLRIPPER becoming more sophisticated with their song-writing. They rely less on the conspicuous MIDNIGHT influence in favour of traditional heavy metal touches, producing their most ambitious album to date and murdering claims that they were stagnating. McBain‘s solos are expertly executed and a pleasure to witness. The deft weaving of black, thrash and heavy metal with crust punk pays homage to veterans, such as MOTORHEAD, SLAYER, VENOM, BATHORY and METALLICA. Older highlights include Hexennacht, Nunfucking Armageddon 666, Death Rock ‘n’ Roll and All Hail The Goat.
The show bolts by too fast and when McBain checks if they an play a final track, the venue’s staff shoots down that possibility. Still, the audience stumbles into the freezing Edinburgh streets brimming with compliments. Tonight, HELLRIPPER mashed The Mash House and demonstrated why they are the hottest metal act in Scotland right now.
Rating: 9/10
Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in Edinburgh from Duncan McCall Photo here:
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