Interview: The Year of Hellripper – Talking ‘Coronach’ with James McBain
Scotland’s ibex-obsessed blackened thrash bastards of Hades otherwise known as Hellripper will release their fourth studio album, ‘Coronach’, worldwide on March 27th, 2026 via Century Media Records.
The brainchild of guitarist/vocalist/solitary force, James McBain, Hellripper has become an unstoppable force, respected across the world, and this new album promises to be the most varied release from the blackened thrashers to date. As well as the album release, Hellripper’s 2026 is insanely packed with live shows. Including a string of support shows for thrash metal icons Testament in Spain and France, their own dates in Mexico and will next embark on European headline tour alongside Schizophrenia and Sarcator to promote ‘Coronach’.
SA 21.03.2026 Aalst (Belgium) – Oilsjt Omploft Festival
FR 27.03.2026 Glasgow (Scotland) – Garage *
SA 28.03.2026 Bern (Switzerland) – EmMetal Festival
FR 03.04.2026 Nottingham (England) – Saltbox **
SA 04.04.2026 London (England) – The Dome **
MO 06.04.2026 Utrecht (Netherlands) – De Helling ***
TU 07.04.2026 Dortmund (Germany) – Junkyard ***
WE 08.04.2026 Hamburg (Germany) – Logo ***
TH 09.04.2026 Copenhagen (Denmark) – Pumpehuset ***
FR 10.04.2026 Berlin (Germany) – Lido ***
SA 11.04.2026 Warsaw (Poland) – Voodoo ***
SU 12.04.2026 Kraków (Poland) – Zascianek ***
MO 13.04.2026 Vienna (Austria) – Arena ***
TU 14.04.2026 Budapest (Hungary) – Dürer Kert ***
WE 15.04.2026 Munich (Germany) – Backstage ***
TH 16.04.2026 Prague (Czechia) – Subzero ***
FR 17.04.2026 Mannheim (Germany) – 7er Club ***
SA 18.04.2026 Paris (France) – Glazart ***
TH 14.05.2026 Mexico City (Mexico) – Foro La Piedad
FR 15.05.2026 Guadalajara (Mexico) – Anexa Independencia
SA-SU 16.-17.05.2026 San Luis Potosi (Mexico) – San Luis Metal Fest
TU 02.06.2026 Athens (Greece) – Kyttaro ^
WE 03.06.2026 Thessaloniki (Greece) – Eightball Club ^
FR 05.06.2026 Emmen (Netherlands) – Pitfest
SA 06.06.2026 Maastricht (Netherlands) – South of Heaven Open Air
SA 13.06.2026 Hauptmannsgrün (Germany) – Chronical Moshers Open Air
TH-SA 25.-27.06.2026 Ukmergė (Lithuania) – Kilkim Žaibu
SA 27.06.2026 Campania (Italy) – Southammer Metal Festival
FR 03.07.2026 Villava (Spain) – Sala Totem Aretoa +
TU 07.07.2026 Zaragoza (Spain) – Teatro de las Esquinas +
WE 08.07.2026 Toulouse (France) – Le Bikini +
TH 13.08.2026 Carhaix-plouguer (France) – Motocultor Festival
TH 03.09.2026 Košice (Slovakia) – Collosseum Club
FR 04.09.2026 Ostrava (Czechia) – Metal!!! Festival
SA 12.09.26 Verona (Italy) – Arcanum Fest
SA 26.09.26 Hinte (Germany) – Coast Rock Festival
SA 09.01.2027 Mangualde (Portugal) – Mangualde Hardmetalfest
* w/ Sarcator
** w/ Schizophrenia
*** w/ Schizophrenia & Sarcator
^ w/ Midnight
+ w/ Testament
Info and tickets: https://www.
This packed 2026 is just one aspect of the interview we discussed with James. We also dig into the new album, how Hellripper have become such an unstoppable force, and so much more.
Watch and/or listen to the full interview via:
LinkTree | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Soundcloud | YouTube
