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Hellripper Ripped Prague To Shreds And Then Some...This Was Insanity At Its Best!

I missed Hellripper’s set at last summer’s Brutal Assault. From what I heard from fellow media members covering the festival, it was one of THE sets to see due to their skyrocketing popularity. They played on the smaller, tucked-away Obscure Stage, and the crowd was packed so tightly that it extended all the way into the open field leading up to the stage. We’re talking about a football-field-sized area overflowing with headbangers, with no wiggle room. Knowing that I had missed one of the most talked-about sets at the festival made me sick to my stomach. So, when I read the announcement that they were returning to the Czech Republic in April, I made sure I wouldn’t make that same mistake again.

Hellripper just dropped their new album, Coronach, a few weeks ago. I knew that the hype surrounding it was going to be huge, and I wondered how that would translate into their show in Prague at Subzero, a minuscule underground dive bar that can barely hold one hundred patrons at best—even though a Google search lists its capacity at 250 people. Being as popular as they are currently, I knew I had to jump on this show weeks in advance because it was more than likely going to sell out.

I arrived at the venue in the middle of Schizophrenia’s set. From what I heard, they play your standard death metal, but what really caught my ear was when they covered Morbid Angel’s “Maze of Torment.” Altars of Madness is my favorite death metal album of all time, so after that, I’m going to start following Schizophrenia and perhaps show up on time the next time they play in Prague.

After Schizophrenia’s set finished, I made my move to grab a spot up front for Hellripper. But alas, there were at least two rows of people who were either bladder-control experts, non-smokers, or simply not thirsty enough to refill their drinks. Whatever the reason, I had to settle for finding the shortest person standing near the front, hoping to get some unobstructed shots and video of the band. The open-air space was diminishing minute by minute. I had made my bed at that point and was going to deal with the nightmare of pushing through the jam-packed room later to get shots from different areas.

Hellripper tore into “All Hail the Goat,” and within ten seconds, the only thing I was thinking was that they should have booked this show at a more spacious venue. It was like a fucking bomb went off. Bodies and beers were flying—including my camera lens into the back of someone’s head. That had to have left a mark, and hopefully they knew it wasn’t intentional. This wasn’t my first rodeo when it comes to frenzied crowds while trying to get my shots, so I hunkered down for a song while the crowd’s adrenaline dipped for a spell. To be honest, it never really happened.

The Subzero crowd was plugged in the whole show, and Hellripper fed off that energy throughout their entire set. Hellripper is considered a “one-man black/speed metal band formed by Scottish musician (lead guitarist/vocalist James McBain),” but his hired guns bring his vision to life in a razor-sharp exhibition of machine-gun riffing and brain-rattling rhythms. This was probably one of the most exerting shows I’ve been a part of in recent memory.

A frenzied fan.

Hellripper played mostly older material, with only three songs included from Coronach. At one point during the set, they jokingly started a song with a cowbell, mimicking Blue Öyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.” If you’ve never seen the famous Saturday Night Live skit about this, you might miss the humor. By the end of their set, I was watching from the safe, peaceful confines behind the merchandise area. I could barely make out the stage at times due to the nonstop crowd surfers, but the sound carried through the throngs of sweaty bodies with ease.

As the show came to an end, the moment that left the most lasting impression on me was when James McBain was shredding a solo while crowd surfing. The crowd carefully passed him from one person to another, making sure not to interfere with his playing or accidentally unplug him. This isn’t just courtesy—this is the kind of love a fan base has for one of its favorite bands. From my final vantage point, I saw several people purchasing merch from all the bands’ tables during my time there. This is what keeps bands like Hellripper alive—a band gaining momentum not only in the underground metal scene but on a mainstream level. If tonight is any indication, Hellripper is well on its way to major tour support and festival appearances near you.

Check out the first song from Hellripper’s set that night, “All Hail the Goat”