ALBUM REVIEW: Hellripper - Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags

    For full transparency, I'd like to open by saying that I don't listen to a lot of pure metal in my free-time. I love the proto-metal groups of the 70s like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, and I'm particularly partial to 80s trash like Metallica and Megadeth, but black metal is something that mostly alludes me - it's more of a non-diegetic part of my life, as my sister is big into groups like Bathory and Brainoil and listens to them just as frequently. Nonetheless, I'm always one to branch out a little bit every now and then, and when I saw this album cross me, and with such a seemingly stereotypical cover and name for a black metal group, I bit like a fish. Well, consider me at least a little pleased. Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags is admittedly still not something on regular rotation, but this was a hell of a lot of fun - filled to the brim with killer riffs and a certain explosive energy, Hellripper's newest album has quite a bit of appeal to it, especially for metal newbies like myself. It was kind of exactly what I expected, and yet it managed to be galvanizing enough to hold my attention.

    As someone who, again, isn't very versed in metal, forgive me if I don't use proper nomenclature - I'm doing my fucking best. The album throughout is exactly what I expected as far as black metal goes - growling vocals, intense instrumentation, and a certain indelible energy that continues all the way from start to finish. Undoubtedly, the best thing about this album in my mind is the instrumental work - cleary everybody here is incredibly talented at what they do, from the pounding drum lines to the blazing guitar work throughout. Everything is in its right place, including that really-low-in-the-mix bass. I was also surprised as just how "catchy" some of this was. While it's not necessarily the most melodic music to my ears, there's plenty of memorable little hooks throughout that keeps it sticking in your mind, such as the breakdown on the album's title track or the glorious fuzziness of the opening riff on "The Hissing Marshes" just to name a few. Generally, most of the album adheres to this concept of slightly catchy and certainly distinct metal, with the only major exception being the somewhat forgettable "Goat Vomit Nightmare" in the middle of the album, the most generic thing here in both name and style.

    Even with my amateur understanding of metal on a big scale, I find it hard to deny that what I'm hering is pretty damn good. Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags certainly didn't blow my mind, but it did open my eyes as to what I've been missing in terms of the genre. It's good, fast-paced and aggressive metal with enough memorable lines and hooks to keep it in your memory. If you're into black metal, I'm sure you'll find even more to love about it than I can.

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags.