Coroner - Dissonance Theory (2025)^{Release ID: 62986}

This year, 2025 saw the return of two thrash/tech-thrash bands after over 3 decades without new material; Dark Angel and, you guessed it, Coroner! The progressive tech-thrash of this Swiss trio is still in full force after that huge gap, proven in their new album Dissonance Theory, sounding modern while staying true to what they are.

The band has really picked up where they left off after Grin. However, instead of continuing that album's industrial-ish groove sound, they level up the riffing artillery from guitarist Tommy Vetterli, almost as many riffs as Dark Angel's Time Does Not Heal. The vocals of frontman Ron Broder still have that energy from their initial run. Dissonance Theory can be considered the missing link between Mental Vortex and Grin, filled with progressive thrash compositions combining aspects old and new.

"Oxymoron" is an ominous intro to begin this offering. It segues to "Consequence" which greatly exemplifies the album's sound. "Sacrificial Lamb" slows things down to a sludgy tempo. It's a little draggy but still great. In the last couple minutes, things speed up for the technicality of Revocation, complete with melodic soloing.

"Crisium Bound" has cool dynamics. Then we get to one of the two singles for this album, "Symmetry", one of my favorites here. It blends the progressive tech-thrash of Mental Vortex with a bit of melodeath, and the soloing beauty of Vetterli. The riffing sounds so modern while still thrashy, owing it all to the D-flat/drop B tuning throughout this album. "The Law" has some crushing groove in the first half, then in the second half, they really turn up the thrash aggression. "Transparent Eye" shows the band's progressive side more, and while some parts might be a little bland, nothing is worth skipping.

The best of their progressiveness comes in "Trinity" with its perfect mix of atmosphere and heaviness. "Renewal" is the album's last full song and its first single. When that first came out, I thought it was the heaviest I've heard from these Swiss tech-thrash masters! It's still a heavy highlight, but earlier tracks like that other single level that up further. The outro "Prolonging" is a 3-minute continuation of the previous track. I feel like they should've been embedded together, yet it's all good as-is.

Dissonance Theory is the album Coroner fans have asked for and received. While not many comeback albums from earlier bands have pleased their longtime fans, Coroner's return shall bring them back along with new listeners. It's a must for anyone willing to hear more from one of the most creative bands of progressive tech-thrash!

Favorites: "Consequence", "Symmetry", "The Law", "Trinity", "Renewal"