Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Coroner - Grin (1993)

The state of thrash metal was looking very bleak in the 90s. The style was stagnating with not a lot of its bands keeping their audience hooked to what they once thought was great, the scene starting to expect new overly progressive sounds. It might work well for the mainstream, but not for the underground from whence they came. After most of those bands try at least one album in a different style, the result would be to submit to obscurity or vanish from activity...

The mighty tech-thrash lords Coroner have done just that. However, instead of stagnating right away, they've actually planned a more pleasant progressive thrash direction through No More Color and Mental Vortex, so they've done their unique progression just right. However, the groove metal foundation has taken over in Grin.

For the first time since R.I.P. and Punishment for Decadence, the album starts with an intro "Dream Path" which has more of a tribal theme complete with didgeridoo. Then a lethargic pace grips "The Lethargic Age" which is a fairly jumpy ride without ever take a break for relaxation with its main motif similar to the opening track of Mental Vortex. Then the earlier energetic thrash enters the groove arena in "Internal Conflicts" with lively proposition and pounding atmosphere without ruining too much.

Another drastic changer is "Caveat (To the Coming)", another brooding groove track that stealthily hypnotizes the listener into the overall soundscape despite the modern non-thrashy manner. "Serpent Moves" includes synthesized vocals adding to the psychedelic industrial groove nature that might sound closer to Ministry and Treponem Pal with a bit of background synths once in a while. The groove status is maintained in "Status: Still Thinking" with atmospheric riffs in a twisted vortex and dark sinister vibes. Second interlude "Theme for Silence" can almost be a sequel to the first one, keeping the tribal atmosphere and didgeridoo.

The dark vibes continue in "Paralyzed, Mesmerized", a fitting composition that would have the listener feel like that song title, paralyzed and mesmerized, with a creepy string of pieces through melodic motifs and ephemeral leads all in spacey semi-thrash. The title track "Grin (Nails Hurt)" is a little more moderately paralyzing with patient rhythms with consistent grooves that keep you hooked up to a sudden fast crescendo throughout the last couple minutes. This formula would be repeated on the spacey finale "Host" which is an unsettling closer but my favorite in this album, their longest song at 8 and a half minutes, and a true swansong (unless counting their self-titled compilation). The unsettling elements range from the spoken vocals to constant tone changes, the creepy female chants, and finally ending in a sonic swarm of parasitic locusts.

So that marks the end of this great tech-thrash band's first era. Some praise as the band's pinnacle for reaching their final destination in evolution, which I respect for their sense of individuality. Others dislike how they succumbed to the groove metal invasion. At least they imbued their groove metal base into something different. Grin is a more open-minded album, but I wish they would return to their breakneck tech-thrash. That's what I hope for when they release an upcoming album, that and changing their band name so they wouldn't be confused with a certain ongoing virus. Unless you're a thrash purist, Grin should be a worthwhile finale from the creative Swiss metal masters.....

Favorites: "Internal Conflicts", "Caveat (To the Coming)", "Paralyzed, Mesmerized", "Host"