Coroner – Dissonance Theory
Release Date: 17th October 2025
Label: Century Media Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Thrash Metal, Progressive Thrash Metal, Technical Groove Metal.
FFO: Annihilator, Sadus, Voivod, Kreator, Watchtower, Sylosis, Pestilence, Revocation.
Review By: Rick Farley
One of the most criminally underrated technical thrash bands of all time return in 2025 after releasing their last album back in 1993. Thirty-two years later, the Swiss metal icons Coroner grace us with a ferocious return worthy of their legendary name. Not known to be a band afraid of taking musical chances, Coroner have fearlessly written one of the most undervalued but consistent and influential collection of albums of any thrash band I can think of, past or present. While this release is one of 2025’s most anticipated albums by many, it still baffles me that they haven’t achieved pioneer status like so many others of the same time period. Originally formed in 1983, Coroner have matured with every album, taking new musical elements and combining it with their technical mastery and outstanding songwriting. Not a paint by numbers thrash band by any means, they have always stood out from the pack, and while their discography is not huge, it is nearly flawless.
2025’s Dissonance Theory, an album that will undoubtedly have newer metal fans question why they have never heard of this band, marks the bands six full length to date and continues their knack of writing thinking man’s thrash metal. Aggressive, technical, and darkly atmospheric, the album leans more towards the side of bridging their signature sound into contemporary times more so than just rehashing the olden days. This gives Dissonance Theory immediate modernity, but also still sounds exactly like Coroner should. The go for the throat, crisp guitars of Tommy Vetterli precisely cut through the wall of low ended pulsing bass, then effortlessly leads into ebbs, and flows of dissonance with spider webbed frenzy. Progressive leaning thrashy riffs, with a tightened heaviness, are brutal at times and undeniably catchy at others. The guitars are technical and complex without ever sounding over the top. The solos shred way above the normal thrash metal wankery often being virtuosic, and slick yet tasteful, think in line with a band like Revocation but not much focus on death metal. The punishing rhythm section of Ron Broder bass/vocals and drummer Diego Rapacchietti is like a jackhammer, continuously shifting tempos and kinetic energy depending on what’s needed for the song at that moment. Fragments of calm, build seamlessly into a purge of incredible musicianship that will whip you around recklessly only to settle into a heavy groove that could cave in your chest. The intensity of the album is infectious, always being focused on their songwriting first. The music is like a slithering blitzkrieg of controlled violence that’s utterly captivating. Vocally the coarseness is typical of thrash metal but far less shrieky than most, its simplicity is one of the key things that give Coroner a distinct feel. If you’re a fan of the band already, you will instantly recognize Ron’s gruff snarl.
Dissonance Theory is full of twists and turns, each one ready to strike with fury and maniacal precision. Tracks like Consequences, with its proggy attack, shifting unexpectedly to straight-up beasting thrash guitars is a freight train of intensity and insane hooks, while Sacrificial Lamb is a lumbering, stomping track of monstrous heaviness that bashes your skull in with double bass. The Law uses dense atmosphere combined with galloping tight guitars to create an ominous feeling of tension, while Renewal methodically destroys everything with straight thrash brutality. This album from beginning to end is a masterclass in incredible songwriting, old school thrash chops, and the ability to be immediately relevant without sacrificing any integrity. From Coroner, I would expect nothing less.
Not sure what mystical force is guiding all these legacy bands to reunite and release new albums, but I’m 100 percent here for it. Get this in your ears immediately.
(5 / 5)
