CORONER

"Coroner" in an epoymously titled compilation album by Swiss thrash metal act Coroner. The compilation was released through Noise Records in March 1995. It would be the last release by Coroner featuring new material before they disbanded. Some of the new tracks were actually recorded after the band split-up, as they agreed to unite for a final recording session. Only guitarist Tommy Vetterli is featured on all tracks though. A few tracks feature drums by session musician Peter Haas and "Golden Cashmere Sleeper, Part 2" features bass parts played by Chris Vetterli.

The compilation features material recorded between March 1987 and February 1995, and the tracks featured on the album are a combination of new recorded material and select tracks from their preceding studio albums. One track from each of Coroner´s five albums plus the two cover tracks by The Beatles and The Jimi Hendrix Experience, which are featured on two of their studio albums, and a few rarities. Because the compilation features no less than eight new recordings out of the sixteen tracks on the compilation, it´s often refered to as Coroner´s final (and sixth) full-length studio album. Two of those eight new tracks are short interludes though, so in reality you only get six regular length new compositions on this compilation. The remaining tracks are arguably normal compilation type material.

The new recordings are of course the most interesting part of this compilation, as most people already know the album tracks. Stylistically there aren´t that many surprises as the new tracks sound a lot like the material found on Coroner´s fifth full-length studio album "Grin" (1993). So it´s atmospheric, cold, and sometimes almost robotic/sci-fi futuristic thrash/heavy metal, which is how Coroner sounded at this point. It´s still technically well played, with blistering lead guitar work, and Ron Broder`s raw singing/talking type vocals in front. In other words this sounds unmistakably like Coroner.

The whole package is well produced and this is arguably a good quality release from Coroner. Ultimately I still find it a bit odd to release something which doesn´t know if it wants to be a full-length studio album or a compilation album. Had Coroner recorded just two more new tracks, and left out the "best of" tracks, this could have been their sixth full-length studio album, but now it´s just a sort of inbetween release, where as a seasoned Coroner fan you have to skip the tracks you already know to get to the new material (why on earth have they placed songs like "Serpent Moves" and "Reborn Through Hate" in the middle of newer songs?). A bit frustrating really. But when that is said this is as mentioned still a high quality release from Coroner, and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

(Originally posted on Metal Music Archives).

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