Coroner is a highly respected Thrash Metal band from Switzerland, most notable for their incredible technical playing, paving the way for many metal bands and almost single handedly creating technical thrash metal. Starting off as a bunch of crew members for Celtic Frost, drummer Markus "Marquis Marky" Edelmann decided to team up with guitarist Tommy "T. Baron" Vetterli to create original music. Their demo "Death Cult" was released with Tom Fischer on vocals as a guest before recruiting Ron "Royce" Broder on vocals and bass.
They released two albums, R.I.P. and Punishment For Decadence, before making the change from the prominent neo-classical playing in the first album to the signature technical style that shot their fame further with the release of No More Color. Hailed as the best album in their discography due to the unique combination of thrash and time signature changes, Coroner continued with the progressive thrash style in Mental Vortex and becoming a bigger hit in the metal community. With the release of their last album Grin Coroner was easily distinguishable, going from their normal technical thrash playing to a whole new style that fans could recognize as their own style.
After releasing a self titled compilation album, the band broke up due to bad management and lack of support. In 2011, a reunion tour surfaced with all three members and a live album is currently being worked on for release. They also re-released their Death Cult demo and are preparing to release a DVD documentary.
Coroner shows examples of the following tropes:
- Album Title Drop: "R.I.P.", "Grin"
- Cover Version: Purple Haze, I Want You (She's So Heavy) and Der Mussolini.
- The intro to "Totentanz" is actually a direct cover of a Franz Liszt piece.
- Darker and Edgier / Lighter and Softer: Zigzagged. Going from "R.I.P." to "Punishment For Decadence" shows some notable changes, taking down the neo-classical playing a little bit and adding more lyrics on politics, then gets a little more darker with "No More Color" due to the more thrashier/aggressive playing, then back a little lighter with "Mental Vortex", and then even darker with "Grin", which had a slower, heavier sound and an often creepy atmosphere.
- Iconic Song Request: When in their prime, "Masked Jackal" was a top contender.
- Idiosyncratic Cover Art: With the release of ''No More Color", the album art was decorated with a picture followed by a black stripe with the band, album name, and the Gun Logo.
◊- Only averted with the first album and double subverted with the second. With the second album, the band originally released it following this formula◊ but that specific art was only available on vinyl. "Punishment For Decadence" was re-released on CD without the band's consent with a different cover◊.
- Only averted with the first album and double subverted with the second. With the second album, the band originally released it following this formula
- Last Note Nightmare: The title track of Grin suddenly ends with gunshot sound effects accompanied by a complete stop in the music.
- Lead Bassist: Ron is a type B.
- New Sound Album:
- Punishment for Decadence increased the technicality of the musicianship. Following albums took this further and further.
- Mental Vortex kept the complex songwriting, but further incorporated slower tempos. The riffs were overall more melodic.
- Grin was slower and incorporated industrial elements. Those industrial elements would become more prevalent on compilation albums Coroner and The Unknown.
- Rock Trio
- Sampling: Used a little more extensively in Mental Vortex, Grin and the self-titled.
- Self-Titled Album
- Scare Chord: "Grin".
- Stage Name: Ron Royce, Marky Marquis, Tommy T. Baron.
- Surprisingly Gentle Song: The intros to "Nosferatu" and "Totentanz", as well as some select songs from Grin and the self titled compilation album.
- Thrash Metal: A more complex example than most.
