Coroner
Coroner

THE REVIEW

I live just a few kilometers from Switzerland; I know it well, if not very well.

I often visit the Canton of Valais, the closest to Domodossola. Less than twenty minutes from home.

I love everything about the Swiss nation: the order, the cleanliness, the absolute independence in the choices made throughout their history, being outside any reckless European pact, having maintained their own very solid currency with an extremely favorable exchange rate (I just have to observe the invasion of Swiss people at the weekly Saturday market in my city).

They have trails, alpine huts so well-kept that they make even someone like me, who has always hiked the mountains of my Val d’Ossola, envious.

The urban and suburban roads don't have those ruinous potholes, that total neglect that has sadly become a bad constant in our (former) beautiful Italy. When they need to repave a road, the heirs of William Tell most often close it to traffic, so they can work with utmost dedication and achieve the best final result, in the shortest possible time.

Does anyone know the name of the President of the Swiss Confederation and what party is currently in power? I believe that without consulting the internet, hardly anyone would be able to answer me.

They're not perfect because, at least in the Valais, they speak the German language, which to my ears sounds completely unfamiliar: a dry, harsh language that makes them seem, even when speaking of love, perpetually angry.

This long preamble came to mind quite suddenly yesterday as I revisited, and posted as a listening recommendation, a fabulous anthology collection of the Coroner; a compilation that covers the first part of the career of this true institution of European Thrash Metal.

Established in the early eighties in Zurich, they have distinguished themselves from the start as a musical entity beyond simple classifications; they play Thrash Metal, and this is evident from their most restless beginnings. They have never rested on their laurels, seeking constant and surprising evolution album after album, song after song. Enriching the sound with ample doses of Progressive, fearlessly touching upon Industrial territories as well, with an effected use of vocals and an exaggerated technicality (the use of guitars is entirely genius). Elongating the length of the tracks, without ever appearing verbose.

They are 100% Swiss: precise, orderly, reserved without much desire to stand out. The important thing is what is conceived, recorded, and put into music, and this anthology is the exact demonstration of their monstrous capabilities. Very solid and layered sound structures for a band that deserved much more recognition. But perhaps it's better that they've remained a niche, cult band, known by few.

Over seventy minutes of auditory "high", with some unreleased tracks, remixes, and even two crazy covers of Beatles and Hendrix.

Five stars for life...SERPENT MOVES...

Diabolos Rising 666.