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THE REVIEW
Personally, I consider Coroner the most underrated progressive thrash metal band of their time. The group, composed of Tommy T. Baron (guitar - future Kreator), Ronald 'Ron' Broder (bass, vocals) and Markus 'Marky' Edelmann (drums), was formed in 1985 in Zurich and disbanded ten years later in '95.
Of the hundreds of bands I have listened to over the years, I believe that Coroner was one of the few capable of creating and shaping an identity that transcended the limitations of thrash metal, opening the doors to many of today's more progressive and dark metal events. Their ability to compose music far exceeded many of their supposed peers, yet success worldwide always continued to elude them: a real shame for all the metal fans who couldn't get to know them.
I consider "Mental Vortex" their masterpiece, an album that manages to demonstrate Coroner's insane ability to craft songs that are simultaneously complex, sharp, and visionary yet always accessible. The lyrics are poetic but always aggressive and manage to challenge the listener's perspectives on concepts ranging from life and the afterlife ("Divine Step") to the wistful life of sirens ("Sirens"), from the feeling of powerlessness in the face of the unknown ("Metamorphosis") to the absolute necessity of freeing the mind from the shackles of the system ("Semtex Revolution").
Technically very prepared, the three group members develop fast but always very precise drum-bass-guitar patterns, clean solos executed with impeccable touch: I recommend listening (endlessly) to the opening riff of "Semtex Revolution" to realize how taste, speed, and cleanliness can be combined with the violence and rage of top-level prog-thrash.
Musically, Coroner mixes elements of thrash, neoclassical, jazz-fusion, and even ambient structures to generate a dense soundscape that surrounds the listener with its heavy yet always rich presence: every song is a monolith that lives its own life and the inclusion of the cover of "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" by The Beatles seems to be simply the only way to conclude the CD.
I absolutely recommend "Mental Vortex" to anyone interested in the genesis of progressive thrash metal: a milestone.
"See me become a snake
Wrapped around your neck...
See me become a spike
Pushed deep in your flesh..."
(Mental Vortex)
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Summary by Bot
This review highlights Coroner as an underrated progressive thrash metal band, praising their 1992 album Mental Vortex as a masterpiece. It commends their complex yet accessible songwriting, technical skill, and poetic lyrics. The album is noted for blending thrash with jazz-fusion, neoclassical, and ambient elements. The reviewer recommends Mental Vortex as an essential listen for fans of progressive thrash metal.
Coroner
Coroner are a Swiss technical/progressive thrash trio from Zurich: Ron Royce (bass, vocals), Tommy T. Baron/Tommy Vetterli (guitars), and Marquis Marky/Markus Edelmann (drums). Emerging in the mid‑80s and long cited as underrated, they fused razor‑precise thrash with neoclassical, progressive and later industrial/dark textures across albums like R.I.P., Punishment for Decadence, No More Color, Mental Vortex and Grin. Reunited in the 2010s, they returned with Dissonance Theory (2025, per review).08 Reviews
Other reviews
By Melibeo
Mental Vortex is the masterpiece, the definitive realization of the meticulous work that began to take shape with Punishment For Decadence.
The key of the album is the precise fusion of three elements: the dry, cadenced rhythms of the drums, aggressive guitar riffing, and extremely dynamic and harmonic bass lines.
