CORONER Returns With Their First Song Since 1993 & It Rules

Swiss technical thrash legends Coroner will release their long-awaited studio album, Dissonance Theory, on October 17, 2025 via Century Media Records. The record marks the band’s first full-length in over three decades, following 1993’s Grin. Pre-orders are live now.

To launch the new era, Coroner have unveiled the blistering first single, “Renewal”, accompanied by a video directed by Dariusz Szermanowicz. And really, it doesn’t sound like Coroner took nearly that long between releases. This is pretty damn close to classic Coroner!

Coroner guitarist and songwriter Tommy Vetterli said: “I thought a lot about what Coroner should sound like today, but pretty quickly realized that looking backwards wouldn’t serve us. Even if the material is new, my writing will always feel connected to earlier phases — but we weren’t trying to continue a legacy. We wanted to create something honest, grounded in the present. ‘Renewal’ opens a chapter that I’m fully satisfied with, start to finish.”

Recorded by Vetterli at New Sound Studios in Switzerland and mixed/mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Kreator, Amon Amarth) at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden, Dissonance Theory spans ten tracks and 47 minutes. The artwork was created by Stefan Thanneur.

“We didn’t care about trends back then, and we didn’t make this record for anyone but ourselves,” added Vetterli. “As long as it’s honest, it’s Coroner.”

Coroner is a Swiss thrash metal band from Zürich, formed in 1983 by guitarist Tommy Vetterli, drummer Marquis Marky, and bassist/vocalist Ron Broder. Before starting their own recording career, they were part of the road crew for fellow Swiss metal pioneers Celtic Frost. The band’s first demo, Death Cult in 1986, featured Celtic Frost‘s Tom G. Warrior on vocals, which helped them gain attention in the underground metal scene.

Their debut album R.I.P. in 1987 established them as a unique force in the genre, blending neoclassical guitar work with aggressive thrash rhythms. They quickly followed it with Punishment for Decadence in 1988, which expanded their technical range and introduced more intricate arrangements.

No More Color in 1989 marked a leap forward in songwriting sophistication, merging speed and complexity in a way that cemented their reputation among critics and fans of progressive thrash. This progression continued with Mental Vortex in 1991, where they adopted a cleaner production style and a slightly more melodic approach while retaining their trademark precision and intensity.

By the time Grin arrived in 1993, Coroner had shifted toward a darker, more groove-oriented sound that incorporated industrial and alternative metal elements. Although well-regarded by many, the album’s stylistic departure coincided with the decline of thrash metal’s commercial popularity in the 1990s. The band disbanded in 1996 after releasing a self-titled compilation, leaving behind a small but highly respected discography that influenced countless technical and progressive metal acts.

In 2010, Coroner reunited for live performances, reintroducing their music to a new generation of fans.