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Not yet familiar with the bands hosted at Global Domination? Now's definitely the time to check 'em out. And what could be a better place for it than their Myspace-pages? Links below...
Class 6(66)
Coroner: Grin
08/05/09 || Global Domination
Released: 1993
Introduction
By now, there is not much left to say on my part in regards to Coroner, a band that I consider to be one of the brightest ever to pick up their instruments and scar their own bloody signature on the metal landscapes. It’s only fair that they receive all the praise I and their many other die-hard fans can deliver now, because inexplicably they didn’t get enough of it while they were active. This is one of the most perplexing paradoxes I’ve found in our scene. How such excellence goes largely unnoticed by the masses is simply unbelievable. In any case, those who know Coroner more often than not always hail them as true greats, regardless of how they’re perceived by the rest. There has never been a band quite like them. We could do with a reunion here, for fuck’s sake!
“Grin”, last of their original studio recordings, is a fitting farewell that takes the band’s intelligent brand of experimental thrash as far as they could and still comfortably dwell within the accepted boundaries of the genre. Which means you shouldn’t approach “Grin” with any expectations of listening to yer run-of-the-mill manic thrash meltdowns, because you’ll find nothing of that here. Original and weird by any measure, this record builds up consistently on the astonishing “Mental Vortex” and ends up being a most worthy follow up. After many years of listening to all their masterpieces, my firm favorite is definitely “Mental Vortex”, but I’d never consider “Grin” anything else than fucken brilliant in its own way.
Songwriting
10. Combining their awesome technical prowess with an uncanny sense of dynamics and great compositional nous, the Swiss trio carefully constructs here some of their most remarkably twisted and intriguing songs ever. The songs are mostly sinuously grooving affairs, sharply changing tempos as seamlessly as Coroner always did. The guitar work from Tommy is more streamlined and direct, the rhythm section absolutely outstanding on its interaction.
Where previous records exuded ferocity, “Grin” is pervaded with the darkest visions of anger the band could evoke without resorting to all out violence. The eerie sense of underlying irony and contempt is present in each and every tune. Songs like “The Lethargic Age”, “Serpent Moves”, “Status: Still Thinking”, “Paralyzed, Mesmerized” and “Grin (Nails Hurt)” are easily among the best the band ever wrote; thoughtful, dark and finely crafted. The record as a whole has a great flow to it, not having a single song or note out of place, and can be an incredibly rewarding listen for those with who enjoy such intelligently written music.
The use of some fucken weird samples is also worth mentioning. There is a nail gun, a dental drill, forest noises and some other subtly irrational tidbits smartly sprinkled into some of the songs, but thankfully they never become intrusive or annoying as these things sometimes tend to be.
Production
8. Recorded at a Swiss studio and mixed in Morrisound, in what could have been a potential recipe for disaster, but in fact it is all the opposite. This is a surprisingly solid mix coming from a studio that has spawned some atrocious sonic mishaps in equal measure to great pieces of work. Each instrument is afforded the appropriate power and space for expression, and the subtle and not-so-subtle industrial samples are incorporated seamlessly into the fabric of the songs.
Guitars
9. Tommy T. Baron once again reaffirms his status as one of the greatest guitar players in the history of metal with yet more sterling work on “Grin”. His playing is as outrageously great here as it had been ever before. The spiraling riffs typical of his style will never cease to amaze me, more so when you take into consideration that most of the songs on “Grin” are noticeably slower and jazzier, a natural progression of sorts, but still a departure from the blazing speedfests of previous records. Tommy nevertheless was so fucken good that he fearlessly adjusted to the new sound and continued to work his intricate tempo changes, insanely grooving riffs and perfectly fitting solos without missing a beat. Just check the solo in “Serpent Moves”, the relentlessly moving riffs of “Status: Still Thinking” or “Mesmerized, Paralyzed”, or the sinister coldness of the title track! Unholy fucken fuck! Technical perfection, boundless inspiration and creativity…a fucken guitar god indeed, ladies and gentlemen!
Vocals
9. Ron’s vocal work is pretty much the same ferocious snarl he always had, but in “Grin” he is noticeably angrier and has more depth, his voice possessed of a patent viciousness and barely concealed hate as he had never seemed before. He lends character to the excellent lyrics by Marquis, which likewise allow him to make his point forcefully by rendering a damning indictment of the ills of mankind.
Bass
9. Ron also shines on bass duties on “Grin”, imposing himself on the songs and working out some truly heavy, powerfully grooving lines. From starting out as an average bass player at first, he developed his technique quite consistently throughout the band’s career. He was pretty good already on both “No More Color” and Mental Vortex”, but by the time “Grin” was written, his input was of the highest quality.
Drums
9. Fucken flawless! Marquis Mark was a very good drummer, with impeccable technique, decent power and incredibly aware of what the songs required from him. His rhythmic patterns are very snappy and enjoyable, and his use of odd time signatures and irregular fills as excellent as always.
Lyrics
9. Marquis Mark, the bitter poet-drummer himself, comes up with some truly nihilistic verses, aptly conveying the band’s primal angst and utter disgust with society at this point in their career into words. Just admire these fragments, and ponder…
(The Lethargic Age)
A thousand souls are waiting, for a day that never comes
A thousand eyes still closed, ‘cause they’re afraid to see the world
Two thousand hands are bound, with golden chains they bought themselves
Two thousand legs can’t walk, cause they never learned to move.
(Paralyzed, Mesmerized)
I will understand, while you still ignore
I’ll use wings, while you still walk
I’ll tell the truth, while you still have to lie
And I wonder, why you stand behind just like…
The end of the road, the end of a love
the end of the game, the end of the fame
the end of summer, the end of freedom
Leaving you behind like…paralyzed, mesmerized
Top notch work, which is given as I said a venomous treatment by Royce, and an important reason for why I enjoy “Grin” so much.
Cover art
8. To my endless irritation, this is the one Coroner record I don’t own. It’s been long out of print and for what will probably amount to some copyright or publishing or other such idiotic reason, has never been re-issued. Needless to say, I will get a copy the day it happens right-the-fuck-away, but until then I have to go with the pictures I’ve seen of it. A sinister mask that fits well indeed with the dark mood of the record, depicted in varying shades of grey, black and green, nicely done overall.
Logo
8. Their characteristic gothic font, elegant and somber, and the triple-skull spoke symbol that identified the band.
Booklet
N/A. Never seen one, fuck!
Overall and ending rant
9. As Coroner’s last statement, “Grin” excels in each and every department. At this point, the band had evolved so much, that the first time listener could be hard pressed to recognize them as the same guys who had started with “RIP” a mere 6 years before. This staggering yet natural progression, their indisputable skills as songwriters and technical mastery, and the fact that they were so unique and original at each and every moment is why Coroner has to be considered one of the greatest bands to have graced the metal world. After this, they decided to disband, as they grew disillusioned due to poor recognition and exposure, and the general lack of interest in their very classy metal, yet if “Grin” had to be then end, than at least they went out on a very high note with what should be seen as one of the best farewell albums of all time.
- Information
- Released: 1993
- Label: Noise Records
- Website: N/A
- Band
- Tommy T. Baron (Tommy Vetterli): guitar
- Ron Royce (Ron Broder): bass, vocals
- Marquis Marky (Markus Edelmann): drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Dream Path
- 02. The Lethargic Age
- 03. Internal Conflicts
- 04. Caveat (To the Coming)
- 05. Serpent Moves
- 06. Status: Still Thinking
- 07. Theme for Silence
- 08. Paralyzed, Mesmerized
- 09. Grin (Nails Hurt)
- 10. Host