Coroner
Dissonance Theory
Album Review
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Ron Broder – Vocals & Bass
Tommy Vetterli – Guitars
Diego Rapacchietti – Drums
Released 10/17/2025
Label Century Media
Tracks
1 - Oxymoron
2 - Consequence
3 - Sacrificial Lamb
4 - Crisium Bound
5 - Symmetry
6 - The Law
7 - Transparent Eye
8 - Trinity
9 - Renewal
10 - Prolonging
With Diego Rapacchietti, the “Swisstalian” timekeeper who replaced original drummer Marky “Marquis” Edelmann behind the kit, both Ron Broder (Ron Royce) and Tommy Vetterli (Tommy T. Baron), known collectively as Swiss thrash kings CORONER, have returned with DISSONANCE THEORY, the first new studio album featuring brand new material from the progressive thrash trio in over 30 years and the album which already has thrash fans worldwide shouting proclamations of Album of the Year.
Released on 10/17/2025, DISSONANCE THEORY is easily the finest thrash album in decades and may quite easily take the crown as CORONER’s magnum opus, a master work of progressive, technical thrash tempered with unmatched riffs, majestic solos, and a brilliantly engineered sonic vengeance where the drums, bass, and guitars each sit perfectly within the mix. It’s one of those albums that continues to impress exponentially with each subsequent listen and is, without question, a masterpiece, and an absolute joy to listen to.
“Just when you think all the riffs have been written…NOPE!”
Remember that the word for this episode is “texture” and JOIN US as we celebrate CORONER’s crowning achievement in thrash greatness with the unpredictably precise complexity of tech prog thrash genius, DISSONANCE THEORY.
“You can understand everything he says…he’s much more pronunced.”
OXYMORON: A lot of ominous whispering and dissonant rumblings, an auditory warning of what’s to come.
CONSEQUENCE: Initially it starts out sounding a little like Grin and Mental Vortex (mix wise) before switching to the bludgeoning punch of their modern sound. Their new drummer (Diego Rapacchietti) is a machine, and the riffs are as powerful, heavy, and exciting as ever.
The clean breakdown at 2:04 is a brief interlude before the enormously sick breakdown which launches at 2:52. Not only does Tommy manage all guitar duties for Coroner, but he’s also wearing the producer hat for this album.
This song has the feel of “If Dream Theater were a thrash band” while twisting backwards into a descending dissonant helix of fusion infused tech thrash madness before finishing out.
“This is no fun…”
SACRIFICIAL LAMB: Apocalyptically heavy…thunderous…ominous…dark…atmospheric and textured. It’s the kind of heavy that conjures images of Thor striking his hammer. It also has solid track 2 energy which I can’t explain, it just “feels” like it.
“Fear not, little flock…
The Kingdom is yours until I will come…I’ll come for you…”
The Kingdom is ours because I will come…I’ll come for you…”
Sounds like a Coroner spoken word section during the triumphant climb right before the sonic insanity which commences at 3:45, followed by a very modern sounding 90’s style Coroner guitar solo.
This has to be the heaviest Coroner track ever written.
CRISIUM BOUND: An ominous beacon in the distance, a discordant melody growing closer. Thunderous vengeance and retribution, marching forward into war.
:55 – The sound of the oncoming storm moving in.
3:14 – Building…
“No restrictions here…don’t worry about it…”
It’s coming back…the sound of warning…beware.
That “ugly” chord is reminiscent of the clean chord at the ending of Overkill III-Under The Influence. It’s like a weird inversion of Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd.
4:20 – A perfectly executed and well-matched guitar solo, with a sufficient blending of modern and classic elements without sounding dated or boring, a perfect blend of then and now.
“I become fire…”
SYMMETRY: Their drummer is an absolute treasure. He’s quite literally a drum machine. Precision riffs, beats, sounds, and production.
“Measure of all things,
Iste Ego Sum…
Measure of anything, but
Iste Ego Sum…”
Outstanding solo…it’s really refreshing to hear the modernized, present-day version of the virtuoso style playing that Tommy Vetterli (Tommy T Baron) delivered during the late 80’s and early 90’s with Coroner. His unique style has remained well maintained over the years, with the riffs and solos commanding an even greater level of respect and appreciation even more so now than then.
Dissonance Theory is undoubtedly their magnum opus.
THE LAW: Super creepy intro. And such an unorthodox, weird, grungy jazz riff to open with. Perhaps Coroner and Dream Theater (and/or Meshuggah) are all in comparable circles, sound wise and palette wise.
“I am…I am the law…”
2:51 – Hammer down! An up-tempo blast of thrash that forces you to pay attention.
3:08 – Get you some of THAT! Outstanding thrash goodness with a brutal finish.
As with a Swiss timepiece, the elegant precision and top tier craftsmanship that Coroner deliver to music is pure, timeless art.
TRANSPARENT EYE: There’s an urgency to this one, right out of the gate. Perfectly mixed. 10/10.
:37 – That riff totally sounds like Periphery!
:59 – THIS is the tune with that weird, detuned, walkdown section on the (2nd) verse. It feels like an altered state, very bizarre and unnerving.
The Periphery sounding riffs, the moments of fusion in the middle, and the nice jazz chords prove that Coroner’s musical palette is the sonic equivalent of fine dining: sophisticated and elevated.
2:42 – Definitely some Fates Warning vibes at this point…think “The Longest Shadow of the Day”…
“Climb…become the eye.”
3:11 –What is THAT!?
It’s like a propellor of thrash, with a very slight keyboard presence in the background. You can hear the clean guitar passage underneath everything near the end. Very well executed prog fusion tech thrash. So many layers and textures. A veritable feast for the ears.
TRINITY: The clean intros on this album have a certain “sounding the alarm” quality to them, a very urgent “call to arms” type of tone; a warning of something sinister that is yet to come.
1:03 – what a beautiful riff with a nice climb. Tommy has some of the most killer riffs in the history of metal just on this album alone.
Very majestic and decadent solo work yet presented in a tastefully restrained fashion. The type of guitar solo offered by a true metal djentleman.
“We’ll meet again…it won’t be long…”
The end has a nice somber atmosphere to it; haunted, like an Opeth song.
RENEWAL: This was the first new track released as a single to the thrash community in over 30 years. The first impression upon hearing this was Mental Vortex after going to the gym and getting super swole.
“Recoil and snap…sacrifice…
YOU! Take what remains…”
2:27 – It’s like the soundtrack to a bleak, post-apocalyptic landscape, bathed in shades of grey and darkness. Well-orchestrated sonic madness woven into precise perfection. The music video is the perfect depiction of a post-apocalyptic progressive tech thrash band that was 30 years ahead of their own time returning to their divinely appointed time in metal history.
PROLONGING: “What remains…”
A proper, dedicated outro with a final reference to Renewal. Very 70’s sounding prog rock meets Opeth vibe when the keyboards come in. Actually, the more you listen to this album, the more you can detect the subtle presence of keyboards deep in the mix. If Coroner wanted to expand to include a 4th member on keyboards, I don’t think there would be any objection whatsoever. Numerous reviews proclaim Dissonance Theory as a leading contender for “Album of the Year” and we couldn’t agree more.
Excellent work, gentlemen! You’ve released what is, without question, THE finest hour in the entire Coroner discography and certainly the finest thrash album in decades (at least). Everything about it: the production, the mix, the sounds, the performances, ALL of it is sublime thrash metal perfection. A+!!!
Show Notes:
(00:01): “There needs to be a heart healthy origami diet…the key is bumps, not lines…”/
“They’re changing…”/ “Are they gonna call it O’Shazzy’s?” / “Why don’t they just call it Lines?” / #PBJ / ***WARNING: #listenerdiscretionisadvised ***/ “We went a little hard last night, me and the wife…”/ #markthetime / #Oktoberfest / “She had a Reuban, I had a schnitzel…”/ #HelenGeorgia / #AlpineVillage / ***WELCOME BACK TO METAL NERDERY PODCAST!!!*** / #RockCity / “I’ll let her know that you approve, sir…”
(07:03): PATREON US at patreon.com/metalnerderypodcast / “The shirt brings…the sexy back…” / #PatreonShoutout / ***If YOU know the Patreon drum fill, TELL US…and you might just get a surprise…*** / “I think I just learned something…”/ #EmberingEffigy / #SweetwaterLive / ***You can SOCIAL MEDIA US at #YouTube #TikTok #Instagram #Facebook at #metalnerderypodcast***You can give us a call and VOICEMAIL US at 980-666-8182!!! / #PissingPost #Shittah #Exodus / “If it’s the song I think it is…it’s an old school #Scorpions cover…” / HE’S A WOMAN SHE’S A MAN (feat. Mark Osgueda from #DeathAngel and #KerryKing ) / “You know what they should rename this song…the ballad of Caitlyn and Chaz…” / “You mean I don’t have to TRANSplain it?” / “Nope!”
(15:26): #TheDocket METAL NERDERY PODCAST PRESENTS: CORONER – DISSONANCE THEORY / Released 10/17/2025 / #Coroner #DissonanceTheory / “If #DreamTheater were a thrash metal band, that’s this…”/ “People are saying #AlbumOfTheYear …”/ Produced by Tommy Vetterli (aka Tommy T Baron) / OXYMORON (creepy intro whispers…) / CONSEQUENCE / “That dude’s still going!” / “Talk about a killer opener…”/ #sorry / “He cupped the microphone…to make it louder…”
(24:24): SACRIFICIAL LAMB / “The mix is (almost) perfect…”/ “Fear not, little flock…the kingdom is yours until I will come…”/ “It sounds like it has space and layers…it’s crisp and its upfront…”/ #raisingthebar / “Everything has its space…it has a very good texture to it…”/
“I think that’s your new word…texture…”/ CRISIUM BOUND / The word for this episode is ‘texture’… / The unpredictability factor of CORONER’s riffs and chords… / “Just when you think…all the riffs have been written… (“NOPE!”) / SYMMETRY (“Iste ego sum…”) #Swisstalian / “How do you make it more bad ass? We’re gonna put an ancient language in there…” / “I am this…”
(33:40): THE LAW “I am the law…for what I am, but I am the law…” / “Somebody’s playing piano…I hear guitar and piano…there’s some piano in there…” / “I think now they’re just there for show…they’re there for texture…” / TRANSPARENT EYE / “This one has a weird walkdown…”/ #fuckingsick / “That’s what I miss about ‘back in the day’…HOW!?”/
“This brings back that feeling…”
(40:28): TRINITY / “It’s like weird metal jazz…”/ “That bass tone is growling…it’s like a presence…and…it’s got texture…” / #wordoftheepisode / RENEWAL (this was the first single (in over 30 years), btw…) / “A little bit of Blackened in there…”/ “He’s Swisstalian btw…”/ “What I like about Ron’s voice: you can understand everything he says…but he’s much more pronunced.”
(48:06): PROLONGING / “Sounds like #Opeth, old #DeepPurple…or #Sabbath …”/ “I wonder who’s playing the organ…” / #whisperASMR / “Show us something we’ve NEVER heard before…”/ #SolarGuitars / Like, Subscribe, and Share / “Fourth walls just don’t matter in this room, do they?” / THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!! / #untilthenext #outroreel