Well, holy shit. This is Coroner's first album in more than 30 years, and as someone who loves their classic output, I was anxious as hell to hear what they'd come up with. I'll admit I flinched when I first heard the lead single, and how modern and polished it sounded. But if I had listened with more than half an ear, my expectations for the full album would have skyrocketed.
On Dissonance Theory, Coroner fuse their trademark technicality with sharp, forward-thinking songwriting that draws not only on thrash, but progressive metal, melodic death metal, and a razor-edged, jazz-tinged complexity that fuels interest rather than irritation. Tracks like "Consequence," "Crisium Bound," and "Symmetry" groove for all the right reasons with boiling riffs, impeccable drumming, and Ron Royce's unmistakable low snarl to anchor things. The guitar solos deserve a special shoutout. They are elegant, emotional, and executed with masterful restraint as heard on e.g., "Transparent Eye."
Coroner have gone for something genuinely different on their comeback, modernizing their sound without abandoning their foundation. Yes, the production is a little flat and sterile, and a couple of tracks wander a bit too far into experimentation, but these are minor quibbles. I've spun this album repeatedly, and it often reveals something new. After more than three decades without a truly meaningful release, Dissonance Theory is a stunning return, and an example of a band gracefully reinventing themselves without losing their roots.
