With a powerful performance scheduled for July 12th at the Explosive Stage infused by Old Spice, they don’t hide their excitement about performing in Serbia for the first time.
Formed in 1985, and consistently active since their reunion in 2011, they have been touring worldwide. However, their fans are eager to know if a new album is in the works, especially since their last release, “Grin,” came out way back in 1993. The band members have finally provided an answer to this question.
The hard-hitting thrash metal sound will resonate through Petrovaradin Fortress this July, when the Swiss band Coroner takes the Explosive Stage infused by Old Spice stage at the EXIT festival. Frequently recognized as a thrash band, Coroner’s music transcends traditional thrash metal boundaries. Over eight years, they delivered five albums and a semi-compilation. Their journey began with the raw and technically swift “R.I.P.” in 1987, followed by the intricate “Punishment for Decadence” in 1988, the technically proficient “No More Color” in 1989, and its evolution “Mental Vortex” in 1991. They culminated with the heavier and more relaxed style of “Grin”, which debuted in 1993.
The Coroner is coming to this year’s EXIT. What are your expectations for the gig, since you have performed all around the globe and how did you choose EXIT to be a part of your tour?
We expect a very professionally organized festival with a long tradition. I work with a Serbian woman and she told me about 11 years ago that we should make sure that we can play at Exitfest in Novi Sad because it’s a great festival with bands from different styles. So I’m all the more pleased that we’ve now been invited.
Are you excited to perform in Serbia and what can the crowd expect from the Coroner on Petrovaradin Fortress?
We are a little excited before every show, that’s part of it. Because many different factors have to be right to deliver a good concert. Travel arrangements, logistics, health and a lot of technology. However, we are more excited about performing in Serbia for the first time and being able to present songs from all our albums in this cool location.
You made a bold move by taking the Coroner to other parts of the world, particularly Australia and South America. Why did you choose those continents specifically? How was it in South America among their fans?
It wasn’t that brave. We just took the opportunity to play there because the demand and the supply was right. So it wasn’t such a big risk for us. The fans in South America were totally crazy and almost freaked out. I don’t know if that’s normal there or if it was because it was our first time playing there.
Since you have been playing for almost 14 years (reformed in 2010.), was it a light and easy decision to start playing again?
Yes, it was actually a 15-year break. We stopped in 1996 and reformed in 2011. No, it wasn’t easy. It took a lot of convincing from Tommy to Marky and me. Tommy kept asking and presenting us with good concert offers. I didn’t know whether I could still manage playing bass and singing at the same time. But as there was so much demand from fans and concert organizers, we finally gave it a go and it worked out.
What inspired you to reincarnate the Coroner?
As I just mentioned, it was mainly the good concert offers and the constant requests from fans. But certainly each of us had spent enough time in the past 15 years to realize our own musical wishes. It was also interesting for each of us to find out what we would sound like today. And we were also able to take it a little easier, as we were no longer under the pressure of having to earn money with it.
With each of the previous albums, Coroner took a small but brave step away from the sound. Was there a specific purpose behind this musical progression?
It was intentional in the sense that we always wanted to sound different from the other bands. Originality was always very important to us. But the development also came about because we were influenced by different styles of music. At first we listened to a lot of classical music as well as metal. Then, when Tommy went to jazz school, jazz naturally came into the mix. But we’ve always been interested in different styles. As a young boy, I was already on stage with pop music.
Can we finally expect new material in this post-reunion era? Do you have something that is in the writing process or you are still gathering ideas?
Yes, I know we’ve been working on the new album for about 8 years now. The songwriting process is actually finished, although we’re probably still one song short. However, the drums are completely recorded and some of the guitar and vocals are already recorded. Unfortunately, it’s not like it used to be, where we could make music all day long. We all have our day jobs and can only work on the album when we have time. Besides, we want to produce a very good album. Although we have a lot of concert offers again, I think that the album will be finished and released next year.
You all evolved individually on many different levels and that could probably open up a whole new range of possibilities for new material making it different maybe?
Yes, that’s certainly the case and it certainly helps to write better songs. I think the new songs are more mature and polished than before. Certainly more compact and modern. With the biggest influence from Tommy, because he is such a perfectionist. Job-related.
What kind of guitar and bass gear are you using? Do you have an endorsement deal? What instruments are most suitable for you in terms of sound and playability?
Tommy and I both have a 100 percent endorsement deal with Solar Guitars, Chucks and Hucks AG. A Coroner signature guitar and a Coroner signature bass. These instruments can be used very well live.
