CORONER · Grin | DIGIPAK CD

CD in Digipak.

Background information about 'Grin'

Let's be honest — there are albums that simply refuse to age, and Coroner's Grin is the living, breathing proof. Originally unleashed in 1993, this Swiss trio's fourth studio record remains one of the most daring, forward-thinking statements in progressive thrash metal. While their peers were busy chasing speed records, Coroner did something far more interesting: they slowed down, stretched out, and dove headfirst into labyrinthine grooves that feel less like songs and more like hypnotic journeys. This 2026 remastered reissue on Listenable Records brings the album roaring back to life with a clarity that makes every twisted riff and serpentine bassline hit that much harder.

What makes Grin so special, even three decades later, is how effortlessly it blends technical prowess with genuine atmosphere. Tracks like "Internal Conflicts" and "Serpent Moves" showcase Ron Royce's unmistakable bass-as-lead-instrument approach, weaving melodic lines that slither through Tommy Vetterli's razor-sharp guitar work. Then there's "Status: Still Thinking," a track that practically invented the groove metal template before the term even existed — lurching, menacing, utterly addictive. The instrumental "Theme For Silence" offers a moment of eerie calm before the chaos resumes, while the title track "Grin (Nails Hurt)" closes things out with a sense of theatrical finality that few metal bands would dare attempt. This isn't just an album you listen to; it's one you get lost in, again and again.

For fans of:
Voivod, Watchtower, Mekong Delta, Atheist, Anacrusis

Track listing

1. Dream Path
2. The Lethargic Age
3. Internal Conflicts
4. Caveat (To The Coming)
5. Serpent Moves
6. Status: Still Thinking
7. Theme For Silence
8. Paralized, Mesmerized
9. Grin (Nails Hurt)
10. Host

Manufacturer: Listenable Records, 26 Rue de Bertinghen, 62200 Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France, Contact: www.listenable.eu