Bandet kom nylig med et comebackalbum som virkelig imponerte, og jeg har ‘Dissonance Theory’ på topplisten for både 2025 og også for de seneste årene. Jeg var så heldig, ved hjelp av Niels på Oktober Promotion, å få til et intervju med gitarist Tommy.

Man, this is an honour for me! Welcome to Heavymetal.no, welcome to Norway! Life  is good? 

«Thanks. Life is pretty good and busy right now!»

My story with Coroner dates back to an ad I saw prior to the debut album, we had only read about the demo, and we loved everything different, different from the mainstream thrash bands. Man, that’s almost 40 years ago, how do you guys keep the energy, the motivation, flowing? 

«It might sound a bit cheesy, but what motivates us is the passion for the music we play.  Sharing our new songs with fans again and being back on stage makes us very happy.»

You guys never got the attention I’ve always felt you deserved, but again, a bit different band not for the mainstream audience.

«We always focused on writing music that excites us and, to be honest, we never really cared for what’s trendy or mainstream.»

Coroner@www

Grin, open minded

‘Grin’, 32 years ago, that’s insane! Some compilation stuff in between, but 32 years!  When did the idea of making new music appear? Did it materialize over time, making  songs and riffs during a lengthy period? Or a sudden move and a need to make a full  album in a short time?

«It definitely developed over time. We first felt the chemistry return when we started jamming together after the reunion shows. From then, it still took us some time to begin writing the new material – I started sketching out ideas in 2015. Once they felt fresh but also clearly Coroner, we knew we were on the right path to create an album worthy of the name. But then life kept getting in the way – short bursts of progress, then long interruptions. Running my own recording studio means I’m constantly producing other bands. After nine-hour days recording or mixing, there’s not much creative energy left at night.»

Me, I do struggle with ‘Grin’, it is a very different approach from Coroner. Simpler riffs, not so detailed arrangements? How do you view this off-past album today?  

«Maybe you have to listen to it a few times more with an open mind ;-)».

Yeah, but I’ve listened to it a lot though. Just recently I focused on the album, ran it several times a week for six months, but it didn’t grow as much as I was hoping. But open minded, probably an idea to try to listen to it with a different angle, perhaps my understanding of Coroner is based on some albums, perhaps I need to isolate it a bit.

«When we were making Grin, there was a big musical shift happening. The techno scene was growing, grunge was  exploding, and most metal releases at the time felt uninspired to me. We didn’t care what  was trendy or commercially smart back then – and we don’t now, either.»

Live

I saw you guys live back in Oslo some years ago. So, live, are you comfortable with  the scene? Or is the studio where you thrive the most? And will your live schedule be  heavy in the wake of the new album? 

«Going back on stage reminded us why we make music. Now that Dissonance Theory is about to be released, we hope to play as many shows as possible. We are fortunate to work with great new management and booking agencies – one for Europe, one for America and the rest of the world – and they are working very hard on upcoming tours right now.»

Label

All Noise band (I’m reading the Noise book right now), now Century Media. Why this  label? They approach you? Or vice versa? 

«We had offers from different labels, including Century Media. But since we knew that Century Media would soon be acquired by Sony Music, we decided to sign with Sony Music Switzerland. At the time, that made the most sense, and we’re very happy with that decision. Century Media Records, and especially our A&R, Leif Jensen, are doing a great job.»

Lyrics

I read the lyrics on the two songs released from the new album. I didn’t get it, they  weren’t in your face. What topics do you like to focus on? And I like bands with lyrics not obvious :). 

«On Dissonance Theory, the lyrics were a shared effort between Kriscinda Lee Everitt – an  American author who is currently writing a book about Coroner – our co-producer Dennis  Russ, and me.

The album title delves into the concept of cognitive dissonance: the mental  discomfort or tension that arises from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes  simultaneously. Some topics are the chaos and contradictions of our time, dark human  nature, societal tension, and personal struggles. For me, it’s important that the lyrics support the music, that there’s a story between sound and words.»

This comeback, did it fit your life? I mean, work, family, everyday duties, can be challenging for many people without doing the band routine. 

«It was definitely a challenge. Especially my full-time job as a music producer and studio  owner didn’t exactly make things easier.»

Forward!

This was part of the press release for the first song from the album. I love it! Far too many bands just look back and copy what people want to hear. But again, very few old bands releasing new stuff  have impressed me. Is it scary to enter the scene, knowing most people want retro and copy?  

«Yes, I agree. I don’t see the point in doing the same thing over and over, repeating yourself,  or even worse, copying another band that’s already doing it better.»

What inspires you these days? And back in the days, are there still bands from your early years responsible for coloring your songs? 

«I think about inspiration in more general terms. It’s not necessarily about particular bands or styles, but about everything we experience, see, hear and feel and how it all comes together. Sometimes it’s a big thing, like personal stuff, sometimes it’s a small thing. It just has to hit you at the right moment.» 

Of the old albums, who are your favourites? Or favourite? And why? 

«Every album was the best it could be at the time. I don’t have any favorites. They’re all very  personal creations. Choosing a favorite would be like parents favoring one of their children.»

I know, you have a lot to do promoting the album, I won’t be taking up more of your  time. Thank you for giving your time to Heavymetal.no, and good luck with the band! Any last words, hate or love, here is a great place to add anything:  

«We’re grateful to all the fans and friends who have supported us along the way. This new  chapter is exciting for us, and we hope people will connect with the new music; we’re really proud of it and can’t wait for you to hear it!»

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