Customer Reviews

Punishment for Decadence

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Alright, if you have been following my reviews for a while then you know I promised way back in November 2009, in my R.I.P. review I mentioned I would soon be reviewing Coroner's next album. THIS ONE!

Well, shortly after that review went to print I quit my job and was strangely preoccupied with sleeping in until 2 p.m. and eating all the cheetos at night. Oh, and I played through a couple old video games I hadn't touched in a while. But now is the time to show this album the justice it deserves by reviewing it in the most professional manner possible.

I love it.

Ok, if you do need more information, then I will begrudgingly give you that. But I'm also making a mental note to take a dump into your morning coffee when you aren't looking, you information-seeking ballsack.

Punishment for Decadence is Coroner's second album, and far be it for me to overly worship something, is also a nice little improvement over R.I.P. This album you begin to see hints of more complex things to come. Songs are no longer straight-sixteenth notes all over the place. I began to notice rythms that were somewhat more complex and technical. And it does this without overdoing anything. You shan't worry over constant time changes or sudden shifts in the musical development. Everything flows wonderfully from one idea to the next while still retaining a perfect harmony of "Thrash Metal Awesomeness" and "other _______".

And Coroner does that thing again where they hit my soft spot for instrumentals. I make a habit of avoiding spoiling anything for the reader, so I will not tell you when it comes or what it is called. But rest assured, you will be in a shreddy high-note heaven.

Oh, and the bass is there, too. So that's good. I like to think I have an appreciation for the Bass that many people tend to overlook, not to make myself seem superior to you (although it does feel nice).

I wish I had more to say, really. It's an excellent album where all the important stuff is. It's pure Teutonic Thrash Metal that I wish was more prevalent then the crap you see on TV. If you are a metalhead (and I mean REAL metalhead, not those earguage-wearing doofuses who think it's awesome to headbang with short hair) and you have not heard the magic of Coroner, then you, my friend, are really missing out on some stellar metal.

Bottom Line: Buy this album, and then go make fun of hardcore fans for being asinine. I award this album Five Gold Stars and I'd steal them some food from work if I still worked there.

On "Punishment for Decadence", Coroner move beyond the largely rote stylings of their initial release, "RIP", the guttural rasps of Ron Royce notwithstanding. Many songs on the record focus on neoclassical guitar riffs, arpeggios, and stylings that are reminiscent of perhaps what Vinnie Moore or Tony MacAlpine would sound like if they were also really into super-fast tempos, abrupt shifts in mood and feel, and lyrics pondering the misery of drug addiction ("Skeleton on your shoulder"), the type of decadent conformity that can destroy societies ("Sudden Fall"), or the murder of some mysterious politician who had "ulterior motives" ("Masked Jackal").

This is probably the second-best Coroner recording, after "No More Color" (although "Mental Vortex", for its superior production, would probably also get some votes). Coroner never sounded much like the American thrash or death metal of the time; rapid fire scales replaced riffs, and while there are portions where the double bass drum is pounding and everything is cranked there's a certain mournful quality to the slow riffs of "Sudden Fall" or the acoustic intro to "Skeleton On Your Shoulder" that has more emotional depth than much of the competing European thrash of the time period (ie, Destruction, Kreator). You probably won't hear a better guitarist than Tommy Baron for his mixing of jazz, metal, and pyrotechnics; "Marquis Marky" (Marky Edelmann) wrote some fairly obscure lyrics, and Royce belted them out. A very loud band with a lot of thought behind it.

Coroner was a trash band, from the middle 80's to the beginning of the 90's. They released five albums, and I consider "Punishment for Decadence" to be their masterpiece.

Coroner delivers a sofisticated old-school trash metal, very technical and heavy, combining lots of different riffs and tempos, and melodic solos with classic influences, with a "raw sound", like old Metallica or Tankard. The music is catchy and perfeclty assembled, with different rhythms...What caught me most of the band is their originality and capability to create such a great chaos! =)I have really no comparisons to give you an idea. If you like trash metal, you should get into Coroner, and "Punishment for Decadence" is a must...and so is their discography. Coroner, a band that trascends time with this great album; and so their discography. Too bad they split up...Anyway, don't miss "Punishment for decadence"...

PS: Check out J.Hendrix's cover, "Purple Haze"...

Coroner deliver their second record of technical thrash. Tommy Baron's guitar style is characterized by sweeping arpeggios combined with a jazz influenced rhythm section. Baron really squeezes in every note he can in his OTT shred style. I think this band influenced Nocturnus and Cynic both. Great late 80's thrash for fans of amazing guitar work. Maybe like a super-tech Slayer.

Most people find Coroner's later albums most accessible, but this album will grow on you (even if, as in my case, it took nearly 20 years!). This is an extremely accomplished addition to the annals of thrash music. Coroner was a superbly talented metal band, but their sound is rather uplifting and inspiring, yet mystical. I give this album a 5-star rating without hesitation.

Punishment for Decadence, Coroner's second full-length album, was released in 1988. It has ten tracks. Of these ten tracks, two are instrumentals and one is a cover tune, "Purple Haze" from Jimi Hendrix. The album's material is in a metal musical direction with progressive leanings. Altogether, the songwriting is worthy, the musicianship is proficient, and the sound quality is satisfying. The guitar playing of Tommy T. Baron is accomplished; also, I am impressed with the meticulousness and fluidity of his solos. Ron Royce's vocals are distinctive and likeable, while Marquis Marky's drumming is impeccable. The band's creative musical arrangements and the shifting tempos of the compositions are impressive, too. "Masked Jackal," "Skeleton on Your Shoulder," and "Sudden Fall" are examples of tracks that I enjoy. Baron makes his mark on the memorable, well-structured "Masked Jackal"--he provides a gratifying guitar solo and magnetic rhythm guitar work. Indelible guitar riffs are supplied by him on "Skeleton on Your Shoulder." "Sudden Fall" furnishes a chorus that is enjoyable and pleasing rhythm guitar playing from Baron. The CD booklet includes the song lyrics. In addition, an illustration of the group is displayed on the back of the CD jewel case. The disc is almost 39 minutes. This concise, urgent-sounding album is recommendable.