Cauldron – Chained To The Nite

Cauldron – Chained To The Nite [Limited Edition] (2009, Earache Records)

Disc 1
1. “Young and Hungry” … 3:36
2. “Conjure The Mass” … 4:10
3. “Chained Up In Chains” … 5:11
4. “The Leaven/Fermenting Enchantress” … 6:17
5. “Dreams Die Young” … 4:03
6. “Bound To The Stake” … 4:27
7. “Witch Trail” … 6:09
8. “Midnite Hour” … 6:00
9. “Chains Around Heaven” … 3:48

Disc 2
1. “The Striker Strikes” … 3:45
2. “Restless” … 5:36

Band:
Jason Decay – Vocals, Bass
Ian Chains – Guitar
Steel Rider – Drums

Producer: Ian Blurton

There’s a huge retro-metal movement going on right now and Cauldron is yet another band to be counted amongst that seemingly endless number. Instead of retro-trash, Cauldron opts for a NWOBHM sound similar to White Wizzard (though they aren’t quite as aggressive as that group).

I had first heard this band shortly before this album was released and I liked “Chained Up In Chains” quite a bit but the samples from the rest of the album didn’t thrill me. Cut to the summer of 2010 when I was looking for new music and decided to finally pick up Chained To The Nite. The album is certainly competent and solid and I appreciate the ’80s NWOBHM hokeyness: the use of fog and a woman in chains on the cover art, the lyrics about witches and dark magic and whatnot, even their own names but it seems like the band is trying to hard to act as a tribute to the past and are not worried enough about writing intriguing songs.

I don’t care whether if any band is original or not, just as long as they write interesting songs and for most of this album I don’t get that feeling. I also feel that Jason Decay’s vocals are a weak point as well, there’s just no power behind him. I guess when I really like 5 songs out of 11, you could call that a decent showing and that’s true. Cauldron has produced a decent album, but not a great album or anything particularly inspiring.

I didn’t realize it until I saw it with my own eyes but there are apparently two versions of this album. My local FYE had the limited edition which features the cover sleeve art shown above (the more risqué cover is still on the CD booklet’s cover) and a second disc with two additional tracks. That just seems silly. Why press an additional CD? Just include those two tracks on the first CD. “The Striker Strikes” and “Restless” are two of the best songs out of the whole bunch anyway!

Highlights: “Young and Hungry”, “Chained Up In Chains”, “Bound To The Stake”, “The Striker Strikes”, “Restless”

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