Cauldron Black Ram/Slaver/20 Buck Spin/2020 CD Review

  Australia's  Cauldron  Black  Ram  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  the  mixture  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal  from  their  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2020  album  "Slaver"  which  will  be  released  in  May  by  20  Buck  Spin.

  A  very  slow,  dark,  heavy  and  melodic  doom  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  while  also  capturing  the  heaviness  of  sludge  metal.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  along  with  some  of  the  faster  riffing  also  mixing  in  elements  of  thrash  metal  and  guttural  death  metal  growls  are  also  utilized  at  times.

  Throughout  the  recording  you  can  also  hear  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  while  grim  blackened  metal  screams  are  also  utilized  at  times.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  the  music  also  being  very  heavily  rooted  in  the  90's  but  modern  at  the  same  time.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  couple  of  instrumentals   are  also  added  onto  the  recording,  semi  melodic  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness,  death  and  war  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cauldron  Black  Ram  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  sludge,  doom,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Flame"  "Graves  Awaiting  Corpses"  and  "The  Pit".  8  out  of  10.

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https://cauldronblackram.bigcartel.com    

Cauldron Black Ram/Stalagmire/20 Buck Spin/2014 CD Review

  Cauldron  Black  Ram  are  a  band  from  Australia  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  that  plays  a  mixture  of  black,  doom,  sludge  and  thrash  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Stalagmire"  which  was  released  by  20  Buck  Spin.

  The  album  starts  out  with  a  very  dark  and  heavy  sound  along  with  some  blackened  death  metal  vocals  as  well  as  some  melodic  leads  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  bit  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  as  well  as  the  recording  having  an  old  school  feeling  which  also  leads  to  blast  beats  becoming  a  part  of  the  music.

  As  the  album  moves  on  the  music  gets  a  lot  darker  and  starts  mixing  black,  doom  and  thrash  together  along  with  traces  of  sludge  and  at  time s they  also  bring  in  brutal  old  school  death  metal  sounds  along  with  a  decent  amount  of  melody  as  well  as  using  a  mixture  of  screams  and  growls  and  after  awhile  an  instrumental  is  added  in  along  with  spoken  word  ritualistic  parts  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  Wit h this  album  Cauldron  Black  Ram  continue  their  mixture of  black,  doom,  sludge  and  thrash  metal  of  their  previous  recording  as  well  as  adding  in  more  death  metal  this  time  around  and  this  album  is  very  heavy  and  old  school  sounding.

  Song  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  occult  themes,  while  the  production  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark  and  old  school  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Cauldron  Black  Ram  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  doom,  sludge,  death  and  thrash  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Fork  Through  Pitch"  "A  Litany  Of  Sailor's  Sins"  "Cavern  Fever"  and  "The  Devil's  Trotters".  8  out  of  10.

http://cauldronblackram.bandcamp.com
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Cauldron Black Ram Interview

1. Can you give us an update on what  is going on with the band these days?

We play a patient waiting game for the vinyl release of the Poisoner Maxi EP through Parasitic Records! It's defining, as we mixed it down on a vintage 2-track machine, for the vinyl release! It sounds nuns-cunt sweet! CBR is finishing preparations to record the next album. An inhospitable location must be found yet to do this.
This next waxen abomination will be released by the unmerciful 20 Buck Spin Records. Perfect.

2. How would you describe the musical sound of the newer music and how it differs from previous recordings?

Rawer, driving, reverb and delay saturated, and I reckon my drumming is a little crazier. The whole production for the next album will sound unsound.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

The Stock Exchange, Feminist Diatribe, Tanning Salons etc.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

I thought a totemized animal that would best represent the sound and nature of the band was a giant, bestial, shaggy ram of the 'color' cauldron black.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

CBR shows are a roughshod affair that might resemble old heavy metal shows and early death metal shows. Passioned, fist banging and fevered head thrashing! There is darkness, mocking mirth and sweat.

The best was a show played in Adelaide/SA a couple years back at The Squatters Arms. The crowd were ravenous and inspiring. We thrive best on crowd banter and those South Australians are vocal! A very recent show in Melbourne/Victoria with Mongrels Cross and Spire also proved an illicit affair...crazy bastards packed into a tiny room, fucking great.

6. Do you have any touring plans for the  future?

Not as yet, just tentative plans to play a tour in the USA in 2013. That is provided the Anti-Christ or Christ does not return to end the world as we know it. Or the axis of the earth tilts, bombarded by comets, a shift in dimension or such. If none of that happens, then the tour is likely. Apocalypse pending. Obviously.

7. The new release came out on Abysmal Sounds, how did you get in contact with this label and how would you describe the support that they have given you so far?

Stuuuu has been a whore-friend in our whore-stables for many years. We respect him, his work, his penchant for supporting Australian bands and his tight pants that ever dwell below his waistline.
Granted Abysmal Sounds is not a large label, it has a good reputation and is direct. Abysmal Sounds is growing though and we will continue to work with them in some form in the future.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of undeground metal?

The best response is from the Men in the Underground Metal scene! We seem to illicit confusion and even a bit of ridicule from the modern-ites whom are grounded in metal of the past 5 years only. Calling us 'black metal', comparing us with the likes of Behemoth, Watain and such. The aged Men whom are grounded in all from hard rock, heavy metal, thrash metal, olde death metal and early black metal, they GET it! There are a school of younger folk who are schooled in such a way too, which is excellent!
You know, I have seemingly lied through my teeth regarding the 'black metal' label! We DO have black metal influences, but it is black metal like Masters Hammer, Root, Mortuary Drape and such! The overt obscurity can be heard most on our 'Slubberdegullion' album.

9. What is going on with the other projects these days?

More than one could imagine and less than one would expect.

10. What  direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

The next album is near ready to record! It's much the same movement you would come to expect of CBR, but I reckon the new material is a little more driving, as opposed to The Poisoner, which had an injection of dirge. We have stepped back a little to the demo days in a few songs.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Any music that tends towards song. Pure expression, whether simple or complex, loud or quiet, abrasive or refined.
Recently been listening to Militia, Blackkout, Blue Murder, Twisted Sister, Massacra, Dislocation (old Canadian band), Lemming Project, 80's Morbid Angel, 70's Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Diabolic and Foreigner. That's very recently anyhow.

12. How would you describe your views on Occultism?

I view it the only way it can be, with humor. Occultism is so mismatched, underscored, over-symbolised, misunderstood, overused, lost to time and the privy few that control its ancient truths. It's barely worth the bother!

13. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

Music is practically all encompassing! Asides that I enjoy strength and self defence training.

14. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

The latest Morbid Angel is not Morbid Angel. Do not be fooled, it is not the same band. Buy it to smash it against the rocks surrounding your cave entrance.

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Cauldron Black Ram/The Poisoner/Abysmal Sounds/2012 EP Review

Cauldron Black Ram are a band from Australia that plays a mixture of black, doom, sludge and thrash metal and this is a review of their 2012 ep "The Poisoner" which was released by Abysmal Sounds.

Drums range from slow to mid paced to fast drumming with some blast beats being used at times, while the bass playing has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars.

Rhythm guitars range from slow, mid paced to fast drumming that combines influences from black, sludge, doom, thrash and death metal to create a sound of their own along with some dark sounding melodies while the lead guitars are very primitive sounding black/death metal guitar solos and leads.

Vocals are a mixture of black/thrash style growls, high pitched screams and shouting gang vocals along with a brief use of spoken word ritualistic parts, while the lyrics cover occult, dark and horror themes, as for the production it has a very dark, rw and primitive sound to it.

In my opinion Cauldron Black Ram are a very great sounding mixture of black, sludge, doom, death and thrash metal and if you are a fan of this style, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Poisoner" and "Infernal Interjections". RECOMMENDED BUY.

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