Out of the demise of the NWOBHM-influenced Toronto metal band Goat Horn, bassist/vocalist Jason Decay and drummer Al Chambers regrouped with guitarist Ian Kilpatrick and formed Cauldron. The band released a limited edition vinyl EP "Into the Cauldron" in 2007 which sold out right away. (The CD version is available through Cauldron's MySpace page).

The band's full-length debut, Chained to the Night (Earache Records), dropped last week. Musically, this new disc fits squarely in realm of classic 80's metal. The band's influence range from the NWOBHM bands like Anvil and Raven to Metal Blade's Metal Massacre bands. Giving a direct nod to these bands, Chained to the Night closes with a cover of Black 'N Blue's "Chains Around Heaven" (from Metal Massacre Vol. 1). Similar to power-trios like Raven, Cauldron plays high-energy power metal with strong guitar leads. Jason Decay sings with a clean, melodic vocal style and the band describes their music as "straight-up, beer swilling, bullet-belting metal". Check out the track "Chained Up in Chains" which is streaming on the band's MySpace page and this will give you a good sense for what the new disc sounds like.

Cauldron is currently finishing up a UK tour with Earache label mates Bonded by Blood and then the band returns to Canada for series of late-May/June shows. The band will be hitting the States in late August with Sweden's Enforcer.

Cauldron's current tour dates are:
May 29, 2009, 8:00PM, Red Rooster, Burlington, Ontario
June 1, 2009, 8:00PM, Level 3, St. Catherines, Ontario
June 2, 2009, 8:00PM, Casbah Hamilton, Ontario
June 3, 2009, 8:00PM, Trinity Lounge, Sarnia, Ontario
June 4, 2009, 8:00PM, Cubby Pickle, Windsor, Ontario
June 5, 2009, 8:00PM, St. Paul’s Church Milton, Ontario
June 6, 2009, 8:00PM, Bovine Sex Club, Toronto, Ontario
June 11, 2009, 8:00PM, Tyrolen Warm Up Party, Blädinge, Kronobergs län
June 13, 2009, 8:00PM, Tyrolen Muskelrock Festival, Blädinge, Kronobergs län
August 20, 2009, 8:00PM, USA tour start w/ Enforcer, Detroit, MI

The first pressing of the CD version of Chained to the Night comes with a bonus disc with two previously unreleased studio tracks - "The Striker Strikes" and "Restless". The new disc is available from Earache's online store and there is also a vinyl version which has a different bonus track, "Cauldron Call".

Here is an early live performance from the band that was recorded at Cafe Decuf in Ottawa on Nov. 30, 2006.