Australian death metal veterans Cauldron Black Ram have blessed us with their first new studio album in six years, “Slaver.” Despite having been around for 25 years, the group has only released four full-length EPs, so when they drop this kind of gold upon us, you had better stand up and take notice. It is a rare treat in the music world to receive this kind of gift. And after you listen to it, you will immediately discover that six years was a short time to wait for this masterpiece.

What sets Cauldron Black Ram apart from other viking-inspired death metal bands, is their darkness and embrace of evil. They show us the brutal side of piracy. The fun they have in their songs is at the expense of their fictional victims, rejoicing in murder, pillaging and plundering. In this way, they are actually giving us a remarkably accurate historical account of days of old. Their lyrics are written with a level of intelligence that is so keen and sharp, it paints a distinct picture while stirring up genuine emotion.

The music is heavy, to say the least. It clings onto that unmistakable dark riff and bass driven core that has become synonymous with the death and black metal genres. Cauldron Black Ram give us a splendid mixture of the two, and whilst this kind of synergy is not uncommon in the metal world, these legends manage to bring an entirely new feeling to it. 

You can hear and feel the experience and level of maturity in the band’s brilliant co-operation and effortless style. These guys know what they are doing and there is no faking those years of practice and hardened honing of technical skill. The trio of Esh, Alim and Gruesome know exactly what they are doing and they play together with ruthless precision. 

In classic death metal style, we are treated to complex tracks with just enough time signature changes to throw us completely off balance and never know what to expect. The harshly masterful vocals, perfect amount of guitar distortion and deft use of those minor keys create a savage and relentless experience. These guys did not come to play nice, but we have a hell of a lot of fun on their wild journey.

 death metal 

Author: Harley Houghton

Harley Houghton is a writer and blogger, based in Melbourne, Australia. Her passions include music, especially metal, gaming and comics. Check out her blog www.harleysmadhouse.com and follow her on Twitter.