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CAULDRON BORN - BORN OF THE CAULDRON
STORMSPELL RECORDS
METAL TO INFINITY
Let me start to give you some advice, be fast and start searching for this re-mastered CD after you read this review! It is limited to only one thousand copies, so be quick or lose it forever!!! I bought the original debut CD from Cauldron Born many years ago and I can assure you I was fond of it. The only disappointment was the rather bad production, destroying all sense of power in the music. The moment I read on the Internet a re-mastered version was available I bought it at once... and I don't regret it at all owning both editions.
Howie Bentley is the master brain behind this band and he's an exceptional good guitar player, adding power and melody before shredding. His talent for writing pure guitar driven epic Heavy Metal is from 'out of space'. No words can explain how intelligent his arrangements are written and how powerful this ensemble sounds! His unpredictable riffs and solos, although they're based on prehistoric elements, give a surprising effect to the one side and a safe feeling to the other. Each note and every solo is well chosen and fast fingered! Along with super technical percussion and frightened bass lines mister Bentley keeps his focus on 'first class' dynamic Metal songs. The band blows uncountable well fitting breaks into your ears which makes the total concept much more exciting than a lot of other releases. For me it is impossible to stay insensible for it, instead this kind of Metal makes me stoned as hell.
On vocals we meet Danny White, once again he proves the best Metal singers are American. His clever vocal lines, soaked with rarely heard soprano screams, give more pureness to the music. Varied soaring shrieks are used, the sort US Metal fans worship. His abilities for using the highest ranges, showcased with a lot of strength, are impressive and commanding. The lyrics are about fantasy stories, sorcery and crusaders but I can consider this as the only point of similarity with those European flower Metal bands...
This record might need a few listens because the music isn't that easy at the first hear. Nevertheless a few spins in your CD-player will convince you how brilliant this band is. Stellar musicianship and high pitched energetic vocals are making this album 'one of a kind', a piece of art and a 'must have' for every US Power Metal fanatic. The album contains 9 fantastic songs, including a cover of Warlord.
While a lot of Metal fans seem to be saturated from so much new Metal bands Cauldron Born delivers a secure innovating album which even deserves a place in our 'classic ones' topic. The sad news is that Cauldron Born is history. After their third album ''...And Rome Shall Fall'', with another amazing unknown singer behind the microphone (David Louden) Cauldron Born disbanded. That'’s such a shame because they released three jewels but unfortunately they were never respected for it, ignored by the ‘important’ Metal media and nameless for the mass. Although the underground scène was crazy about Cauldron Born Howie Bentley disappeared and to be honest I have no clue if he's still into Metal.
Thanks to Stormspell records there's finally a re-mastered version available and what rests now is respect for the band, these guys really deserve it. This album is essential for your CD rack as it was one of the best CD's in its style from the nineties. I hope my words will be read by the members of Cauldron Born, even more; they will be convincing enough to make them reunite! My Points: 98/100 (review by Officer Nice)