Enter the Cauldron- Jason Decay speaks out.

Canada has it's fair shares of quality underground metal throughout the years with the likes of Exciter, Anvil, Annihilator, Savage Steel, Infernal Majesty etc... Now with Earache Records new comers 'Cauldron' now holding the flag high the band are certainly starting to show the world just how good a power trio can go. With the band releasing their debut album 'Chained To The Nite', which was released in 2009 has been receiving some excellent reviews and the word has certainly got out about this impressive Power/ Classic Metal act. Based on classic bands such as Angel Witch, Trouble, with the likes of Savage Grace, Omen, Cities, Hallows Eve the band seem to of starting things with a bang. I spoke to vocalist Jason Decay to find out more about the bands formation and to talk about the current album and what the future holds for the band. I recently caught up with them as support to Nevermore & Death Angel in London. Here is what Jason had to say. In the meantime check out their latest album and if you can their E.P.

First of all Jason, could you tell the readers who will be reading this a little bit about the bands formation, when did you first get together and who formed the band?

"Well Cauldron formed about for years ago in 2006 with the then drummer Chris Steve to which I formed my previous band 'Goat Horn' and we later on got Ian Chains on guitar & Brandon Wars who later on left the band to form 'Zuka'. We have had a few different drummer since we formed but Ian and myself are the only 2 original members left."

You said you formed a band called 'Goat Horn', who did the music differ from that of Cauldron?

"Well it was pretty similar but people say we sound a lot cleaner now which I guess we do with the vocals and guitars been cleaner in sound and style. I think it had the same vibe with the same band we have now and our music is basically based on 'Goat Horn' were we left off and we now have enough of our own songs with Cauldron to carry on. I think the music for 'Goat Horn' was a little more dirtier and a little more of the Doom elements in the music and we were compared to such bands like Trouble, Witchfinder General, stuff like that."

So what happened to the previous drummer? Why did they leave?

"Well we lost them to bigger bands actually, Al went on the do 'Toxic Holocaust', who has since quit and Steel Rider was the original Goat Horn drummer who came back and basically did a small tour with us and then did the debut album because we didn't have a drummer at that time. His wife had a kid so he went and moved and bought a house with her, and our 3rd drummer Chris went to join a band called 'Crystal Castles' a techno type band and he's making good money off that band. Now we have a new drummer called Chris (The 2nd) who joined the band in August 2009 and I think he is going to be with us for a long time. I think that some of them left because we weren't making enough money. Chris came from a band called 'Aggressor' to which his brother is also in the band from Canada and I think they have 2 albums recorded, not to be confused with the French band. The music is more modern Thrash then old school Thrash."

How did you all hook in the first place, were you all good friends in school?

"Well 'Goat Horn' moved from a small town and we were all high school friends in Toronto and then branched off and Ian was a fan of Goat Horn and he heard that Cauldron were looking for a guitar player he got in touch and he moved across the country from Vancouver to join the band. Chris from Aggressor' use to open up for us and we always had drummer issues so we would always check out the support bands drummers and we snatched Chris from them and he is about 10yrs younger than we are."

So as a band what bands have inspired you to form the band now?

"Well a lot of bands on the Metal Blade 'Metal Massacre' sample CD's has some really good bands on there, bands like Obsession, Savage Grace, and bands like Storm Witch, Grave Stone and a lot of NWOBHM bands like like Angel Witch"

Do these bands show their music in your own music as well?

"Yeah I think so, we don't take them and rip them off we are just big fans of that style of music and we take that and try to incorporate it into our song writing."

As a singer Jason, who are your influences?

"I really Like Kevin Heybourne from (Angel Witch) and Dave Mustain as I think his winy voice, Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray), there the ones who I can relate too., but I do like the others like Halford, Dickinson etc..."

Just how many demos has Cauldron recorded before the debut album?

"We have done 2 demos so far, we are working on the next demo right now for the next album which are half recorded and pretty much done. We didn't sell any demos to the public, they were pretty much for the record companies and the 1st demo was a Goat Horn demo which was not re-recorded for Cauldron. I guess 'Into The Cauldron' was the debut demo."

How many record companies did you send it out too?

"Well we didn't send any out to any labels really, we met some cool people in Germany at the 'Keep It True' festival who said they would put it out for us, and that later on generated interests from Earache Records to put out our 2nd record. We have recorded 2 albums to date, the first been 'Into The Cauldron' and 'Chained To The Nite'. The debut is only a 6 song E.P. which hasn't been released through Earache Records yet. Earache Records won't be re-releasing the debut E.P. as we own the rights to that and we want to sell it at the shows, it's money for ourselves really. We may re-release it as it has been out of print for some time now."

Besides Earache Records, who else did you approach for the deal? Also how long is the deal with the label and are you happy with Earache?

"Well to be honest I don't think we approached any labels and we were doing our own thing and they came to us. (Ed: I have noticed that Earache are starting to branch out more and opening up to more traditional metal and old school Power Metal, I bet that has made it easier for you to sign to the label?) Well it's a good thing really but I really wasn't that bothered to be honest as I really do like a lot of the bands the label had back in the day. I really like bands like Carcass, Cathedral, and I thought it was really cool to be part of that label and we also got along with the guy who signed us, he really love's our music to that really helped us out a lot. We are signed to them for 4 albums and we are happy with them so far."

How well are your reviews and interviews going with the press world-wide so far?

"So far it's been pretty positive for the most parts and some people don't like my vocals but I guess it's up to them really, especially if you don't like traditional metal music. I think signing to Earache has certainly opened up a lot of door for the band which we couldn't of done on our own."

So why do you think it has taken the band so long to get a deal, why is it just Earache that have shown any interest in the band?

"Well I guess it is because we are stubborn about that style of music we want to play and I don't think it has very easily been marketed for us for so many years. We won't conform to trends, we know what we want to play and hopefully it will work out for us and if not we will keep playing it anyway."

So lets talk about your latest album 'Chained To The Nite', why the title and cover? Was there any other titles and covers in mind for this release?

"Well we had the title and cover concept went hand in hand and it sort of summed up the vibe of the band 'Chained To The Nite' and we live a lot of the night life and we are stuck in it and chained to it. It's a classic 80's metal title really and the concept of the album really does fit in well with the title we have. The cover is a naked girl chained to the ground and I think it was just the perfect cover for the title of the album. It also went hand in hand with the lyrics and the  music on that record and working with Earache Records, who are not afraid to do any over the top covers was a great idea. We didn't any other titles for the album."

So lets talk about the songs on that record, are they wrote as a team or just by your selves Jason? 

"Well there are a couple of songs which are wrote as a band but then again not having a drummer most of the time I think Ian and myself wrote a couple of the songs together and the rest were written by me and then we would get together as a band and arrange them. Well it's usually riffs that come 1st and then put into songs and then we arrange the music and write the vocals around the music to fit music. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks and some a lot longer."

On the current album, which songs stand out for you and why?

"Well I do the the song 'Chained Up In Chains' is a good 1, it is the most well written and catchiest songs we have wrote so far, and I think my favourite song is 'Fomenting  Enchanter us' & 'Witch Trail' but it is one that grows on you it was kind of rushed."

Has the band recorded a promo video for any song off the current CD? If so which song?

"Yes we did a video for the songs 'Chained Up In Chain's last December which is just a live performance tour footage."

So when will you be recording the next album?

"I think we will start to concentrate on it when this tour in Europe and the UK is finished. We have new songs and ideas put together already for the next album, we have about 6-7 demos worth of material we need to sort out when we get home. We have titles for the next album, they are 'The Serpents Sorceress', 'Frozen In Fire', 'Miss You To Death', 'All Or Nothing' so far."

Will these songs differ from that of the current album?

"Well yeah I think they will in some way or another. I think they will be a little more fine tuned that the other stuff we have done, and we will spend a lof more time writing the next record. We are not sure who will produce the next album but we have a local guy who we want to work with and our management and label want us to work with a well known producer."

How's the tour so far with Nevermore and Death Angel going?

"Well this is only the 2nd date of the tour so far, it's going really well. We have been out on tour since the 1st of May with with Enforcer and and Suicidal Angels and Steel Wing. We are looking forward to the rest of the tour with Nevermore and Death Angel."

OK thanx for doing the interview, take care and best wishes for the next album and future., Do you have anything to say before we finish?

"Yeah thanx for taking your time out Jase, we hope the fans like our music and will check us out and our music. Horns up!!"

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Thanx to Earache Records for setting up the interview.