Who’s ready for another JMI? I am! I’m so excited to round out 2022 with none other thanCauldron! It's been so hard to keep this one under wraps for the past two years, but I'm so amped to show off all the work thats gone in to this soon-to-be classic.
This was another band that I was tangentially aware of because ofThe Coming Strife Records. Didn't hurt that there is a fair bit over overlap with Serration as well, haha. Anyway! I remembering hearing "Scars" and mostly justbeing impressed withShindy Design's incredible artwork. The production quality seemed so weird for a 2018 release, so I mostly just kind of jammed it and moved on. I think it really kind of lived in the back of my head until "Shrine" got released. Shrine was SO good that it actually made me enjoy Scars more, haha.
Of course I don't need to tell you all about how "Last Words" dropped and really kind of shook everything up. I think Cauldron is one of those bands where every release just keeps getting more and more cohesive and polished. Last Words is so cultural that I knew that they needed an early discog release to really tie everything together. Cauldron is going to be one of those bands that just keeps breaking in until you look up and your like, normie friends are complimenting them on their tour openings for Knocked Loose or something. Just a matter of time before Cauldron takes over.
Its the crazy art direction, insane vocals and thoughtful metalcore worship that did it for me with Cauldron. I think those will be all the things that you will love as well. I knew from the onset that if I was going to do this, it had to be a true amalgam of the old covers, and it had to be Shindy. I am completely blown away by this art. Blue and red makes purple. The statues and moon make another appearance. It fits in 100% to the cohesion of the themes of the previous too. So happy with how everything came out. And special thanks toLab 13 for the layout and formatting!
Not to be outdone, Zach really did an incredible job of modernizing "Scars" and punching up Shrine". I just think this whole presentation is fantastic and can't stop gushing about it! I wanted to use this JMI series to exalt up and coming metalcore/whatever acts, and getting to work with a band like Cauldron just makes this so much fun for me. Works out even better that since this project started they released Last Words and have really come in to their own. Just such a treat!
This release is special because much like Sawtooth, the proceeds from this one are going directly to financing new material. Going to be able to cash in on some of that nostalgia and get new Cauldron in the process! So apologies for the punishing price, but I think its a great tradeoff to say that WV peeps paid for a new Cauldron album, haha.
Anyway. All that aside. I love this band. I love modern metalcore revival. I love this art and I love these two EPs. It's just pummeling 90s metalcore worship that abruptly transitions in to that full force modern sound. I don't think I can think of too many bands that have a more dynamic two EP lead up. The disparity is hilarious, and both just feed in to the other so well. Classic stuff. I hope you dig it!
As always, This one-time pressing is limited to 305 copies across five variants:
50 Azure Prison (Wax Vessel Signature)
50 Godless (Wax Vessel Signature)
50 Body Heat (Wax Vessel Signature)
50 Bathe
100 Solitude Splatter
5 Golden Mage
All of this housed in:
1.5x thickness Matte single pocket jackets
Double sided matte full color insert
Black polylined innersleeves
Gold foil numbering
Stuffed into polybags
So there it is! The latest and greatest in the line of JMI's. Orders for this will go up Monday, December 12th at 1:00pm CST.
They will ship after Christmas to avoid all the Holiday traffic. Enjoy!
