When the words 'power metal' enter a conversation, what would be the first place you'd think of? Certainly, the US doesn't cross your mind first. This is exactly what the Nebraska based Cellador has set out to change. Formed in 2004 by guitarist Chris Patterson, the band brings an exciting brand of aggressive Euro power metal to the US. In the vain of other acts such as DragonForce, Iron Maiden, Stratovarius, and Helloween, the band, aged 17-23, show a great deal of potential in their debut album,
Enter Deception, released in July of 2006.
Enter Deception kicks off with an excellent riff that leads into the first track,
Leaving All Behind. The opening track proves to listeners that Cellador is an immensely talented band, and can play along the same pace as any older, more experienced band. The song itself also gives listeners a brief taste of what to expect on the album: excellent power metal and some of the most enjoyable cuts of the year. For just under 45 minutes the band never lets up on its power metal assault. Each song is a great example of the genre's elements, such as lightning fast hymns, catchy (but certainly not commercial) choruses, melodic guitars, and pounding drumming. Cellador obviously has the ability to be a major power metal player in the future
Cellador is spearheaded by the guitar tandem, Chris Peterson and Bill Hudson. The two pull off relentless riffs that pull in listeners. Songs such as
Leaving All Behind and
Never Again will literally be stuck in your mind for days. Other excellent, rapid melodies from the duo can be found on songs such as
Seen Through Time. Cellador definitely does not disappoint in this aspect, with as their riffs are very, very catchy and very enjoyable. But it doesn't end there. Chris and Bill are very proficient and prove it with their top notch shredding. Each song on Enter Deception contains long soloing that would make even the likes of Kai Hansen and Herman Li proud. Both Peterson and Hudson shred, but they do it tastefully and it sounds a lot better than some of their power metal contemporaries. Also impressive about the guitarists are their melodic harmonies, which are very well done. Overall, Cellador is a very strong band in this area.
Anchoring the rhythm are bassist Valentin Rakhmanov and drummer David Dahir. These two are given the difficult task of keeping up with Cellador's guitarists. And the pair does an excellent job. Both musicians are as energetic in the final moments of the song as when they started, a gargantuan accomplishment, given the lightning pace of the guitarists. Of course, they both show their worth with excellent performances, though I'd say David's drumming sticks out more.
Vocalist Michael Gremio has a pretty good showing on Enter Deception, showing off his Bruce Dickinson meets Michael Kiske vocal style. At times his singing is very catchy like in Leaving All Behind, and very clear as it is in
Forever Unbound. On some other occasions his vocals sound pretty bland and he shows some need of improvement, but luckily he has his entire career in front of him to get better.
Enter Deception was an excellent album from the young band. I have to say, it was one of the most impressive debut albums I've ever heard, up there with the likes of Children of Bodom's Something Wild, Iron Maiden's self titled album, and Annihilator's Alice and Hell. Cellador is one of the most promising young power metal bands out there, and fans of melodic metal should definitely pick up this album, and keep an eye out for future releases.
Recommended Tracks:
Never Again
Leaving All Behind
Releasing the Shadow
Seen Through Time
