There’s no point in denying that Americans aren’t famous for their legendary power metal. In today’s world, metalcore and generic metal bands trying to pass themselves off as thrash dominate American extreme music. There are some bands revitalizing heavy metal, but how many of them can honestly say they play genuine metal with well-rooted influences and don’t go anywhere near this horrifying metalcore trend? For those searching for new bands bringing a breath of fresh air to heavy metal, Cellador epitomizes this all-too-rare designation. Playing technical power metal with definite traces of Iron Maiden, Cellador possesses the buoyant approach and melodic structure of Stratovarius and the triumphant, lightning-speed, shred-happy substance of DragonForce. Metal Blade Records hadn’t signed a power metal act in well over a decade so these guys, who happen to be quite young, must have something unique and intriguing on their side.
If you were thinking of instrumental talent beyond compare, absorbing melodies, and unrelentingly rapid rhythms, you’re dead on. Every song features several minutes of dueling guitar solos on top of the beguiling lead guitar licks that already carry the melody of every song. Cellador is a guitarist’s dream band, as few bands match the level of shredding that Cellador is a guitarist’s dream band, as few bands match the level of shredding that Chris Peterson and Bill Hudson effortlessly demonstrate for 45 minutes. Any of the eight songs could be used to demonstrate a lesson in shreddery.
Never Again in particular features a full 106 seconds of intense fretboard battering that could make Yngwie Malmsteem cower under his silk blankets. With a flurry of sweep picking,
Wakening kicks off before being overtaken by a twin guitar harmony that guides the entire song to power metal greatness. Given the extreme speed, it’s no surprise that
A Sign Far Beyond, an aggressive yet melodic speed metal outbreak, is the shortest song on the album clocking in at a mere 3:13. Even in such a short time, Celladore manages to induce multiple shredgasms in the ears of listening musicians.
Fortunately (of unfortunately, for our weaker listeners m/) the melodic speed metal outbreaks aren’t concentrated in one single song.
Releasing the Shadow is 5.75 minutes of dark tremolo-picked madness and savage power metal riffery. Specifically,
Leaving All Behind is played at a tempo that no metronome could measure. David Dahir does a unbelievable job throughout
Enter Deception of holding blindingly fast rhythms with perfect timing all the way up to the closer,
No Chances Lost.
The only evident flaw in
Enter Deception would be vocalist Michael Gremio’s singing. His voice is obviously reminiscent of one Bruce Dickinson’s, but not nearly as perfectly honed. Gremio seems to have trouble holding a note without excessive vibrato. Occasionally, such as the final wail of
No Chances Lost, he strains himself to hit the intolerably high notes to mild success. His voice often seems off key for some inexplicable reason, and as
A Sign Far Beyond has plainly demonstrated, his singing does not lend itself well to layered harmonies.
Despite a few misgivings in the vocal department, Cellador is undoubtedly America’s newest pride and joy in heavy metal. 1200bpm songs and a solid 30 minutes of lead guitar action throughout the album make
Enter Deception the definition of a promising debut. Waste no time investing in the newest and most ferocious technical power metal album the world has seen in many, many years.
Summary:
- Power metal done right – by Americans!
- Fast, melodic, and Christ-rapingly technical
- COMPLETE UDDER SHREDGASM
Personal favorite moments:
- Seen Through Time (1:03) – A viciously fast riff with quick bursts of lead guitar atop
- Leaving All Behind’s tapping intro
- Forever Unbound (3:26) – A harsh drum rhythm with a sweeping/shredding solo opener
- And for the love of god, any second of those luscious solos!
Recommended tracks:
- Never Again
- Seen Through Time
- Wakening
Although it is my favorite Maiden album.
