Showing posts with label cellador. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cellador. Show all posts

Friday, August 11, 2017

Cellador: Off the Grid (2017)

Cellador is the most famous metal band to come from my home state of Nebraska.  That really is not saying all that much since Cellador is not real well-known, despite appearing on a big metal label, and they have relocated to Denver, Colorado.  But that pretty much tells all that is necessary to know about the metal scene in Nebraska.  Not that there are not good bands, but rising to fame is very difficult.

It has been more than ten years since Cellador released their debut album Enter Deception, which was reasonably well-received and was certainly hyped.  In the years since, previous vocalist Michael Gremio has left the band, leaving vocal duties to guitarist and only remaining founding member Chris Petersen and the band has moved on from Metal Blade Records to Scarlet Records.  Everyone else in the band is also fairly new.  The band has only released an EP since 2006, so this is essentially a new beginning for Cellador.

Cellador's particular brand of power metal is obviously influenced by Helloween and Gamma Ray, giving it more of a European aesthetic, blending epic melodies and speed metal riffing.  It is also damn catchy.  Petersen has improved as a singer and his soaring vocals blend well with the fast riffs of the dual guitar attack.  I might actually prefer Petersen's vocals to Gremio's from the previous album.  Some of the tracks are considerably more aggressive this time around.  "Shadowfold" kicks things off with one hell of a riff and the first two tracks each trample anything the band did on their first release.  The title track is the best song on the album with an insanely infectious chorus and some of the best solos the band has ever done, including keyboard solos.

On the band's previous album, they were frequently derided for being a Dragonforce clone, and some similarities are certainly still present, but Cellador's songwriting has eclipsed Dragonforce on this release.  The songs are much more accessible, flow better, and do not overstay their welcome.  The only misstep is the odd Cyndi Lauper cover.  "Good Enough" is a decent enough track, but it does not really match the tone of the rest of the album.  I applaud the band for taking risks and I have frequently mentioned that I love metal covers of 1980's pop hits, but it just seems out of place on this release.

This is really a terrific release by Cellador and it is a massive step forward from their good, but uneven debut album.  I am anxious to see this band continue, even though I will never forgive them for abandoning Nebraska.  I am mostly kidding.  Mostly.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Nebraska Metal Scene Pt. 1: Cellador: Enter Deception

As a Nebraskan, I have a lot of interest in my state's metal scene. Unfortunately, we really don't have much of a scene. Cellador thus far is the only metal band to achieve any kind of national following. The band is signed to Metal Blade Records, possibly the best-known metal label in the country, particularly since Roadrunner's defection to mainstream hard rock. The band has released one full-length album and a couple of demos. Hopefully they will be releasing another full-length soon.

Cellador is a power metal band from Omaha. They formed in 2004 when all members were 18-24 years of age. Cellador takes a European style approach to power metal, sounding much more like a slower Dragonforce or Blind Guardian in its middle period than American power metal bands like Jag Panzer, Liege Lord or Iced Earth.

The instrumentalists, particularly the lead guitar player, display impressive speed and technical mastery. The band is able to play technical power metal at blazing speeds. Many of the songs feature long solo sections allowing the guitar players to show off their chops. The bass player is proficient and can actually be heard, which is a little unusual for a power metal band. The singer possesses a higher register voice, similar to most other power metal bands, however he is not as strong of a vocalist as the singers for the aforementioned bands and his voice wavers a little when he is not singing within his comfort zone.

Lyrically, the band differs somewhat from their European power metal influences. The band deals typically with personal issues and striving for freedom and individuality than the fantasy imagery usually associated with European power metal. This is a refreshing change of pace.

"Leaving All Behind" is the standout track from the album. Opening an album with the strongest song is a good way to get the listener's attention, but if there are no other songs matching that intensity, things can get a little stale after awhile. This is the problem with this album. No other songs come close to matching the power of the opening track. Luckily, this is a shorter album than other power metal albums making the lack of other standout tracks less of an issue.

After all is said and done, this a fairly decent showing for a young power metal band. There is nothing mind-blowing, but it's a good, quick listen and the band shows some promise for further growth. At least they know how to write a song unlike some power metal bands.