Cellador — Enter Deception

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

On this day (June 27) in 2006, Cellador released their debut full-length studio album, “Enter Deception” via Metal Blade Records.

Background:

Cellador's debut album “Enter Deception” was recorded at Erik Rutan's Mana Studios. In an article from the December 2006 issue of Metal Maniacs Magazine magazine, Chris Petersen says he created the band name in reference to a J.R.R. Tolkien essay which stated that the two words cellar and door have an appealing sound when combined. Petersen also said that the band was originally called "Apostate", but the name was later changed to Cellador because he felt it was more fitting for the band.

Cellador has toured across the United States, Canada and Mexico with bands such as Trivium, Bullet for My Valentine, All That Remains, Protest The Hero, The Human Abstract, The Sword, BEHEMOTH!, and Sonata Arctica. They have also performed at the ProgPower USA festival in Atlanta, Georgia, as well as the LoudPark festival in Japan, among many others.

The band went into hiatus in the year 2009 after several members of the "Enter Deception" era lineup left the band, but returned with a new lineup in 2011.

An official music video was filmed for the song “Leaving All Behind”.

Critical Reception:

The album received mixed reviews upon its release and in retrospect. Blabbermouth.net gave “Enter Deception” a great review, stating; “The songs? Every one is a highlight. Few albums maintain this level of consistency from track to track. Honestly, pick a song, any song. Largely unconcerned with tempo variation, the group attacks with a vengeance from beginning to end; every chorus is memorable and the intensity level never wanes. Whether it is the harmony vocals on the chorus of "Wakening" or the triumphant melodies of "No Chances Lost" and "A Sign Far Beyond", the quality level remains sky high.”

While Alex Henderson from AllMusic stated; “In the '90s and early to mid-2000s, the Power Metal revival movement was a largely European phenomenon. Germany, Holland, Italy, and the Scandinavian countries were full of young Gen-X and Gen-Y bands that were caught in a stylistic time warp and modeled themselves after the old-school Power Metal warriors of the '70s and '80s. But largely European doesn't mean exclusively European, and Cellador is among the Power Metal revival outfits that has come from the United States. This Omaha, NE, outfit didn't exist until 2004… and even though all of the band's members were in their late teens or early twenties when they recorded their debut album, “Enter Deception”, in late 2005 and early 2006, their sound is right out of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Helloween. No one in Cellador was even born when Priest gave listeners “Hell Bent for Leather” in 1979 or when Maiden's first official full-length album came out in 1980, but their intense yet melodic approach clearly recalls Power Metal's heyday.

Cellador do tend to be faster and Thrashier than a lot of other Power Metal revival bands; in that sense, “Enter Deception” brings to mind Priest's 1990 gem, “Painkiller”, which was the most Thrash-influenced project that Rob Halford and friends recorded during that era. But despite having a bit of Thrash and Speed Metal appeal, there is no question that Cellador are a Power Metal band first and foremost. No one who knows his/her Metal history will give “Enter Deception” the grand prize for originality; there's nothing even remotely groundbreaking on this decent but highly derivative effort. Regardless, the songs are likable and well executed, and Cellador demonstrate that a Power Metal revival unit doesn't have to be from Europe to be worthwhile.”

Noteworthy:

Former lead guitarist Bill Hudson has since gone on to perform and record with several artists, including; Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, U.D.O, Doro Pesch, Jon Oliva's Pain, Zak Stevens Circle II Circle, Vital Remains, Nightrage and Power Quest.

In 2017 he started his own band, NorthTale and signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast Records.

In 2021 he became the full time guitarist for Doro, replacing Luca Princiotta.

Currently, he is the lead guitarist in I Am Morbid, the new band of former Morbid Angel members David Vincent and Tim Yeung.

As of 2022, Hudson divides his time between NorthTale, Doro and I Am Morbid.

Former lead vocalist Michael Gremio went on to sing for White Wizzard for a short time.

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to “Enter Deception” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/enter-deception/157782360

Click this link to listen to “Enter Deception” via Spotify: Enter Deception https://open.spotify.com/album/6Bx7CzdUq1icCLj31w9TMp

Click this link to watch the official music video for “Leaving All Behind”: https://youtu.be/2U2792VN5CI

Click this link to follow Cellador on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cellador

Click this link to follow Bill Hudson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billhudsongtr

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Cellador — Enter Deception

Background:

Critical Reception:

Noteworthy:

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

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