Cellador

Lore & Background

Cellador was founded in 2002 by Josh Krohn and Chris Petersen, the band's primary songwriter, as a reaction against the metalcore and death metal scenes of the American Midwest. Andy Warren joined as lead singer, and Albert Kurniawan joined on drums soon after. The band signed to Metal Blade Records in 2005 after playing a show with The Black Dahlia Murder. Their debut album, Enter Deception, was recorded at Erik Rutan's Mana Studios and released in 2006. Chris Petersen stated in a 2006 Metal Maniacs article that the band name was inspired by a J. R. R. Tolkien essay about the appealing sound of the words 'cellar' and 'door'; the band was originally called 'Apostate' before changing to Cellador.

The band went into hiatus in 2009 after several members of the Enter Deception era lineup left. In 2011, they quietly released four demo songs online from an upcoming EP titled Honor Forth. Led by Chris Petersen, the band held continuous auditions from 2009 to 2012 and reformed with bassist James Pickett, drummer Nick McCallister, keyboardist Diego Valadez, and guitarist Caleb Delaet. Petersen took over lead vocals in 2012. The band announced live shows in December 2012 and spent 2013 establishing themselves in the Colorado area, opening for acts such as Havok, Into Eternity, Helloween, and others.

In early 2014, guitarist Caleb Delaet left, and the band began recording their second LP, Off the Grid, with Petersen handling all guitar parts. Recording finished in summer 2015, and guitarist Eric Meyers joined in late 2015. After bassist James Pickett left in 2016, the band signed with Italian label Scarlet Records. Off the Grid was released on March 10, 2017, and a music video for the single 'Break Heresy' followed. The band is currently writing and recording a third album.

Reader's Guide

Cellador's significance lies in their role as a power metal band emerging from the American Midwest during a period dominated by metalcore and death metal. Their debut album, Enter Deception (2006), helped establish them within the power metal scene, and their signing to Metal Blade Records provided a platform for wider exposure. The band's persistence through multiple lineup changes and a hiatus from 2009 to 2012 demonstrates resilience; they reformed under the leadership of founder Chris Petersen, who also took on vocal duties. Their second album, Off the Grid (2017), marked a return after an eleven-year gap between full-length releases. Cellador's legacy includes touring across the United States, Canada, and Mexico with notable acts such as Trivium, Bullet for My Valentine, and Sonata Arctica, as well as performing at festivals like ProgPower USA and LoudPark in Japan. Their story illustrates the challenges of maintaining a band in a niche genre and the importance of a dedicated core songwriter.

Founding Philosophy & Early Identity

Cellador was born in 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska, when Josh Krohn and Chris Petersen set out to carve a deliberate alternative to the saturated metalcore and death metal landscape dominating the American Midwest. Their mission was to give power metal a foothold in a region where that style had little room to breathe. Andy Warren stepped in as lead vocalist, followed shortly by Albert Kurniawan on drums, completing the initial trio. The band's name carries a literary origin: Petersen has explained it was inspired by a J. R. R. Tolkien essay noting how the words "cellar" and "door" sound appealing when combined. The group had previously operated under the name "Apostate," but Petersen felt the new title better captured their identity. By 2005, a shared stage with The Black Dahlia Murder led to a signing with Metal Blade Records, giving the young band a major-label platform and a launchpad for their debut.

Hiatus, Reformation & the Colorado Years

After the "Enter Deception" era lineup began to fracture, Cellador entered a hiatus in 2009. For two years the band produced no public updates, creating a period of uncertainty for fans. In 2011, however, four demo tracks from an upcoming EP titled Honor Forth appeared quietly online, signaling the project was not dead. Guitarist and primary songwriter Chris Petersen spearheaded a lengthy audition process stretching across 2009 through 2012, ultimately assembling a new roster: bassist James Pickett, drummer Nick McCallister, keyboardist Diego Valadez, and guitarist Caleb Delaet. In 2012, Petersen officially assumed the lead vocal role himself, consolidating his creative control. The reformed group spent 2013 building a foothold in the Denver, Colorado area, performing one-off shows and guest opener slots for acts like Havok, Into Eternity, Helloween, Shining, Vale of Pnath, and Amaranthe, steadily re-establishing their live presence.

Touring Footprint & Festival Appearances

Cellador has built a substantial touring résumé spanning North America and Asia. Across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, they have shared bills with a wide array of acts including Trivium, Bullet for My Valentine, All That Remains, Protest the Hero, The Human Abstract, The Sword, Behemoth, and Sonata Arctica. Their festival appearances include ProgPower USA in Atlanta, Georgia, and the LoudPark festival in Japan. In 2016, the band opened for Huntress, Anvil, and Queensrÿche, among others. The following year brought even higher-profile support slots, including a run with Yngwie Malmsteen, and a performance at the Evoken Music Festival in both Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. By 2017, after the release of their second full-length, the group also shot a music video for the single "Break Heresy" and continued to fill Denver-area shows, cementing their status as a reliable live act in the power metal circuit.

Studio Work & Discographic Arc

Cellador's recorded output spans from a 2004 demo called The Burning Blue through their 2017 second full-length, Off the Grid. Their debut album, Enter Deception, arrived in 2006 and was tracked at Erik Rutan's Mana Studios, giving the record a polished, professional foundation. The 2011 EP Honor Forth served as a bridge during the reformation period, its four tracks initially surfacing as online demos before being compiled. The making of Off the Grid was marked by personnel challenges: after guitarist Caleb Delaet departed in early 2014, Petersen handled all guitar duties during the recording sessions, which wrapped in the summer of 2015. Eric Meyers joined in late 2015 to fill the second guitar chair. The band signed with Italian label Scarlet Records following the departure of bassist James Pickett in summer 2016. Off the Grid was officially released on March 10, 2017, with temporary bassist Chris Davila assisting on promotional shows and the accompanying music video.