Cartel's earnest take on emo/pop-punk emerged out of Atlanta around 2002, when vocalist Will Pugh, guitarists Joseph Peppers and Nic Hudson, ba**ist Ryan Roberts, and drummer Kevin Sanders released an initial EP that caught the ear of the California-based Militia Group label. Militia signed Cartel, and the Ransom EP reappeared under Militia in 2004. The label then released Chroma, Cartel's full-length debut, in September 2005. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide