Cloven Hoof

Cloven Hoof Is An English Heavy Metal Band Hailing From Wolverhampton. They Were Active From 1979 To 1990 And Resumed Their Activities Around 2000. The Band Was Closely Associated With The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Movement Along With Renowned Acts Such As Iron Maiden Saxon And Diamond Head. Throughout The Years Cloven Hoof Underwent Numerous Changes In Their Lineup With Only The Founding Bassist Lee Payne Remaining A Constant Member. Early Years 1979–1987
During Their Early Years Cloven Hoof Experienced Several Lineup Changes Before Finally Settling On A Stable Formation That Lasted For Their Initial Recordings. From The Very Beginning The Four Band Members Embraced A Theatrical Approach And Adopted Pseudonyms Inspired By The Four Elements David "Water" Potter Steve "Fire" Rounds Lee "Air" Payne And Kevin "Earth" Poutney. This Lineup Successfully Recorded A Demo Tape In 1982 As Well As The Opening Ritual EP And Their Self-Titled Debut Album In 1984. Following The Release Of Their Debut Album David Potter Departed From The Band And Was Replaced By Rob Kendrick Who Took On The Pseudonym "Water." This Lineup Only Managed To Record The Live Album Fighting Back 1987 Before Disbanding Leaving Lee Payne As The Sole Remaining Member. 1988–1990
In 1988 Lee Payne Revived The Band And Recruited Vocalist Russ North And Guitarist Andy Wood From The Band Tredegar Along With Drummer Jon Brown. With A Fresh Lineup In Place The Band Abandoned Their Stage Names And Went On To Produce Two More Albums Dominator 1988 And A Sultan's Ransom 1989 . Lee Jones A Former Member Of Tredegar Joined As A Second Guitarist Shortly After The Release Of These Albums. However Contractual Issues Led To Another Breakup In 1990. 2001–2007
In The Summer Of 2001 Lee Payne Began Assembling A New Lineup For The Next Iteration Of Cloven Hoof Following A Discussion With Andy Wood Regarding The Previous Contractual Difficulties That Had Caused The Band's Decade-Long Hiatus. The Band Made A Live Appearance At The Keep It True II Festival In Lauda-Königshofen Germany On April 10 2004. They Recorded And Released Eye Of The Sun In 2006 Featuring Musicians Matt Moreton On Vocals Andy Shortland On Guitars And Lynch Radinsky On Drums. The Album Was Produced By Tom Galley. Due To Various Members' Work Commitments The Band Was Unable To Perform Live Prompting Lee Payne To Once Again Recruit New Personnel. Vocalist Russ North Returned To England And Rejoined The Band After Spending Some Time Living In Spain. The Band's Lineup Was Eventually Completed By Mick Powell And Ben Read On Guitars Along With Jon Brown On Drums. 2008–Present
In Early 2008 The Band Released A Collection Of Re-Recorded Songs Titled The Definitive Part One With Plans To Release A New EP Called Throne Of Damnation In 2010. Cloven Hoof Co-Headlined The Metal Brew Festival In Mill Hill With Pagan Altar In 2008. Both Bands Also Performed At The British Steel IV Festival At The Camden Underworld In 2009. On June 27 2009 Cloven Hoof Appeared At The Bang Your Head!!! Festival In Balingen Germany Sharing The Stage With Bands Like W.A.S.P. U.D.O. Blind Guardian And Journey Despite The Heavy Rain During Their Set. The Track "Nightstalker" From Cloven Hoof's Debut Album Was Featured In The Soundtrack For The Brütal Legend Computer Game. In Early 2010 Following Russ North's Departure Matt Moreton Was Enlisted To Record The Vocals For The Throne Of Damnation EP. However Moreton Left The Band Shortly Afterward Due To Health Issues. On December 13 2010 Cloven Hoof Released Their First DVD Titled A Sultan's Ransom - Video Archive. It Featured Footage From A 1989 Concert At Lichfield Art Centre As Well As Two Music Videos For The Songs "Mad Mad World" And "Highlander" From A Sultan's Ransom. In 2011 Lee Payne Embarked On Rebuilding The Band By Bringing In Guitarist Joe Whelan From The Band Dementia And Guitarist Chris Coss From UK/DC. Drummer Mark Gould And Ash Cooper Joined As Well Providing Vocals. This Lineup Released A Music Video Called "I'm Your Nemesis" And An Updated Version Of "Nightstalker." However Russ North Parted Ways With Cloven Hoof For The Final Time In July 2012 Following A Controversial Performance In Cyprus. Mark Gould Also Left The Band In August 2012 And Jake Oseland Replaced Him On Drums In Time For A Series Of Live Shows In 2013. The 2013 Lineup Of Cloven Hoof Scheduled Their Debut UK Concert Appearance At Wolverhampton Civic Hall On March 30 2013 Alongside Jameson Raid And Hollow Ground. On April 27 2013 Cloven Hoof Performed A Concert At The Parkhotel Hall In Tirol Austria Which Was Recorded By Producer Patrick Engel For A Future Live Album Release. The Band Had Plans To Release A Studio Album Provisionally Titled Resist Or Serve On High Roller Records. On June 23 2013 Cloven Hoof Played At The R-Mine Festival In Belgium Sharing The Bill With Hell Tygers Of Pan Tang And Tank. They Also Made An Appearance At The Heavy Metal Night 6 Festival In Italy On September 21 2013. In 2014 Cloven Hoof Was Added To The Lineup For The Sweden Rock Festival Performing Alongside Black Sabbath And Alice Cooper. They Were Also Scheduled To Perform At The Power And Glory Festival In Hatfield On August 23 2014 With Additional European Tour Dates Planned For The Year. Discography
Cloven Hoof 1984 Fighting Back 1986 Dominator 1988 A Sultan's Ransom 1989 Eye Of The Sun 2006 Throne Of Damnation 2014 Who Mourns For The Morning Star? 2017 The Age Of Steel 2020 Time Assassin 2022 read less