CLOVEN HOOF TRACKS THROUGH THE YEARS!

Cloven Hoof was originally formed in the heart of the West Midlands, England, in 1979. The group went through various line up changes until spring 1982 when the established line up consisted of Lee Payne (bass guitar), David Potter (vocals), Steve Rounds (lead guitar) and Kevin Poutney (drums). The first demo tape was given appraisal from no lesser stars than Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), who took a copy of the tape into national BBC Radio One, and Rob Halford (Judas Priest) similarly had the demo played on a radio station based in Phoenix, Arizona. The station was bombarded with callers who wanted to know more about the band. Soon afterwards the group were taken under the wing of ex Judas Priest manager, David Hemmings.

“The Opening Ritual”, a four track mini album, was released in 1982, and the EP stayed in the Sounds and Kerrang! heavy metal charts for six weeks peaking at #18. Cloven Hoof were also placed at the top of Geoff Barton’s (founder of Kerrang! Magazine) “Breaking Through In ‘82 Feature,” and associated play list. The Opening ritual attained air play on numerous radio stations worldwide, but it was not until Tommy Vance and Geoff Barton played tracks from The Opening Ritual on BBC Radio One that Cloven Hoof’s career really began to break into a gallop. 1983 saw Cloven Hoof touring throughout the length and breadth of the United kingdom, earning themselves a sizable underground cult following. In the summer of that year the band recorded a four-track session for Tommy Vance’s Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio One and a similar session was undertaken at Beacon Radio for DJ Mike Davies.

On the strength of the bands popularity, Neat Records signed the outfit to record the album “Cloven Hoof.” The opus notched up sales figures of 24,000 units in 1884 alone, and it became apparent that the bands gigging activities would have to stretch further a field due to success of sales overseas. A European tour shortly followed featuring Shockwave Festival, Genk, Belgium. A Metal Hammer Magazine compilation album featured the track “Crack the Whip” from the debut album and a similar magazine compilation album, entitled Metal Inferno, contained “The Gates of Gehenna” and “Laying Down the Law” from Cloven Hoof (album).

The second full-length release, “Fighting Back” was a live album featuring an array of new songs. Unfortunately after this record, contractual and internal problems forced the band to split apart, leaving only founder member, Lee Payne, to rebuild the band from the ashes.

A new line up was established in 1988, comprising of Lee Payne, Russ North (vocals), Andrew Wood (guitar) and Jon Brown (drums). The band signed a recording deal with FM Revolver and a publishing deal with Trinifold, who were associated with acts such as Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), The Who and Judas Priest. “Dominator,” a Sci-Fi concept album was released in 1988, produced by Guy Bidmead who had previously worked with Motorhead, Cozy Powel and Whitesnake. Cloven Hoof’s fourth full-length release, “A Sultans Ransom,” shortly followed and was considered one of the best British heavy metal releases of the year by Metal Hammer Magazine. Chris Welch, editor of Metal Hammer gave the album an illustrious 4 star review and labeled it “a flagon of mystical metal.” The same year, a further four track session was recorded for the Tommy Vance show including “Astral Rider” and “Fox On The Run.” Despite the extended success across this period, in 1990, the band agreed to shelve it’s activities due to contractual reasons for a second time. Cloven Hoof was sadly, for all intense and purposes, in a process of suspended animation... But they would rise again.

To aid the resurrection of Cloven Hoof, the band enlisted producer Tom Galley, known for his work with Brian May (Queen), Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy), Glen Hughes (Deep Purple) resulting in the release of Cloven Hoof’s fifth full-length release, “Eye Of The Sun” in 2006 with future releases coming in 2008, “The Definitive Part One,” 2010 “Throne Of Damnation (EP)” and 2014, “Resist Or Serve”. The band played festivals across Europe including ‘Sweden Rock Festival’ in the summer of 2014. The played on the same bill as Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper. The end of this period saw the introduction of Luke Hatton on lead guitar and Chris Coss on rhythm guitar. 2015 saw the band reach across the Atlantic Ocean to enlist current members George Call (vocals) and Danny White (drums), who were acquainted with the band through crossed paths at European festivals. Work on the release, “Who Mourns for the Morning Star,” imminently followed and the album was released in 2017. The band played festivals in Belgium, Germany, France and Spain in that same year.

The Anglo-American line-up rekindled the ‘buzz’ that occurred in the US some decades before when The Opening Ritual hit the radio airwaves and with that, came the offer of an two headline extensive US tours and a record deal with Pure Steel Records. A historic headlining appearance at the famous Whiskey a Go Go club in California, and a blistering set at the Frost and Fire festival confirmed the band as a major force in heavy metal.

Now the band have released their finest album to date “Age of Steel” that has gained worldwide critical acclaim. In the summer they will release a live DVD recorded on 24 high definition cameras. It was recorded at the prestigious “Bang your head” festival in Germany with bands such as Accept and Europe amongst others. It features the band playing at their very best and a live album is being planned also.

Exciting times ahead for Cloven Hoof fans everywhere. With a history of 41 years the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal legends continue to get even better!

REVIEWS FOR “WHO MOURNS FOR THE AGE OF STEEL”

Roadie Crew review!

Cloven Hoof Age Of Steel Pure Steel – Imp. How many excellents bands could be in a world´s heavy metal “Dream Team” and, unfortunately, aren´t? Each one of us can talk at least four of them. Forged in Wolverhampton, England, in 1979, Cloven Hoof is one example. Directly connected with the NWOBHM, side by side with Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Saxon among others, the band has lived two eras. The first until 1990, when burocractic problems forced one interruption their career. In 2000, bass player Lee Payne, the only original member until now, restarted the saga. A lot of formation changes and a series of records brought Cloven Hoof at Age Of Steel, new and heavy work. With Chris Coss and Ash Baker (guitars), Mark Harris (drums) and George Call (voice), Payne has created one of the best, or THE BEST, record since the debut, released in 1984. The traditional heavy metal is more fast and heavy as you can hear during Bathory, Gods Of War or in Ascension. Highliths also for Alderley Edge, that seems to be a great tribute to Maiden´s Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son. Is like a Hoof´s version for Steve Harris´ composition. There is still time to Cloven Hoof reach the Dream Team.

"Refined and complex songs, which always get to the point, take you on a journey into the British metal world. Exciting and stirring, well thought out and breathtaking. An upcoming classic that needs to be discovered." - Ralf Henn Neckbreaker.

BRUTAL LEGEND ON EA GAMES

The track “NIGHT STALKER” was featured on the 1.6 million selling Brutal Legend game featuring Jack Black and a who’s who of the greatest names in heavy metal. Tim Schaffer the games originator was a big fan of Cloven Hoof so he personally picked the track to be included.

Band Personnel are:

George Call / Lead Vocals

Lee Andre Barry Payne / Bass

Ash Baker / Lead Guitar

Luke Hatton / Lead Guitar

Chris Coss / Lead Guitar (UK and Europe)

Mark Bristow / Drums (UK and Europe)

Danny White / Drums (USA and Canada, South America)

PROFESSIONAL CONTACT

Website > www.clovenhoof.net

E-Mail: paynecloven@aol.com / Lee Payne

E-Mail: MetalThunderEnt@gmail.comScott Clute 

Metal Thunder Entertainment and Booking (for all North American Concerts).