Cloven Hoof
Biography
Cloven Hoof are an English heavy metal band from Wolverhampton, formed in 1979. The band was active from 1979 to 1990 and was reactivated around 2000. They were associated with the new wave of British heavy metal movement, alongside bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon and Diamond Head. The band has undergone numerous line-up changes, with founding bassist and principal songwriter Lee Payne remaining its only constant member.
Cloven Hoof underwent several line-up changes during their early years before establishing a line-up that recorded their first releases. The band adopted a theatrical image, with its four members initially using pseudonyms based on the classical elements: David "Water" Potter, Steve "Fire" Rounds, Lee "Air" Payne and Kevin "Earth" Poutney. This line-up recorded a demo in 1982, followed by the "The Opening Ritual" EP and the band's self-titled debut album, "Cloven Hoof", in 1984.
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Following the release of "Cloven Hoof", Potter left the band and was replaced by Rob Kendrick, who adopted the "Water" pseudonym. This line-up recorded the live album "Fighting Back", released in 1987, before disbanding. Payne was left as the band's sole remaining member.
Payne reactivated Cloven Hoof in 1988, recruiting vocalist Russ North, guitarist Andy Wood, who had previously been a member of Tredegar, and drummer Jon Brown. The new line-up abandoned the use of stage names and recorded two albums, "Dominator" in 1988 and "A Sultan's Ransom" in 1989. Former Tredegar guitarist Lee Jones subsequently joined as a second guitarist. Contractual difficulties led to the band's dissolution in 1990.
In summer 2001, Payne began assembling a new Cloven Hoof line-up following a telephone conversation with Wood concerning the contractual difficulties that had contributed to the band's earlier dissolution.
Cloven Hoof performed at the Keep It True II Festival at the Tauberfrankenhalle in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany, on 10 April 2004.
The album "Eye of the Sun" was recorded and released in 2006, with Matt Moreton on vocals, Andy Shortland on guitar and Lynch Radinsky on drums. Tom Galley produced the album. Due to the work commitments of several members, the line-up was unable to perform live regularly, and Payne subsequently recruited new musicians.
North returned to England after living in Spain and rejoined the band. The line-up was completed by guitarists Mick Powell and Ben Read and drummer Jon Brown.
A collection of re-recorded songs, "The Definitive Part One", was released in early 2008. A new EP, "Throne of Damnation", was initially scheduled for release in 2010.
In 2008, Cloven Hoof co-headlined the Metal Brew Festival in Mill Hill with Pagan Altar. The two bands also appeared at the British Steel IV Festival at the Camden Underworld in 2009.
On 27 June 2009, Cloven Hoof performed at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany, alongside acts including W.A.S.P., U.D.O., Blind Guardian and Journey.
The song "Nightstalker", from "Cloven Hoof", was included on the soundtrack of the 2009 computer game "Brütal Legend".
Following North's departure in early 2010, Moreton was recruited to record the vocals for "Throne of Damnation". He subsequently left the band due to ill health. On 13 December 2010, Cloven Hoof released their first DVD, "A Sultan's Ransom - Video Archive". It included footage from a 1989 concert at Lichfield Art Centre and music videos for "Mad, Mad World" and "Highlander", both from "A Sultan's Ransom".
In 2011, Payne assembled another line-up, recruiting guitarist Joe Whelan of Dementia, guitarist Chris Coss of UK/DC, drummer Mark Gould and vocalist Ash Cooper. This line-up released a music video for "I'm Your Nemesis" and an updated version of "Nightstalker". North left Cloven Hoof again in July 2012 following a performance in Cyprus. Gould left the band in August 2012 and was replaced by Jake Oseland, who joined in time for a series of live performances in 2013.
The 2013 line-up was scheduled to perform at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on 30 March 2013 alongside Jameson Raid and Hollow Ground. On 27 April 2013, Cloven Hoof performed at the Parkhotel Hall in Tirol, Austria. The concert was recorded by producer Patrick Engel for a planned live album. A studio album provisionally titled "Resist or Serve" was also planned for release on High Roller Records.
On 23 June 2013, Cloven Hoof performed at the R-Mine Festival in Belgium, alongside Hell, Tygers of Pan Tang and Tank. The band subsequently appeared at the Heavy Metal Night 6 Festival in Italy on 21 September 2013. In 2014, Cloven Hoof were added to the line-up of the Sweden Rock Festival, alongside Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper. An appearance at the Power and Glory Festival in Hatfield was scheduled for 23 August 2014, with further European tour dates planned for the same year.
In 2023, Harry Conklin, previously a member of Satan's Host, Three Tremors and Jag Panzer, was announced as Cloven Hoof's new vocalist. The band's ninth studio album, "Heathen Cross", was released on 31 May 2024.
Former vocalist Russ North died on 1 January 2025. No cause of death was publicly disclosed.
Cloven Hoof are scheduled to release their tenth studio album, "Never a Prophet in Your Own Land", on 25 September 2026.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloven_Hoof_(band)
Studio albums
Cloven Hoof (1984)
Dominator (1988)
A Sultan's Ransom (1989)
Eye of the Sun (2006)
Resist or Serve (2014)
Who Mourns for the Morning Star (2017)
Age of Steel (2020)
Time Assassin (2022)
Heathen Cross (2024)
Never a Prophet in Your Own Land (2026)
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.