CLOVEN HOOF

Avenger · Post by **Avenger** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:00 am

Moonchild wrote:
DaN wrote:Played it yesterday. I think it's the first time I heard the song "Road of Eagles" and what a fucking anthem it was! Big big thanx!
Dude you must get DOMINATOR. The production fuckin sucks tho. This album deserves a proper remaster. It's such a shame that this magnificent slab of old school power metal is detracted by a bad production job.

Apparently "Dominator" was supposed to be re-issued on CD with another of the Cloven Hoof albums (I can't remember which though) together as a two-on-one release, but I haven't heard any more information regarding this lately...

anthares · Post by **anthares** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:05 pm

Fantastic demo! thanx!

nightsblood · Post by **nightsblood** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:14 pm

Thanks for the upload, though I didn't care for the tunes that much. I've always thought CH were a bit overrated, but that's just my opinion.

Moonchild · Post by **Moonchild** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:34 pm

CH overrated?!?! Are you being serious? You must be out of your damn mind son! Go back and listen to the S/T, Dominator, and one of the absolute best metal albums of all time A SULTAN'S RANSOM. Overrated my ass!

Avenger · Post by **Avenger** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:45 am

Not to turn this into a debate, but in my opinion the only masterpiece Cloven Hoof ever released was "A Sultan's Ransom".

The rest of their material is decent but nothing that outstanding.

GJ · Post by GJ » Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:09 am

I think a lot of their songs are outstanding, but their eponymous opener of the first album stands out above all. Then there's The Gates of Gehenna, Return of the Passover, Reach for the Sky, Road of Eagles...

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:42 pm

With the exception of the somehow embarrassing for CLOVEN HOOF's standards live album (new album doesn't count) everything else they released simply CRUSHES. My 2 and only cents.

mordred · Post by **mordred** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:05 pm

My 2 and only cents:

Opening Ritual EP - good allright, but a bit premature maybe and somewhat over hyped due to its rarity.
S/T LP - A crushing bonafide classic and one of the finest installments of the NWOBHM movement. "The Gates of Gehennah" is simply one of the most awe inspiring hymns ever.
Fighting Back live album - embarassing by their standards. How could it go so terribly wrong?
Dominator - Some great songs, "Road of Eagles" is beyond immortality, but messy production and a few fillers.
A Sultan's Ransom - Melodic metal masterpiece with a shimmering mystical atmosphere.
Eye of the Sun - Disappointing comeback with a too modern production, average song writing and lacklustre vocals. Maybe the next one will be better with Russ North back on the vocals?

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:23 pm

Russ is in great shape, my question is if they can still write killer songs that will stick immediately to your mind, just like they used to do. And, yes, the production needs to be improved.

Opening Ritual features the megahymn "Starship Sentinel" which is up there with their best along with "Mistress of the forest" , "Road of eagles", "Return of the passover" etc. There's one filler only and that's "Back in the USA". "Gates of Gehenna" doesn't need a comment, while "Stormrider" is a pretty good tune.

"You must overthrow corruption
Free the world that gave you birth
Don’t seal your own destruction
Poor deluded children of planet Earth"

*Fist held high*

Dave_the_Boss · Post by **Dave_the_Boss** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 9:19 pm

I can't see what everyone's problem is with Fighting Back. I think it's awesome. Not on par with the debut, Dominator and ASR, but still great.

Ernest Thesiger · Post by **Ernest Thesiger** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:14 am

Cheers for the 'Oof!

pzman · Post by **pzman** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:19 pm

thanks for the demo. Return of the passover surely has to rank among the best songs of the NWOBHM.

Avenger · Post by **Avenger** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:30 am

I think that 1984 is a little late for the NWOBHM movement the sound may be dead on, but I think that only the first few demo's count as NWOBHM.

Their S/T is decent, but it's sound for 1984 was already outdated. Not that it's a bad thing but compare "Cloven Hoof" to "Ample Destruction" or "Metal Church" and you'll see what I mean.

ION BRITTON · Post by **ION BRITTON** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:56 am

There are not many albums that can stand the comparison with Ample Destruction. Still, Dominator and ASR are on the same level imo.

Oliver/KIT · Post by **Oliver/KIT** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:20 am

Avenger wrote:I think that 1984 is a little late for the NWOBHM movement the sound may be dead on, but I think that only the first few demo's count as NWOBHM.

Their S/T is decent, but it's sound for 1984 was already outdated. Not that it's a bad thing but compare "Cloven Hoof" to "Ample Destruction" or "Metal Church" and you'll see what I mean.

Great music is never outdated...