CLOVEN HOOF 'THE DEFINITIVE' TWO PART COLLECTION OUT ON METAL NATION THIS MONTH


2nd January 2018



cloven hoof

This month, January 2018, sees the release of two Cloven Hoof albums, 'The Definitive Part One' and 'The Definitive Part Two', by Metal Nation Records, the label owned by former Neat Records boss and original Tygers Of Pan Tang vocalist Jess Cox.

Active throughout the 1980s, the band had folded in 1989 but re-emerged in the mid noughties. Aware none of their four studio albums from the 1980s were available, bassist and founder Lee Payne, together with long time Cloven Hoof vocalist Russ North, recruited drummer Joe Brown and guitarist Ben Read and re-entered the studio to record a new unreleased track together with unavailable classics from their back catalogue.

cloven hoof

Only previously available from band gigs ten years ago, the CD has been repackaged and given a professional release with distribution for the first time. The booklet has been extensively overhauled with new sleeve notes by the band and personal photos added as well as full lyrics.

The second part of this series consists of rare and unreleased tracks recorded by Cloven Hoof in recent years and highlights four great vocalists associated with them during that time and before.

cloven hoof

The first five tracks are the 2010 self-financed EP, 'The Throne Of Damnation', a short run private pressing featuring vocalist Matt Moreton who appeared on two previous Hoof albums. This EP was never made available commercially, again only sold via the band.

The other six tracks are unreleased gems featuring one song each from the vocal talents of Ash Cooper and recent frontman Joe Whelan who now tours as a main vocalist in Jeff Wayne's Arena musical version of 'War Of The Worlds'.

The final four songs feature the talented vocalist Lee Small (Lionheart and ex-Shy, Phenomena and Skyscraper frontman). A full explanation of this period is included in the CD booklet by Lee Payne.