Cloven Hoof – Heathen Cross
Cloven Hoof – Heathen Cross
High Roller Records
Release Date: 31/05/2024
Running Time: 42:18
Review by: Chris Galea
9/10
For the last decade or so Cloven Hoof have been churning out a new album almost every 3 years with meticulous regularity. I get the impression that the band has been working hard to achieve their global plaudits. Perhaps the recruitment of Harry ‘The Tyrant’ Conklin (Jag Panzer, Satan’s Host) for this brand new “Heathen Cross” album falls within the same mind-set. Initially I was unsure about how well an icon of USA Metal (Conklin) would fit in with an icon of British Metal (Cloven Hoof). I needn’t have worried….
As is the band’s custom, with “Heathen Cross” Cloven Hoof dip pagan themes into Traditional Metal aesthetics. So the songs tend to have an anthemic feel with strong melodies and fist-pumping choruses. I couldn’t help noting that this album has qualities that hark back to Iron Maiden’s mid-1980s sound, such as those galloping riffs or twin guitar harmonies. Even the singing seems to have more than a casual similarity to that of Bruce Dickinson. ‘Vendetta’ or ‘Darkest Before The Dawn’ perfectly illustrate all the above.
This is not to say that “Heathen Cross” lacks any freshness – on the contrary. The song-writing quality here is nothing short of superb (check out ‘Frost & Fire’ for example). ‘The Summoning’ is another striking number which starts off with these eerie riffs before giving way to some catchy vocal lines before bursting into a faster tempo. Really a great song that I suspect will go down very well in live scenarios. The album is brimming with great moments such as these.
Harry Conklin is truly in tip-top shape and his singing raises the level of this album a couple of notches. Similarly, the other band members always rise to the occasion whenever a song demands them to.
With “Heathen Cross” Cloven Hoof have created one of their best albums in aeons.
‘Last Man Standing’ Lyric Video:
TRACKLISTING:
01. Benediction (intro.)
02. Redeemer
03. Do What Thou Wilt
04. Last Man Standing
05. Darkest Before the Dawn
06. Vendetta
07. Curse of the Gypsy
08. Frost and Fire
09. Sabbat Stones
10. The Summoning
LINE-UP:
Harry ‘The Tyrant’ Conklin – lead vocals
Luke Hatton – lead guitar
Chris Coss – lead guitar
Lee Payne – bass guitar
Ash Baker – drums / backing vocals
Chris Dando – keyboards / backing vocals
LINKS:
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