Line up :
Joe Whelan - Lead vocals / lead guitar / rhythm guitar
Chris Coss - Rhythm guitar
Lee Payne - Bass guitar / backing vocals
Jake Oseland - Drums & Percussion
The British ‘Cloven Hoof’ is responsible for a number of solid records. Records full of fantastic Power Metal, breath-taking guitar riffs, brilliant solo’s and outstanding vocals from ‘Russ North’. The previous albums where sublime: ‘The Opening Ritual’, ‘Cloven Hoof’, ‘Dominator’, ‘A Sultans Ransom’, all created in the late period of the ‘new wave of British Heavy Metal’ (nwobhm). For the new album ‘Resist Or Serve’ the band searched for renewing in the vocals of ‘Joe Whelan’.
Only bass player ‘Lee Payne’ is an original band member from the beginning of the band. The album maintains on a mediocre level partly because of the younger singer that adds no value to the band. He can’t hit the high pitched vocals quite well, and so the album gets a bit boring. The material has nothing to do with the metal of the past (nwobhm). The drums and guitar are not bad, but it doesn’t get it to a higher level. Sadly, a missed opportunity to put ‘Cloven Hoof’ back on the map.
Tracklist :
1. Call Of The Dark Ones
2. Hell Diver
3. Deliverance
4. Brimstone And Fire
5. Northwind To Valhalla
6. Mutilator
7. Anti Matter Man
8. Cycle Of Hate
9. Premature Burial
10. Austrian Assault