Early Years: 1979–1987
During their early years, Cloven Hoof experienced several lineup changes before finally settling on a stable formation that lasted for their initial recordings. From the very beginning, the four band members embraced a theatrical approach and adopted pseudonyms inspired by the four elements: David "Water" Potter, Steve "Fire" Rounds, Lee "Air" Payne, and Kevin "Earth" Poutney. This lineup successfully recorded a demo tape in 1982, as well as The Opening Ritual EP and their self-titled debut album in 1984.
Following the release of their debut album, David Potter departed from the band and was replaced by Rob Kendrick, who took on the pseudonym "Water." This lineup only managed to record the live album Fighting Back (1987) before disbanding, leaving Lee Payne as the sole remaining member.
1988–1990
In 1988, Lee Payne revived the band and recruited vocalist Russ North and guitarist Andy Wood from the band Tredegar, along with drummer Jon Brown. With a fresh lineup in place, the band abandoned their stage names and went on to produce two more albums: Dominator (1988) and A Sultan's Ransom (1989). Lee Jones, a former member of Tredegar, joined as a second guitarist shortly after the release of these albums. However, contractual issues led to another breakup in 1990.
2001–2007
In the summer of 2001, Lee Payne began assembling a new lineup for the next iteration of Cloven Hoof, following a discussion with Andy Wood regarding the previous contractual difficulties that had caused the band's decade-long hiatus. The band made a live appearance at the Keep It True II Festival in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany, on April 10, 2004.
They recorded and released Eye of the Sun in 2006, featuring musicians Matt Moreton on vocals, Andy Shortland on guitars, and Lynch Radinsky on drums. The album was produced by Tom Galley. Due to various members' work commitments, the band was unable to perform live, prompting Lee Payne to once again recruit new personnel.
Vocalist Russ North returned to England and rejoined the band after spending some time living in Spain. The band's lineup was eventually completed by Mick Powell and Ben Read on guitars, along with Jon Brown on drums.
2008–Present
In early 2008, the band released a collection of re-recorded songs titled The Definitive Part One, with plans to release a new EP called Throne of Damnation in 2010.
Cloven Hoof co-headlined the Metal Brew Festival in Mill Hill with Pagan Altar in 2008. Both bands also performed at the British Steel IV Festival at the Camden Underworld in 2009. On June 27, 2009, Cloven Hoof appeared at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in Balingen, Germany, sharing the stage with bands like W.A.S.P., U.D.O., Blind Guardian, and Journey, despite the heavy rain during their set.
The track "Nightstalker" from Cloven Hoof's debut album was featured in the soundtrack for the Brütal Legend computer game.
In early 2010, following Russ North's departure, Matt Moreton was enlisted to record the vocals for the Throne of Damnation EP. However, Moreton left the band shortly afterward due to health issues. On December 13, 2010, Cloven Hoof released their first DVD titled A Sultan's Ransom - Video Archive. It featured footage from a 1989 concert at Lichfield Art Centre, as well as two music videos for the songs "Mad, Mad World" and "Highlander" from A Sultan's Ransom.
In 2011, Lee Payne embarked on rebuilding the band by bringing in guitarist Joe Whelan from the band Dementia and guitarist Chris Coss from UK/DC. Drummer Mark Gould and Ash Cooper joined as well, providing vocals. This lineup released a music video called "I'm Your Nemesis" and an updated version of "Nightstalker." However, Russ North parted ways with Cloven Hoof for the final time in July 2012, following a controversial performance in Cyprus. Mark Gould also left the band in August 2012, and Jake Oseland replaced him on drums in time for a series of live shows in 2013.
The 2013 lineup of Cloven Hoof scheduled their debut UK concert appearance at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on March 30, 2013, alongside Jameson Raid and Hollow Ground. On April 27, 2013, Cloven Hoof performed a concert at the Parkhotel Hall in Tirol, Austria, which was recorded by producer Patrick Engel for a future live album release. The band had plans to release a studio album provisionally titled Resist or Serve on High Roller Records.
On June 23, 2013, Cloven Hoof played at the R-Mine Festival in Belgium, sharing the bill with Hell, Tygers of Pan Tang, and Tank. They also made an appearance at the Heavy Metal Night 6 Festival in Italy on September 21, 2013. In 2014, Cloven Hoof was added to the lineup for the Sweden Rock Festival, performing alongside Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper. They were also scheduled to perform at the Power and Glory Festival in Hatfield on August 23, 2014, with additional European tour dates planned for the year.
Discography
Cloven Hoof (1984)
Fighting Back (1986)
Dominator (1988)
A Sultan's Ransom (1989)
Eye of the Sun (2006)
Throne of Damnation (2014)
Who Mourns for the Morning Star? (2017)
The Age of Steel (2020)
Time Assassin (2022)
1001 Nights
Cloven Hoof Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come share a vision with me.
Back in time,
So it is written,
So it came to pass.
So shall it be
Let the centuries unfold,
Before your very eyes
In a 1001,
1001 night of Arabia
In a 1001,
1001 night of Arabia
A Sultans delight,
Gemstones bright
On a flight to Arabia
In a 1001,
1001 night of Arabia
Told by queen Scheherazade,
Shackled and sold,
Into slavery
To stay alive,
By royal decree
That another day of live,
Might go free
Bewitching with tales,
When all else fails,
To curb the wrath of a king
So read on and believe,
Who knows what you'll perceive?
What fate Allah may bring
In a 1001,
1001 night of Arabia
In a 1001,
1001 night of Arabia
A Sultans delight,
Gemstones bright
On a flight to Arabia
In a 1001,
1001 night of Arabia
In a Persian market place,
Slave girls sell their bodies for a price
In the city of sin,
That will pacify,
Your every vice
Salam o' exalted one,
Now you've shared a vision with me
Precious sights beyond compare,
Magic carpets ride the air
The back of a genie will take you there,
On endless fights
On a 1001 nights of Arabia.
The lyrics of "1001 Nights of Arabia" by Cloven Hoof offer a glimpse into the fabulous world of ancient Arabia, which is replete with magic, opulence, and myth. The song begins with a casual invitation from the singer to the listener to share a vision of the past. The singer then takes the listener back in time, back to the era of the 1001 Arabian Nights, where the centuries fall like the dance of the seven veils. The song narrates a story of Queen Scheherazade, who, in order to stay alive, tells bewitching stories to the king to curb his wrath.
The lyrics of the song not only offer a vivid portrayal of ancient Arab culture and traditions but also evoke the spirit of magic and mystique that prevailed in that era. The use of words like "gemstone bright," "magic carpets," and "genie" conjures images of wealth, myth, and powerful mystical beings. Overall, the lyrics of "1001 Nights of Arabia" beautifully capture the essence of the Arabian Nights and make us feel like we are on a mystical ride to ancient Arabia.
Line by Line Meaning
Salam o' exalted one,
Greetings, esteemed one,
Come share a vision with me.
Please join me in a vision
Back in time,
Let's travel into the past
So it is written,
As recorded it in scripture
So it came to pass.
As it ultimately happened
So shall it be
As it will continue to be
Let the centuries unfold,
Let time pass before our eyes
Like the dance of the seven veils.
As mesmerizing as a dance performance
Before your very eyes
Directly in front of you
Told by queen Scheherazade,
Narration from queen Scheherazade
Shackled and sold,
Trapped and traded
Into slavery
Forced into servitude
To stay alive,
Merely to survive
By royal decree
Through official order
That another day of live,
To see the next day
Might go free
May become liberated
Bewitching with tales,
Enchanting with stories
When all else fails,
As the last resort
To curb the wrath of a king
To quell the anger of a monarch
So read on and believe,
Keep reading and have faith
Who knows what you'll perceive?
What you may observe is unknown
What fate Allah may bring
What destiny God might bring
In a 1001, 1001 night of Arabia
During a thousand and one Arabian nights
A Sultans delight,
A king's great pleasure
Gemstones bright
Shiny jewels
On a flight to Arabia
Traveling by air to Arabia
In a Persian market place,
At a Bazaar in Persia
Slave girls sell their bodies for a price
Female slaves sell their services
In the city of sin,
The place of immorality
That will pacify,
That calms
Your every vice
All your immoral desires
Now you've shared a vision with me
Thank you for sharing that vision with me
Precious sights beyond compare,
Unmatched, valuable sights
Magic carpets ride the air
Flying rugs are traveling
The back of a genie will take you there,
A genie's power will transport you
On endless flights
During many flights
On a 1001 nights of Arabia.
In a thousand and one nights of Arabian tales
Contributed by Muhammad F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.