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)
Could This Be Love
Cloven Hoof Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing over by the juke box alone.
From that moment I wanted to take you home.
Walked on over and asked what your name was,
Played it cool, it wasn't easy.
Said pretty lady maybe you would dance with me?
But never thought that I would meet.
When you said you more than liked me too,
It knocked me off my feet.
Could this be Love?
I'm feeling for the first time,
Never felt it before.
Something as good as this,
Is the real thing I'm sure.
Through the evening we clung so close together,
Senorita you stole my heart.
We were meant to be right from the start.
Now I've found you,
Can't live without you.
Starlight shining in your eyes,
Will you save the last dance for me
Then don't say goodbye.
When you left me,
When you left me,
Though love was true I was wrong.
All too soon,
I'm alone again.
Should of known it all along... Yeah!
Could it be love?
That I'm feeling?
Seems it's let me down once more.
Just when I though so long romance,
You came back knocking on my door.
Could this be Love? Love, love yeah!
The lyrics to "Could This Be Love?" by Cloven Hoof recount a heartwarming tale of a romantic encounter. The song starts with the singer reminiscing about the first time he laid his eyes on a girl standing alone by the jukebox. He was immediately drawn to her and wanted to take her home. He mustered the courage to walk over and ask her name, and eventually, he asked her to dance. Throughout the evening, they clung close together, and the singer realizes that she is the girl of his dreams. This girl, the "senorita," has stolen his heart and they were meant to be from the start.
The song's chorus asks the question, "Could this be love?" The singer has never felt anything like this before and is convinced that it's the real thing. However, towards the end of the song, the tone shifts as the singer confesses that the girl has left him, and he feels alone again. He's not sure if what he felt was love since it let him down, but just when he thought romance was out of reach, the possibility of love comes knocking on his door again.
Overall, this song takes the listener on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from the excitement of newfound love to the heartbreak of lost love. It's a classic story of love and loss told through heavy metal music.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember the first time I saw you,
I recall the initial instance when I beheld you,
Standing over by the juke box alone.
You were positioned by the jukebox all on your own.
From that moment I wanted to take you home.
Ever since that point, I've had a strong desire to take you with me.
Walked on over and asked what your name was,
I approached and inquired about the identifier that you go by.
Played it cool, it wasn't easy.
Maintaining a composed demeanor was challenging.
Said pretty lady maybe you would dance with me?
I suggested that you, the attractive woman, may want to partake in a dance with me.
Your the kinda girl I always dreamed of,
You are the type of female that I've always fantasized about.
But never thought that I would meet.
However, I never perceived that I would chance upon somebody like you.
When you said you more than liked me too,
My heart skipped a beat when you declared that your affection for me went beyond just likeness.
It knocked me off my feet.
I was in awe and it completely overwhelmed me.
Could this be Love?
Is this what love feels like?
I'm feeling for the first time,
I am experiencing this sensation for the very first time.
Never felt it before.
I've never had this feeling in the past.
Something as good as this,
This feeling is so wonderful,
Is the real thing I'm sure.
I'm convinced that this is the legitimate emotion of love.
Through the evening we clung so close together,
Throughout the evening, we held each other very tight,
Senorita you stole my heart.
My heart belongs to you, ma'am.
We were meant to be right from the start.
I firmly believe that we were destined to be together from the beginning.
Now I've found you,
Now that I have met you,
Can't live without you.
I cannot imagine living without you by my side.
Starlight shining in your eyes,
Your eyes seem to sparkle with starlight,
Will you save the last dance for me
May I have the honor of sharing the final dance with you?
Then don't say goodbye.
After the dance, please do not utter the word goodbye.
When you left me,
After you departed from me,
When you left me,
After you departed from me,
Though love was true I was wrong.
Even though the love between us was genuine, I was still incorrect somehow.
All too soon,
All too quickly,
I'm alone again.
I find myself alone once again.
Should of known it all along... Yeah!
I should have foreseen this all along... Yes!
Could it be love?
Is this really the emotion of love?
That I'm feeling?
The sensation that I'm currently experiencing?
Seems it's let me down once more.
It appears as though love has disappointed me again.
Just when I though so long romance,
Right when I had lost my optimism about romantic love,
You came back knocking on my door.
You came back into my life unexpectedly.
Could this be Love? Love, love yeah!
Is it possible that this is true love? Love, love, oh yeah!
Contributed by Reagan O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.