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)
Forgotten Heroes
Cloven Hoof Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born and raised to kill,
Nerves of steel
Forged by an iron will.
No heart to run away.
Here where the bullets fly,
There's no one left
Mine is not to reason why?
Forgotten heroes,
The battle has been won.
No more heroes,
But their memory lingers on.
Forgotten heroes,
Too late to count the cost,
No more heroes,
The languid and the lost.
Cheating death so many times,
Haunted spirits of the front line.
They seem to have died in vain.
Trenches deep in blood,
The stench of corpses
Sinking into mud.
Did the sacrifice do any good?
Help me sweet Jesus,
I feel I can't go on.
Our ranks are falling,
Reinforcements are gone.
Mortars are pounding,
It seems this is the end.
A case of death or glory,
What honour to defend?
Oh Forgotten Heroes,
Oh Forgotten Heroes,
Oh Forgotten Heroes,
Oh Forgotten Heroes.
The lyrics of "Forgotten Heroes" by Cloven Hoof pay tribute to soldiers who have fought bravely for their country and lost their lives in battle. The song describes a soldier who has been trained to kill and has been hardened by the hardships of war. Despite the danger, the soldier remains stoic and steadfast, determined to carry out their duty. However, as the battle rages on, the soldier begins to question the value of the sacrifice that he and his fellow soldiers are making. As they face seemingly insurmountable odds, he calls out for divine intervention in a moment of desperation.
The chorus of the song is a lament for the forgotten heroes, those who have lost their lives in battle but whose memory lives on. The song is a reflection on the futility of war and the heavy toll it takes on the soldiers who fight it. The repeated refrain of "Oh Forgotten Heroes" is a call to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Overall, "Forgotten Heroes" is a powerful song that captures the pain and sacrifice of war. It is a tribute both to the soldiers who have fought and to the human cost of conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a soldier
I am a person who has been trained and prepared to engage in an armed conflict.
Born and raised to kill,
My upbringing and education have only prepared me for violent and lethal tasks.
Nerves of steel
I have a remarkable ability to remain calm and composed under intense and stressful situations.
Forged by an iron will.
My inner strength and determination are unbreakable and unwavering.
No heart to run away.
I lack the desire or courage to flee from danger or battle.
Here where the bullets fly,
In this place where gunfire and other weapons are being used,
There's no one left
All my fellow soldiers have been killed or injured and are no longer present.
To hear my battle cry.
No one is around to listen to me shout or yell during the fight.
Mine is not to reason why?
It is not my role or duty to question or challenge the orders given to me in this battle.
Forgotten heroes,
The soldiers who fought and died here are not remembered or celebrated.
The battle has been won.
The conflict has ended and my side has emerged as victorious.
No more heroes,
There are no more soldiers who are brave, courageous or admired among us.
But their memory lingers on.
However, the memory of those soldiers who have lost their lives still remains.
Forgotten heroes,
Once again referring to the soldiers who fought here and have not been recognized.
Too late to count the cost,
It is too late to calculate or measure the price that has been paid in this war.
No more heroes,
repeated as a reminder that nobody is left to look up to with pride or respect.
The languid and the lost.
The soldiers who have survived this war are exhausted and disoriented, feeling defeated and hopeless.
Cheating death so many times,
I have managed to avoid getting killed numerous times by sheer luck or skill.
Haunted spirits of the front line.
The memories of the traumatic events and losses experienced in the war continue to plague my thoughts and emotions.
They seem to have died in vain.
Despite all their efforts and sacrifices, the soldiers who have died have not accomplished anything meaningful or worthwhile.
Trenches deep in blood,
The ditches in which the soldiers took cover and battled from are now filled with blood.
The stench of corpses
An overpowering odor of decaying bodies surrounds us.
Sinking into mud.
The flesh and bones of the dead soldiers are slowly sinking and merging with the soil.
Did the sacrifice do any good?
The question arises whether the efforts and deaths of the soldiers have had any positive impact or result.
Help me sweet Jesus,
A desperate plea to Jesus, asking for divine intervention and assistance.
I feel I can't go on.
I have reached a point of exhaustion and hopelessness.
Our ranks are falling,
More and more of my comrades are getting killed or severely injured.
Reinforcements are gone.
We are no longer receiving any support or additional troops, leaving us in a helpless situation.
Mortars are pounding,
The sound of bombshells exploding is deafening and terrifying.
It seems this is the end.
It appears that our defeat and death are inevitable and imminent.
A case of death or glory,
The outcome of this battle will either result in our deaths or glorious victory.
What honour to defend?
What dignity, respect or admiration can we really gain by fighting in this war?
Oh Forgotten Heroes,
Closing as it started, with a lament to the lack of respect and recognition given to the soldiers who fought here.
Oh Forgotten Heroes,
Repeated for emphasis and emotional effect.
Oh Forgotten Heroes,
Again, emphasizing the lack of recognition and the mournful tone.
Oh Forgotten Heroes.
Final repetition, ending with the same sense of remorse and sadness for the unnamed and unsung heroes of the battlefield.
Contributed by Adalyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.