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)
Reach for the Sky
Cloven Hoof Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roaming the galaxy
We're free
Raiders from space
Star fighter zeros.
Out of the sun
Engage the enemy
Planets in chains
Hell is for heroes.
We glide in our silver birds
Got to do or die
Soar on solar winds
Rage on high
As fire on silent metal wings
Out where the meteors fly
You and I.
Chorus
Reach for the sky
Reach for the sky
Reach for the sky
Reach for the sky
Trail to blaze
Glory and victory will be
In for the kill
Or wiped out forever.
Life is a dream
And death a reality for me
Star fleet in flames
But never surrender.
Dog fight till the end
Dive for the last time
Soar on solar winds
Rage on high
As fire on silent metal wings
Out where the meteors fly
You and I.
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Cloven Hoof's song Reach for the Sky paint a picture of interstellar travel, space battles and heroism. It talks about how the stars are the home of the singers, who travel through the galaxy as free raiders from space, flying their star fighter zeros. They engage in dogfights with the enemy, as they see planets in chains and hell for heroes. Despite the risks and dangers, they glide in their silver birds, soaring on solar winds and raging high as fire on silent metal wings, out where the meteors fly. The lyrics call on the singers and the audience to reach for the sky, to blaze a trail and seize their glory and victory before they are wiped out forever.
The second verse of the song continues in the same vein, but shifts from the collective to the personal, as the singer expresses his awareness of the fragility of life and his acceptance of death. He identifies as part of the star fleet, which may be in flames but will never surrender. He promises to dogfight till the end and dive for the last time, as he once again soars on solar winds, rages on high, and flies with his partner through the meteors. The chorus then repeats the call to reach for the sky, four times, as a mantra of inspiration and motivation.
Line by Line Meaning
The stars are our home
We consider the vastness of space as our dwelling place
Roaming the galaxy
We travel around the cosmos without a specific destination
We're free
We are not restricted by any earthly boundaries and have a sense of liberation while exploring the space
Raiders from space
We are a group of people who venture out into space with the aim of discovering new things and expanding our knowledge
Star fighter zeros
We are skilled pilots who operate advanced spacecraft that enable us to travel long distances and explore far-off planets
Out of the sun
We approach our enemies from the direction where the sun blinds them
Engage the enemy
We take on the enemy with full force and determination
We see
We observe different things, such as planets and asteroids, while travelling in space
Planets in chains
There are planets that are under the control of some oppressive forces, and our aim is to free them
Hell is for heroes
We know that the journey is tough, but we are resilient and brave enough to face whatever comes our way
We glide in our silver birds
We comfortably maneuver our sleek, silver spacecraft
Got to do or die
We understand that this mission is of paramount importance, and we must either complete it successfully or perish trying
Soar on solar winds
We harness the power of solar winds to propel our spacecraft further and faster
Rage on high
We operate on a high level of passion and intensity, driven by the desire for success
As fire on silent metal wings
Our spacecraft, while fast and sleek, remain relatively silent, and yet, we move with a ferocity and intensity of fire
Out where the meteors fly
We venture into regions of space with strong gravitational forces, which give rise to meteor storms
You and I
We, as a team, face the challenges of exploring the cosmos and all its mysteries
Reach for the sky
We aim high in our mission, seeking to achieve great success
Trail to blaze
Our journey will establish new paths for future space explorers, allowing them to follow in our footsteps
Glory and victory will be
Our success will bring fame and fulfilment to our team
In for the kill
We are in a life-or-death situation and must be aggressive in our approach
Or wiped out forever
Failure will bring irreversible consequences where no second chance will exist
Life is a dream
Life is fleeting and short, and we must make the most of our existence
And death a reality for me
Death is an ever-present reality, and we accept its potentiality while exploring the cosmos
Star fleet in flames
Our expedition forces are at risk, and some may succumb to challenges, causing deep emotional hurt to the surviving members
But never surrender
We hold the determination and willpower to persevere in the face of failure and danger
Dog fight till the end
We engage in fierce battles in the vacuum of space, showing our competitiveness and grit
Dive for the last time
We take the plunge into the unknown, fully committed, and determined to take our mission to completion
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.