Cloven Hoof (band)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 in Wolverhampton, England |
| Founder | Lee Payne |
| Headquarters | Wolverhampton , England |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Lee Payne (founder and bassist) |
| Products | Heavy metal music, albums, live performances |
Cloven Hoof is a heavy metal group originating from Wolverhampton, England, active initially from 1979 until 1990 and then resuming activity around the year 2000. They emerged as part of the new wave of British heavy metal scene, alongside notable bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon, and Diamond Head. Despite numerous personnel shifts over the years, founding bassist and chief songwriter Lee Payne has consistently remained the band's sole permanent member.
Formative period: 1979–1987
Following several early personnel adjustments, Cloven Hoof established a stable lineup responsible for their initial recordings. The members adopted theatrical stage names inspired by the four elements: David "Water" Potter, Steve "Fire" Rounds, Lee "Air" Payne, and Kevin "Earth" Poutney. This ensemble produced a well-received 1982 demo, the The Opening Ritual EP, and their debut album Cloven Hoof released in 1984.
After the debut release, David Potter departed and was succeeded by Rob Kendrick, who took on the "Water" persona. This configuration recorded the live album Fighting Back in 1987 before disbanding, leaving Lee Payne as the only continuing member.
1988–1990
In 1988, Lee Payne reformed Cloven Hoof by recruiting vocalist Russ North and guitarist Andy Wood from Tredegar, along with drummer Jon Brown.
This revamped lineup abandoned the use of elemental stage names and produced two studio albums: Dominator in 1988 and A Sultan's Ransom in 1989. Shortly thereafter, former Tredegar guitarist Lee Jones joined as a second guitarist; however, contractual complications led to another dissolution in 1990.
2001–2007
After resolving previous contractual issues, Lee Payne reassembled Cloven Hoof in 2001 with a new roster. They performed live at Germany's Keep It True II Festival in April 2004.
The 2006 release Eye of the Sun, produced by Tom Galley, featured Matt Moreton on vocals, Andy Shortland on guitar, and Lynch Radinsky on drums. Due to members’ professional obligations limiting live appearances, further lineup changes ensued.
Vocalist Russ North returned from Spain to join Mick Powell and Ben Read on guitars, with Jon Brown resuming drum duties.
2008–present
Early in 2008, Cloven Hoof issued The Definitive Part One, a compilation of re-recorded material, followed by the Throne of Damnation EP in 2010.
They co-headlined the Metal Brew Festival in Mill Hill in 2008 and appeared at the British Steel IV Festival in Camden during 2009. Additionally, they performed at Germany’s Bang Your Head!!! festival in June 2009 alongside prominent acts such as W.A.S.P. and Journey.
The song "Nightstalker" from their debut album was included on the soundtrack of the video game Brütal Legend.
Following Russ North’s exit in early 2010, Matt Moreton provided vocals for the Throne of Damnation EP but subsequently left due to health issues. On 13 December 2010, Cloven Hoof released their inaugural DVD titled A Sultan's Ransom - Video Archive, featuring a concert from 1989 plus two music videos.
In 2011, Lee Payne reconstructed the band with guitarist Joe Whelan, guitarist Chris Coss, drummer Mark Gould, and vocalist Ash Cooper. This lineup produced a music video for "I'm Your Nemesis" and an updated version of "Nightstalker." Russ North permanently departed in July 2012 following a controversial performance; Mark Gould left in August 2012 and was replaced by Jake Oseland on drums for live shows scheduled in 2013.
The ensemble planned its UK debut concert at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 2013 and recorded a live performance in Austria intended for a forthcoming album. A studio release entitled Resist or Serve was slated for issuance through High Roller Records.
Between 2013 and 2014, Cloven Hoof performed at various European festivals including Sweden Rock Festival alongside acts like Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper, with additional tours across Europe planned.
In 2023, Harry Conklin—formerly associated with Satan's Host, Three Tremors, and Jag Panzer—was announced as Cloven Hoof’s new vocalist. Their ninth studio album, Heathen Cross, was released on 31 May 2024.
Former frontman Russ North passed away on 1 January 2025; no cause of death has been publicly disclosed.
Present members
- Lee Payne – bass guitar (1979–1990, 2000–present)
- Chris Coss – guitar (2011–present)
- Luke Hatton – guitar (2014–2018, 2020–present)
- Ash Baker – guitar (2019), drums (2022–present)
- Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin – lead vocals (2023–present)
- Chris Dando – keyboards, backing vocals (2022–present)
Past members
Vocals
- David Potter (1982–1984)
- Rob Kendrick (1985–1986)
- Russ North (1986–1990, 2006–2009, 2011–2012, deceased 2025)
- Matt Moreton (2000–2006, 2009)
- Ash Cooper (2010)
- George Call (2016–2023)
Guitar
- Steve Rounds (1982–1986)
- Andy Wood (1988–1990, 2004)
- Andy Shortland (2005–2006)
- Ben Read (2007–2010)
- Mick Powell (2007, 2008, 2009–2010)
Drums
- Kevin Pountney (1979–1986)
- Jon Brown (1987–1990, 2007–2010)
- Lynch Radinsky (2005–2006)
- Danny White (2017–2019)
- Mark Harris Bristow (2019–2022)
Studio albums
- Cloven Hoof (1984)
- Dominator (1988; reissued 2011 & 2012)
- A Sultan's Ransom (1989; reissued 2012)
- Eye of the Sun (2006)
- Resist or Serve (2014)
- Who Mourns for the Morning Star (2017)
- Age of Steel (2020)
- Time Assassin (2022)
- Heathen Cross (2024)
Live albums
- Fighting Back (1986)
Compilation albums
- The Definitive Part One (2008)
EPs
- The Opening Ritual (1982)
- Throne of Damnation (2010)
Demo recordings
- 1982 Demo (1982)
- Second 1982 Demo (1982)
Video and DVD releases
- A Sultan's Ransom - Video Archive (DVD) (2010)