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The NWOBHM veterans had the songs, the musicianship and the backing of some of the biggest names in British rock. So why didn’t Cloven Hoof become the next Iron Maiden? Lee Payne still wonders.
There was a time when the British heavy metal press could make or break a band.
For Cloven Hoof, that world initially looked incredibly promising. The Wolverhampton outfit emerged from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal era with ambitious songs, a distinctive sound and support from influential figures including Jeff Barton and Rob Halford.
Their early momentum was undeniable. The Opening Ritual broke into the Kerrang! metal charts at No. 18, the band attracted major-label interest from CBS Records, and they were being spoken of as potential future stars.
But the story didn’t unfold as expected.
In a revealing look back at Cloven Hoof’s early years, bassist and founding member Lee Payne remembers an era when British metal was everywhere — and questions whether the very press that helped create the movement eventually turned its back on some of the bands that built it. Cloven Hoof will release their tenth full-length studio album, “Never A Prophet In Your Own Land”, on September 25, 2026 via High Roller Records. Order Link: https://www.hrrecords.de/CLOVEN–HOOF
Categories: Interviews, News
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