Blog

Cloven Hoof was one of the myriad bands that launched during the NWoBHM alongside Iron Maiden, Saxon, Raven and Satan. They were late to get that crucial debut out during the heady years of 1979-1982, with it not seeing the light of day until 1984, by which time the thrash explosion was well underway. They missed their window, but they didn’t give up the ship, releasing 2 more albums in the 80s before calling it a day. They got the band back together in 2006, and since then they’ve released seven albums of classic 80s metal, the last of which was 2024s Heathen Cross, which featured the immortal Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin of Jag Panzer on vocals. That was a rousing opus with lots working in its favor, and it got me interested enough to do a deeper dive into their catalog. Now we get 10th platter, Never a Propher in Your Own Land, and Tyrant is once again at the helm of this pirate ship, helping unleash an album’s worth of vintage 80s retro metal. Can a band that’s been running the race so long without much notoriety surprise the masses with a sucker punch to the chin?

The band definitely comes out swinging on opener “Terror from the Skies,” which is more like a classic Jag Panzer tune than what I would normally associate with NWoBHM acts. In fact, it sounds like a lost track from Jag Panzer’s legendary Ample Destruction debut, and that is very much okay by me. Harry sounds larger-than-life as always, using his big baritone wails to shake the rafters as the band supplies classic 80s metal riffs at a tempo that veers close to speed metal. It’s simple, traditional as hell, and tons of fun. “Conquistador” is more in the classic NWoBHM tradition, sounding a lot like a modern-day Saxon number. It has the mid-tempo gallop and an epic vibe as Tyrant regales us with tales of death and glory. The chorus is effectively hooky and very 80s-centric, and it takes me right back to beefbrained teens. A big high point is the title track, which brings in a big Iron Maiden vibe for a rousing, punchy piece of trad-metal. It reminds me a lot of something off A Matter of Life and Death, and it’s very easy to imagine Bruce wailing away here in place of Tyrant. The chorus has been swirling in my head all week, and I have this one on hot repeat. I especially love when Tyrant sings “The power and the glory!”. You know…because of Saxon?

Cloven Hoof keep their approach fluid, moving between NWoBHM and early US power metal idioms, and then on “Gypsy Roller” they go full Deep Purple for a rowdy rocker straight from the 70s, full of classic Hammond organ fills and swirls. It’s a hard-rocking, rough-living kind of song and so retro it hurts, but damn if it isn’t a ton of fun. Another standout is “Iron Mask,” which is just a killer heavy metal song that Tyrant elevates with his over-the-topness. The chorus is as simple as it gets, but it works and sticks like hot tar on shag carpeting (avoid this mistake if you can). Not every track hits with pure heavy metal thunder, though. “The Bigger They Are” is an earnest, blue collar rocker that isn’t bad, but it’s fairly clunky and goofy. Closer “Seven Sacred Wonders” tries to marry 70s epic prog rock with 80s metal, and it works, but it gets messy and chaotic at times along the way. That said, Never a Prophet is 40 minutes of high-quality retro metal in a 48-minute package, and I’ll take that ratio any day.

Cloven Hoof crafted a bunch of good-to-great ideas and some killer songs here, and the guitar work by Chris Coss and Luke Hatton is inspired and blends various 80s styles well. You get the NWoBHM vibe but also get bits and pieces of 80s US metal and even some 70s prog and hard rock. The way the tandem play off one another is impressive, and they bring a lot of skill and melodic sensibility to the material. When you bring in an iconic and infamously large-and-in-charge vocalist like Tyrant, it’s tough to avoid him becoming the big focus of whatever you do because his delivery is so big. However, he manages to mostly avoid trampling on the cool musical ideas and stays in his lane, though he does expand it to a superhighway at times. He’s the same Tyrant as always, but he does show off a few new wrinkles, like his subtle, almost fragile vocals at the start of “Flying Dutchman,” and his restrained rock vocals on “Prodigal Son.” He’s more boon than bane, regardless of his excess and overdrive, and he gives Cloven Hoof a whole new dimension of trveness.

Never a Prophet in Your Own Land is a punchy trad-metal album with some killer moments, an authentic 80s vibe, and an ear for skin-snagging hooks. Cloven Hoof didn’t get the attention they deserved back in the 80s, but they should get it for the material they’ve been releasing of late. Hear this and start working backward through their catalog. Good things await.¹ Hoof it!

---

Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 10 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: High Roller
Websites: clovenhoof.net | facebook.com/clovenhoof1979
Releases Worldwide: September 25th, 2026

The post Cloven Hoof – Never a Prophet in Your Own Land Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

Popular charity celebration Milkfest has revealed the line-up for its 2027 edition, moving to a prestigious new London home at the iconic O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on Sunday, 11th April 2027. Raising vital funds for Children with Cancer UK, the one-day gathering spans seven decades of British blues and rock heritage. Topping the bill are … Continue reading Milkfest ’27 heads to O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in aid of Children with Cancer UK

As the sun goes down earlier and the nights become longer, I need music that makes me feel like slinking around the city streets like someone from The Fifth Element. I need the darker days to feel exciting, cool even. “The Idiot,” the debut single from new London duo Cracked Lime, is a perfect addition to any sullen winter soundtrack.

The post Cracked Lime – “The Idiot” appeared first on Stereogum.

Suicide Silence have launched a Nathan Karma Cox-directed music video for “Make Your Exit”, the newest advance single from their upcoming full-length offering Graceless.
Read more…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RISING ALMA EARNS STRONG METAL HAMMER REVIEW FOR NEW EP “YOUR OWN STORY”
Metal Hammer praises the Berlin-based alternative rock and melodic hard rock outfit, calling the EP “worth discovering” and declaring that Rising Alma is “a band that should be followed closely”

Berlin, Germany — September 25, 2026 — Berlin-based alternative rock and melodic hard rock outfit Rising Alma are celebrating a major new piece of international media coverage following a detailed review of their latest EP, Your Own Story , in Metal Hammer .
Published by Metal Hammer Spain and written by Marta Grimaldi, the August 16, 2026 feature takes an in-depth look at Rising Alma’s five-song EP, released independently on July 24, while examining the band’s development from their earlier alternative rock material toward a sound with an increasingly prominent hard rock and guitar-driven edge.
The review highlights the band’s current lineup featuring Alīse Elme on vocals and keyboards, Maximo Marset on guitar, arrangements and production, and Sebastian Rätz on bass.
According to the review, Your Own Story demonstrates how Rising Alma are evolving while maintaining the melodic foundation that has defined their work. The article specifically praises the weight of the guitars, the band’s vocal melodies, the use of keyboards to create contrasting passages, and the clear, modern production across the EP.
The review takes a closer look at all five tracks, including the title track “Your Own Story,” which opens with what the reviewer describes as one of the EP’s strongest riffs. Marset’s guitar work receives particular attention, while Elme’s clean vocal performance is praised for allowing the vocals and guitars to occupy their own space.
“Underneath” is highlighted for its more intimate approach, with keyboards and vocals taking the forefront as Rising Alma explore themes of mourning and finding balance after loss.
The review also singles out “Colors Flow All Around Us” for its memorable vocal melody and combination of heavier and more open passages, while “Authenticity” is noted for its darker guitar tone, prominent bass and subtle connection to Elme’s Latvian roots.
Closing the EP, “Endless” receives attention for its intimate opening, gradual build and the guitar solo from Maximo Marset. The production across the record is also recognized, with the review noting the clarity and definition of the individual instruments.
Metal Hammer ultimately concludes that five songs are enough for Your Own Story to leave “a good taste in the mouth and wanting to hear it again,” describing the EP as “worth discovering” and Rising Alma as “a band that should be followed closely.”
For an independent band continuing to build its international presence, the feature represents another significant step forward for Rising Alma and their growing catalog.
Your Own Story is available now on major streaming platforms.
RISING ALMA

Alīse Elme – Vocals, Keyboards
Maximo Marset – Guitar, Arrangements, Production
Sebastian Rätz – Bass
Listen to “Your Own Story”

https://open.spotify.com/intl-es/album/6heEVIIn5XAq4E2N3gZmb6
Read the Metal Hammer Review

https://metalhammer.es/rising-alma-your-own-story/
For additional information, interviews, promotional requests, or media inquiries, please contact: zach@metaldevastationradio.com



Watch the official video:


Connect: https://linktr.ee/risingalma
Contact: contact@risingalma.com

Frontiers Music Srl is proud to announce the signing of Swedish hard rock heavyweights Hardcore Superstar, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for one of Scandinavia’s most enduring and explosive rock bands. The partnership kicks off with the release of the band’s new single, “Halo”, just days before the band launches the Scandinavian leg of its ‘Dirty Halo Tour’ on October 2nd.
Read more…

Photo Credit: Christian Sobeck (The lineage of the German death metal band Fleshcrawl is a long one, with its founding dating back to 1987, but the band persists — their new album Epitome of Carnage was released last June. Our Comrade Aleks interviewed Fleshcrawl guitarist Apu Justin Reisch close to that release date for another […]

The post AN NCS INTERVIEW: FLESHCRAWL appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

Atmospheric doom/prog/death duo Dream Unending are back with their first full-length LP in four years, the stunning Certain Uncertainties, and Decibel has secured a special exclusive LP on Heaven & Earth Merge-colored vinyl limited to just 100 copies courtesy of our dear friends at the mighty 20 Buck Spin!

Certain Uncertainties expands upon the unearthly soundscapes and cinematic vision that Derrick Vella (Tomb Mold) and Justin DeTore (Innumerable Forms, Sumerlands) have developed since the project’s 2019 inception, delivering Dream Unending’s most uplifting yet melancholic dream doom masterwork.

Don’t sleep on this one; order your copy now before these drift away!

Track list:

1. Blinding Allure
2. Certain Uncertainties
3. Strained Sincerity
4. Rubato
5. I Carry Your Burden
6. Causal

THIS IS A PREORDER. ITEM IS DUE TO BE RELEASED ON OR AROUND OCTOBER 30, 2026. ALL ITEMS ORDERED TOGETHER WILL BE CHARGED AT THE TIME OF THE ORDER AND WILL SHIP TOGETHER WHEN EVERYTHING IS IN STOCK.

The post Pre-Order DREAM UNENDING’s (mems. of TOMB MOLD, INNUMERABLE FORMS) New Album ’Certain Uncertainties’ on Decibel-Exclusive Limited Edition Vinyl! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Breaking The Loop is the brand-new single by Marco Moretti, serving as the lead track for his upcoming EP, Between Fear And Love. Driven by high-energy rock/metal dynamics, the song delivers a sharp critique of modern society and the artificial narratives projected across social media. It is a powerful call to break free from digital […]

Peter Hammill’s Tears In Time – his 37th solo album – arrives five years after his last solo release, 2021’s covers album In Translation, and nine years since 2017’s From The Trees, his last collection of original material. But the first thing to clear up is how to pronounce the new title – is it “tears” as in rips or as in crying?

“It’s whichever you choose,” says Hammill with amusement. “It’s like a flickering Chimera! I haven’t decided which way to say it myself; I’ll probably switch between one or the other. An interesting conceit, I thought!”

The 11-song work is described as having been “recorded at various locations between 1991 and 2026” – which might support the ‘rips in time’ interpretation – but the arrangements and lyrics all come from the past few years.

“I usually put in the dates of recordings, and a couple of pieces had their origins way back when I was still in [recording studio] Terra Incognita in Bath,” he explains. “But I’d say that actually both the tears and the tears are to do with the fact that there’s quite a lot of separations and endings in these songs.”

One of the oldest compositions on the album, dating back to 2022, is Heavy Weather, a version of which originally appeared on a limited-edition CD sold at Hammill’s October 2023 shows in Tokyo. While many of the songs on Tears In Time are reflections on time, memory and coming to terms with the hand that life has dealt, Heavy Weather is about the current state of the world.

“And specifically Ukraine,” says the Van der Graaf Generator man. “But Ukraine stands as a marker for so much of what’s happened since then. Obviously one has to live in hope and expectation and positivity, but these continue to be very worrying times.”

As has been standard procedure for decades now, he played, recorded and produced the album almost entirely on his own, although The Wheels is a co-write with longtime collaborator Saro Cosentino, who was also involved in its recording.

Hammill laughingly scoffs at the very idea of exposing his work to external feedback during its creation – but admits, “It’s probably not the most advisable thing to do. I end up with a finished piece of work I know everything about, but I don’t know how anyone else will take it, or how it fits into whatever I’ve done in the past.”

The first person to hear the finished product is always his wife Hilary, who’s described Tears In Time as “quite dark” – although, as Hammill says, “She usually does!”

The work feels vivid and accessible, certainly compared to the more minimal From The Trees. One of its standout tracks is Red Flags (In The Sunset), a terse rocker with a catchy refrain.

“Every so often, a three-chord trick will fall into your hands,” says Hammill. “It goes back to a Nadir-ish feeling, really, I’d say.”

And When He Ran, closing the record, is a particularly personal song about the death of his dog Bentley, known as Bendy. “Sometimes you have to write a song because that’s what you do, but I wasn’t sure at first whether I’d even make it public,” he says.

“But it’s something that a lot of people will have experienced. It’s about the acknowledgement and acceptance of the inevitability of things – it’s tough, but it’s OK. There’s still a memory of this spirit of life darting through the fields.”

Tears In Time is on sale now.