Cloven Hoof - 'Age Of Steel'

(Pure Steel Records)

Long running NWOBHM stalwarts Cloven Hoof return with their latest album ‘Age Of Steel’ which sees them sticking to their NWOBHM guns with a more modern and slicker production. With Lee Payne and Company been a local band to me I’ve always had time for Cloven Hoof, but ‘Age of Steel’ is a bit hit and miss for me. Perhaps too heavy for my tastes, they have always had an exuberant rhythm section but maybe on this album they takes it one step too far at times. Add to that some growls and gothic tones and excessively fast widdly guitar pieces and the band may have lost me at times.

It’s an OK bunch of songs, not their finest hour in my opinion but established fans will undoubtably find these new songs very enjoyable and a welcome addition to their collection.

I’m not usually a fan of concept albums, but I know many do enjoy albums that have a story telling edge to them – especially within this style of Metal, so with the Hoof continuing the ‘Dominator’ story it will be of great interest to some.

One of the greatest things about this album is the guitars, especially when they go melodic solo crazy ‘Alderley Edge’ probably showcases this the best and is pure Iron Maiden. The vocals can leave me cold one minute and excite me the next again with ‘Alderley Edge’ as an example where vocalist George Call is in full on soaring Bruce Dickinson mode and sounds fantastic! But on the more gothic and heavy tracks which require deeper vocals and on occasion growls I become underwhelmed and feel Call’s vocals aren’t used to his full capabilities even though the tone of the song requires a different vocal approach.

When the band are at their most commercial like on ‘Victim of the Furies’ or revisiting old school NWOBHM on ‘Alderley Edge’ this is when the band remind me of why I enjoy their music. While I could sing the praises of these tracks ‘til I’m blue in the face, ultimately there are more tracks that disinterest me than do. There are varying reasons for each track, rarely the same one for example I found opener ‘Bathory’ far too gothic and bleak.

I think hardcore NWOBHM fans will enjoy ‘Age Of Steel’ as a whole but more casual fans will struggle to get it! It’s a 50/50 album!

5/10

Essential Track - 'Alderley Edge'

Review by Woody