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│ METAL CLASSICS ARCHIVE │
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│ P R E S E N T S │
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│ + Cloven Hoof - Who Mourns For The Morning Star? + │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Information ║ │
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│║ ║ │
│║ Rls Date..2020-05-30 Encoder......LAME 3.100 ║ │
│║ Genre.....Heavy Metal Graber.......EAC ║ │
│║ Year......2017 Khz/Bitrate..44.1 / VBR kbps ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Ripper....Anthem Songs........9 ║ │
│║ Source....CD Covers.......Yes ║ │
│║ Url.. ║ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Notes ║ │
│╠═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════╗ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Artist : Cloven Hoof ║ │
│║ Album : Who Mourns For The Morning Star? ║ │
│║ Label : HR Records ║ │
│║ Cat.No : HRR 536 CD ║ │
│╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Description : ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ What would you say is the greatest human achievement? The ║ │
│║ written word? The wheel? The microchip? The invention of ║ │
│║ heavy metal? As persuasive an argument as the last one is, ║ │
│║ many people would probably settle on the event from July ║ │
│║ 20th 1969, when NASA landed two astronauts on the Moon. ║ │
│║ Half a billion people watched live on television, which ║ │
│║ then represented about one seventh of the worldÆs ║ │
│║ population. And who can forget the words of Neil Armstrong, ║ │
│║ spoken as he set foot on the surface of our only celestial ║ │
│║ neighbour? ôOne small step for manàö ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Apparently, Cloven Hoof were also unable to forget, which ║ │
│║ is why we are greeted with the extended quote sitting in ║ │
│║ the bridge of album opener 'Star Rider' between explosive ║ │
│║ riffing and a fiery solo. The implications of using that ║ │
│║ quote are huge: perhaps one could simply say that it fits ║ │
│║ the theme of space travel, yet this isnÆt fantasy space ║ │
│║ travel, but a bonafide endeavour that required the ultimate ║ │
│║ in technology, imagination, and passion to achieve. Cloven ║ │
│║ Hoof are on the same path in terms of passion and have ║ │
│║ dreamed big on this album. According to band leader Lee ║ │
│║ Payne, ôAll my life I had a vision in my head of what I ║ │
│║ wanted Cloven Hoof to sound like, but I was never 100% ║ │
│║ happy with the vocalist.ö With the addition of new pipes in ║ │
│║ the form of George Call, Payne believes that the band have ║ │
│║ realized that vision and made their best album, which is a ║ │
│║ bold statement for a group that released the impressive A ║ │
│║ SultanÆs Ransom back in 1989. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Thankfully, the bandÆs confidence is met by truly ║ │
│║ impressive execution. Call is a consummate metal vocalist, ║ │
│║ mastering both the range of æ80s singers and the more ║ │
│║ modern grit that he and guitarist Chris Coss use to charge ║ │
│║ songs like 'I Talk to the Dead' with bruising power. ║ │
│║ However, CallÆs more delicate contribution to the verses of ║ │
│║ 'Song of Orpheus' is an unexpected bonus as well, even if ║ │
│║ his Bruce Dickinson impersonation in the chorus of ║ │
│║ 'Bannockburn' draws a slight shadow over his credentials. ║ │
│║ It isnÆt only the vocals that show a sympathy with both ║ │
│║ traditional and modern styles, since the two guitarists ║ │
│║ provide a wealth of riffs and melodies that range from more ║ │
│║ intricate duelling parts to classic galloping sections to ║ │
│║ weightier chugs and riffs that borrow from 21st century ║ │
│║ power metal. There are some stand-out moments for Payne too ║ │
│║ in the myriad twists and turns of 'Song of Orpheus', while ║ │
│║ he gives 'Bannockburn' its backbone during the atmospheric ║ │
│║ opening, setting the scene for the infamous battle. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ The difference between a good album and an inspired one is ║ │
│║ often a matter of decision-making as much as pure skill and ║ │
│║ there is evidence that Cloven Hoof had the brains as well ║ │
│║ as the brawn when putting Who Mourns... together. The ║ │
│║ length of the album is just right for this style and the ║ │
│║ structuring of the 45 minute experience is designed to ║ │
│║ capture the listener as early as possible, not releasing ║ │
│║ them until the very end. The shorter, more direct, songs ║ │
│║ pack the first half, easing up for the clean introduction ║ │
│║ of 'Morning Star', upping the power again before ending on ║ │
│║ an epic note with tales of Sparta and Scotland that are ║ │
│║ less compelling for headbanging, though entertain ║ │
│║ nonetheless. The songs also range from those modest epics ║ │
│║ to all-guns-blazing metal numbers to the hard rock ║ │
│║ influences on 'Neon Angels', while the ideas are often ║ │
│║ familiar yet never too simplistic, interesting sidetracks ║ │
│║ turning up in several songs. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ However, all this would be worthless without all nine songs ║ │
│║ pulling their weight, which they do without trouble. ItÆs ║ │
│║ difficult to detect a weak spot on 'Star Rider' and 'I Talk ║ │
│║ to the Dead' as they crusade forwards on swaggering riffs ║ │
│║ and pure conviction, while the issues that can be glimpsed ║ │
│║ in the less original 'Go Tell the Spartans' and 'Neon ║ │
│║ Angels' means that they only pale in comparison to the ║ │
│║ rest, not as a result of any serious deficit. The meaty yet ║ │
│║ warm production ensures that the refrain riff of 'Time to ║ │
│║ Burn' smashes through the listenerÆs skull with every ║ │
│║ cycle, while the gorgeously frail notes that emit from the ║ │
│║ rasping 'Morning Star' must go down as yet another ║ │
│║ highlight. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Who Mourns for the Morning Star? is very close to the full ║ │
│║ package, what with a bunch of great songs played by great ║ │
│║ musicians with great production and finished off with great ║ │
│║ cover art. Minor grumbles could be directed at one or two ║ │
│║ vocal moments that ape Iron Maiden songs 'Aces High' ('Neon ║ │
│║ Angels') and 'Montsegur' ('Bannockburn'), but there are ║ │
│║ plenty of positives to focus on instead of worrying about ║ │
│║ those details. Cloven Hoof are galloping ahead of the pack. ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ Originally written for The Metal Observer - ║ │
│║ http://www.metal-observer.com/3.o/review/cloven-hoof-mourns ║ │
│║ -mourning-star/ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│║ ║ │
│╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ │
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│╔═════════════════════╗ │
│║ Release Tracklist ║ │
│╚═════════════════════╩══════════════════════════════════════════ │
│ │
│ 1. Star Rider 4:38 │
│ 2. Song Of Orpheus 3:34 │
│ 3. I Talk To The Dead 4:38 │
│ 4. Neon Angels 3:38 │
│ 5. Morning Star 6:18 │
│ 6. Time To Burn 4:41 │
│ 7. Mindmaster 3:57 │
│ 8. Go Tell The Spartans 6:01 │
│ 9. Bannockburn 7:14 │
│ │
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│ Total Length : 00:44:39 │
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│ ║ Greetings To: ║ │
│ ╚═════════════════════╝ │
│ │
│ Too all people who contributes to make this │
│ archive of good music in a exceptional conditions │
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│ │
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