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! ! ! ! !
Artist......: Cloven Hoof
Album.......: Who Mourns for the Morning Star?
Year........: 2017
Genre.......: Heavy Metal
Type........: Album
Label.......: High Roller Records
Language....: English
Source......: WEB/FLAC (16bit)
Quality.....: 1029kbps / 44.1 kHz / Stereo
Tracks......: 9 tracks
Playtime....: 00:44:43
Size........: 327.5 MiB
R.Date......: 2026-10-20
S.Date......: 2017-04-21
Url.........: https://open.qobuz.com/album/4251267700042
01. Star Rider 4:38
02. Song of Orpheus 3:35
03. I Talk to the Dead 4:39
04. Neon Angels 3:38
05. Morning Star 6:19
06. Time to Burn 4:41
07. Mindmaster 3:57
08. Go Tell the Spartans 6:01
09. Bannockburn 7:15
NWOBHM is a rather wide definition of music, whether the
weight is on Hard Rock or leans towards Heavy Metal.
CLOVEN HOOF definitely stretch over the whole spectrum
with everything from very Heavy and Epic tracks to
rather light weight Hard Rock is featured on all of
their releases while sticking inside the borders to keep
the records as an a solid entity. It's the same with
"Who Mourns For the Morning Star?" which starts with the
heavy "Star Rider" after the DIO-esque intro that sets a
good mode straight off. I love the changes in the track
and that the music pauses a little with the riff taken
down in terms of intensity during the chorus. This track
struck immediately, it's catchy and heavy. The very
mellow verses in "Song Of Orpheus" with a very
high-pitched vocal line felt odd on the first spin but
the more I've listened the better it got and the
contrast towards the chorus worked perfectly in the end.
The dynamics and stomp in the chorus-line really make a
difference.
It's been rather quiet in the CLOVEN HOOF camp for a few
years now though, and the band has gone through a
massive change since "Resist Or Serve" which was
released in 2014. It's just the main man Lee Payne and
Chris Coss left in the band from that time. Guitarist
Luke Hatton has been a part of the lineup for a few
years now. Also, new is drummer Danny White and vocalist
George Call, both from the US Power Metal band ASKA
(both also ex-OMEN). What's remarkable is that they're
Americans; one could think it would be easier to have
the members living closer. It's not surprising that they
were tapped though, since both are fantastic musicians.
This also meant that Joe Whelan is out too. He was a
great singer but there's no doubt that George is one
step up and a much better fit for the band (both when it
comes to George's vocal style and his whole appearance).
Comparing "Neon Angels" with the heavy "I Talk to the
Dead" and the aforementioned tracks, it is a real
light-weight with Hard Rock oriented riffs and a very
catchy chorus-line. Variation and dynamics are the key
to success! One thing that struck me with "Who Mourns
For The Morning Star?" very early was the geniality of
the production; the balance between the instruments is
absolutely fantastic straight through while the sound is
organic and full. I really love the guitar-sound, the
round distortion and how is still clear and edgy. Then,
most of all, which is most prominent in the title track
"Morning Star" are the vocal arrangements. George has a
fantastic range and flawlessly nails all those extremely
high-pitched lines and falsettos. Just listen to the
heavy passage when the song goes from acoustic to
electric; the layers of voices and harmonies generate a
very big sound and that passage sends shivers down my
spine every time it comes on. The MAIDEN-type riffs and
arrangements work perfectly and, really, doesn't get
much better than this.
The speedy "Time To Burn" should work perfectly live,
being a great classic Heavy Metal track. It still has
that touch that makes it CLOVEN HOOF with some oddities
and tricks in the arrangement of the song to break it
up. "Go Tell The Spartans" is of course, very different
style-wise but that one too holds these small details
that makes it to grow with each spin. And again, the
last song out, "Bannockburn", has yet another great
structure and style but it's the same thing here. You
see, "Who Mourns For The Morning Star?" sounds good from
the start but there is more to it than a bunch of good
Heavy Metal songs. It is when the record settles, it
starts to shine for real. And when a record keeps
growing as this one does, it's on its way to become a
classic. So, it can absolutely be listed up there with
the "The Opening Ritüal" EP or the CLOVEN HOOF
self-titled debut and "Dominator". It's perfect!