MOLLY WITH CLOVEN HOOF! (happy birthday brian)

​Absolutely delighted to receive the debut Cloven Hoof Album today from Lee Andre Payne for my Birthday.
This classic of the NWOBHM has been reproduced on High Roller Records and is beautifully presented.
Thank you so much Lee
When the time is right I will take great pride in taking the Mearfest Stage and saying
"Ladies and Gentlemen I give you
CLOVEN HOOF!!!!!!!!

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Cloven Hoof with the "four elements" stage wear back in the mists of time.
As a young man I was very drawn in with the whole fantasy aspect of Heavy Metal
The imagery, the lyrics, the mystery that surrounded bands like this
I loved to be a part of fan clubs and having unique merchandise badges, demo tapes, fan only shirts etc made you feel like you were somehow closely linked to the band
Fanzines, exclusive art work all fueled my passion. 
Venoms legions, Saxons militia guard
Marillions the Web, Hawkfan (Brian Tawn)
I subscribed to so many and the excitement those publications bought when they arrived through the post were incredible
I read fantasy, horror and Sci fi novels all the time Tolkien, John Wyndham, James Herbert, Stephen King, HG Wells, Arthur C Clarke
All these authors inspired not only me but the band members of the groups I loved.
Fantasy games like dungeons and dragons
Who remembers the White Dwarf Release "Blood for the Blood God" the flexi disc by SABBAT Martin Walkyier
Growing up in the early eighties I needed escapism as my early working life was tough
The explosion of NWOBHM bands with their powerful imagery (Rogue Male, Jim Lyttle,Mournblade, Rich Jones, Cloven hoof, Lee Andre Payne) opened up new worlds for me
These were bands of mystery their gigs really were rituals, places of worship, bonding of unity, acts of communion.
I for one have never left, deep in my heart I still wait at the gates of Gehenna.