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CLOVEN HOOF “Never a Prophet in Your Own Land”
CLOVEN HOOF “Never a Prophet in Your Own Land”
By Theron Moore
CLOVEN HOOF has a new record coming out September 25 via High Roller Records and it's a gem. Nearly five decades into their career, the band has persevered and continued to release nothing but great records. Their new disc, “Never a Prophet in Your Own Land”, is proof of that. Combining the better elements of 80’s NWOBHM with a 70’s hard rock influence, this new disc is a stomper.
“Never a Prophet in Your Own Land”, their tenth studio album, follows 2024’s excellent “Heathen Cross” and proves that the band’s late-career resurgence is no fluke. Rather than attempting to recreate the darker atmosphere of its predecessor, CLOVEN HOOF broadens the palette with an amazing range of songs.
“Never a Prophet” is a soaring attention grabber combining the classic British gallop made famous by MAIDEN that’s part epic, all majesty. “Gypsy Roller” rocks with that perfect melding of 80’s NWOBHM with a 70’s hard rock influence mentioned earlier, while “Iron Mask” adds a proggy touch without overreaching the song. Lastly, and certainly worth mentioning, is the “Flying Dutchman” which is all about theatric swagger against a rock tapestry, a thematic element that has always suited CLOVEN HOOF well. Honorable mention: Throw a fist up for “Prodigal Son,” please.
Would you like to know the best part of “Never a Prophet in Your Own Land” ? Although CLOVEN HOOF has been around forever (in a good way!) the record never feels like nostalgia for sake of nostalgia. It’s fresh, it’s killer rock N roll, and it does the genre proud. Stream it, buy it, CLOVEN HOOF has another bona fide hit on their hands with “Never a Prophet in Your Own Land”.
4/5 Stars
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