CLOVEN HOOF – Resist Or Serve

NWOBHM veterans Cloven Hoof are finally at it again in 2014 with Resist Or Serve, which is the much awaited follow-up to their absolutely outstanding 2006 comeback album entitled Eye Of The Sun, regarded by many as one of the best (if not the best) album’s to come out that year.  The band in 2014 has totally changed compared to 2006, with the only remaining member being bassist Lee Payne. Vocalist Matt Moreton laid down a stellar performance in 2006, now substituted by the Adonis-like Joseph Whalen, who also handles part of the guitar duties.

By and large, it’s illogical to expect Cloven Hoof to deliver a top-to-bottom release of the highest quality once again in 2014 with Resist Or Serve, and they don’t, but Payne and company still do a great job of knocking out (at times) outstanding Traditional Metal.  Whalen, though not quite as talented vocally as Moreton, indeed is a suitable replacement and front man for the band, and the 10 tracks within this new release are all enjoyable compositions.  Cloven Hoof has shown now twice how underrated of a band they are, and Resist Or Serve is a prime candidate for 2014’s album of the year.