Heathen Cross, by Cloven Hoof (2024)

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Anti-christ defilerJackal stalks the landDevine interventionThe avenging firebrandStriking black heart terrorArch-angel sent to EarthSmiting sword of justiceThat none may find rebirthOnly he can slay the beast, heretic childSevered head be at peaceRedeemer, judgement on highRedeemer, fire in the skyRedeemer, tear down the wallsRedeemer, see Jericho fallSpirits writhe in torment, Nephalim and manSodom and Gomorrah, none are spared and damnedNo bible black can repel the dread titans’ dark wrathHoly power now unleashedRedeemer, ‘No mercy!’ he criesRedeemer, the wicked fl ayed aliveRedeemer, blood rain will fallRedeemer brings death to us allHere comes...Here comes Redeemer!Here comes...Here comes Redeemer!Sinners screams, they fi ll the nightDead man’s walk, the living take flightSalvation lost, no last ritesFinal conflict, souls igniteThey igniteRedeemer, judgement on highRedeemer, fire in the skyRedeemer, tear down the wallsRedeemer, see Jericho fallHere comes...Here comes Redeemer!Here comes...Here comes Redeemer!

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They fear the magic but they don’t understandGood and evil is ours to commandThe age of Horus dawns to meet the new godNow walk the path that the light bearer trodDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawIwas my guardian and will be again,Showed me things beyond the Astral PlaneWar and religion put the greed in our soulDon’t be frightened of the new fi nal goalDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawFootsteps of Crowley!Following in the footsteps... Footsteps of Crowley!Following in the footsteps... Footsteps of Crowley!666 is the number of the beastAnd abandon all hope if you can’t seeWe are here to enjoy earthly pleasureOnly then can you belong to meIt’s not too late now!Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawDo what thou wilt shall be the whole of the lawGo!Footsteps of Crowley!Following in the footsteps... Footsteps of Crowley!Following in the footsteps... Footsteps of Crowley!...and they are are leading me home!Ah, yeah!

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You’re playing with hell fireIf you wanna take a piece of meSay you’re a live wireWell, I’ll put you down easilyReady to rumble?Wanna step up face to face?See who will crumbleSo you better just cut to the chaseOn the ropes, in for the killMy arm is strong, I’ll crush your willChallengers I will defyLast man standing in lineGot a fist of iron, it’s the end of your timeLast man and word be mineBring it on, I’ll rip out your spine!I’m the last man standingI’m the last man standingAlright!I’m the last man standingI’m the last man standingGet up and fight!Think you’re a hot shot?Gonna match me blow for blow?If that’s all that you gotSay your prayers, standing toe to toeMessing with the big boysNow I hit you hard, fast and lowPush it to the limit, do ya?Just how far now can you go?No surrender or retreatYou’ll need an army, I can’t be beatThis title I’ll hold till I die, yeah!Last man standing in lineGot a fist of iron, it’s the end of your timeLast man and word be mineBring it on, I’ll rip out your spine!I’m the last man standingI’m the last man standingAlright!I’m the last man standingI’m the last man standingGet up and fight!Last man standing in lineGot a fist of iron, it’s the end of your timeLast man and word be mineBring it on, I’ll rip out your spine!Last man standing in lineGot a fist of iron, it’s the end of your timeLast man and word be mineBring it on, I’ll rip out your spine!I’m the last man standingI’m the last man standingAlright!I’m the last man standingI’m the last man standingGet up and fight!

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Seasons in the abyss seem to last for eternityEverything you do just brings you downMaking and breaking convention, life is just a gameWheeling and dealing’s a part, one whole of the sameNo use ducking and diving, a loser can winHead for a new direction, that’s how to beginFantasy beats the world hollow, away from this routineHead for a new tomorrow, come now with meDarkest before the dawn... (Woah)Darkest before the dawn... (Woah)Fussing and fighting’s a waste of your time, that’s a certaintyDon’t take what you want, only get what you needA time for revolution, just live for todayFind a kinder solution, a better wayDarkest before the dawn... (Woah)Darkest before the dawn... (Woah)Don’t you hear what I say?Good time’s not that far awayYou just need to believe and prayGotta find a way!Fantasy beats the world hollow, away from this routineHead for a new tomorrow, come now with meDarkest before the dawn... (Woah)Darkest before the dawn... (Woah)Darkest before the dawn... (Woah)Darkest before the dawn... (Woah)

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Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no liesStalking a dead man’s my gameDon’t care who you are, have no time for goodbyesKilling’s my business, no namesI chase them and waste them and then I move onNothing can stand in my way.Don’t beg for mercy, the chance has now goneBlood money, there’s murder to payVendetta! I’ll search you outVendetta! No word of a doubtVendetta! A game that we playVendetta! It ends in one wayDon’t run and hide, you’re mine!Vendetta!I’m strong, you’re weak! I’ll seek...Vendetta!Secrecy guards me cos I work aloneDeath always comes with a smileAin’t nothing personal, now vengeance is sownGunning for you all the whileI take them and break them, the contract is goodKill anyone for a priceDon’t know who I am till lying in bloodA killer so cold and preciseVendetta! It’s payback timeVendetta! Vengeance is mineVendetta! A dish best served coldVendetta! For a handful of goldI hunt, you’re prey, my way!Vendetta!I strike by night, don’t fight!Vendetta!Don’t get mad... get even!Don’t get mad... get even!Don’t get mad... get even!Get your things cos I ain’t leaving.Don’t get mad... get even!Don’t get mad... get even!Don’t get mad... get even!So seeing is believing!Vendetta! I’ll search you outVendetta! No word of a doubtVendetta! A game that we playVendetta! It ends in one wayI hunt, you’re prey, my way!Vendetta!I strike by night, don’t fight!Vendetta!

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Fell in love with a handsome maidenA country lass with flaxen hairOur paths were crossed one golden summer at the FayreTh en one dark Autumn, the fi nder came ridingTo our door, making no soundHis killers entered and cut us down to the groundWhip her! Strip her! Beat her to the bone!I am the hand of god and I decide aloneBurn witch, burn!When are you gonna learn?Burn witch, burn!Cure or kill her!To the devil you return!Th rough mellow mornings and starry eveningsHer warm caresses surrounded meOn a shooting star, we swore our love eternallyTake her! Break her! Cut her till she’s raw!Don’t believe her innocence, she won’t lie anymore!Burn witch, burn!When are you gonna learn?Burn witch, burn!Cure or kill her!To the devil you return!You may burn my body... but my soul lives on!A gypsy’s curse be upon you now and forever until the end of time!My spirit will be avenged of this blasphemous crime!It’s the curse of the gypsyOf the gypsy queen...It’s the curse of the gypsyOf the gypsy queen...It’s the curse (Oh, no!) of the gypsy (Oh, no!)Of the gypsy queen...It’s the curse of the gypsyOf the gypsy queen...Oh, no!

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No one will save us from the tyranny of war that’s yet to comeThy will be done!Prey are now hunted, there’s no mercy for children under the sunNowhere to run!Call it destiny, eternity of man’s own need to killBloodlust burns inside, eternal rageMadness reigns, a world in pain, the beast is with us still!How can we live together, when hate rules at every stage?Die now by frost or in fire!Th is kingdom must end!Th ey must end!Why try?The fates will conspireInto night we descend... without endWeep not for passingWe bite the hand that feeds us every timeRight down the line!Legacy tarnished, the milk of human kindness left behindTime out of mind!For this heresy, our infamy should pop a poison pillTh e crimes remain, our hands are all blood stainedLosers fall, winner takes it allWe ravage, steal and killWill we change? - No, never!Who’s left to pay the bill?Die now by frost or in fire!Th e path that won’t bend... path won’t bendKings, Knights, knaves and liarsWhose words we defend... without endLike the ripples on the water, from the corner of your mindMadness seems to pull you under, to compassion we are blind...Oh, yeah!Th e heavens will darken, Fenrir swallows the sunTh e serpent is rising from the sea, our time is done!Frost and fire!Frost and fire!All is lost!

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On coven heath I hear the distant voicesDark disciples have now come for meIn the distance, see the torches shiningIn the night, forever more I’ll beMagic circle, pointing fi ngers to the sky...My, oh my!Seven sisters in the stars before I dieSabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Yeah!Hearken closely, now the bell is chimingFeel a chill, for it tolls for theeMidnight mass, down in devil’s valleyNo one listens to your fi nal pleasTurning circles, people chanting, hear them cry...Why, oh why?Witches passing, spells are casting way on highSabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Yeah!Hear the cry of the distant agesSee the wonder of the sages... of the sagesOn the hillside rolling thunder...Feel the magic pull you under... pull you underYeah!Magic circle, pointing fingers to the sky...My, oh my!Seven sisters in the stars before I dieSabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Sabbat stones!Yeah!Don’t cry over the fallen (Sabbat stones!)They wait for their time to arrive (Sabbat stones!)Like sleep death is transition (Sabbat stones!)Soon they will all be alive (Sabbat stones!)

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We all live in dread, the last rays of the sunThe celestial madonna anoints the chosen oneMidsummer solstice is high in the skyConstellations in junction, 31st of JulyIn rank stand idols of stoneThe black bowed one he stands atop aloneCalling the faithful to form a ringA garland of oak to crown the blessed kingGather round children of the harvestWith the moon’s now at it’s heightGather round children of the harvestSacrifice is in the air tonight.Lughnassadh!Lughnassadh!Lughnassadh!Standing in the fi relight, the priest conducts the massUnholy dark communion, incantation castDon’t try to stop me, the power has shownHell now awaits, it’s now full grownGather children to the summoning (Summoning!)Dark magic makes your blood run coldGather children to the summoning (Summoning!)Wicker man watch as the power unfoldsGather children to the summoning!Gather children to the summoning!The crimson altar, bathed in spectral lightI know it’s me there calling, they’ll take my life tonightI’m down on my knees now to pray‘Please lord, don’t let them take me away!’Gather children to the summoning (Summoning!)Dark magic makes your blood run coldGather children to the summoning (Summoning!)Wicker man watch as the power unfoldsGather children to the summoning!Gather children to the summoning!See them waiting in the darknessCome and join us now they pray (Join us! Join us, now!)Surrender to the evilWorship death and sweet decayGather children to the summoning (Summoning!)Dark magic makes your blood run coldGather children to the summoning (Summoning!)Wicker man watch as the power unfoldsGather to the summoning!Gather children to the summoning!Gather to the summoning!Gather children to the summoning!...Now!

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ORDER YOUR COPY AT www.hrrecords.de/CLOVEN-HOOF
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Midlands outfit Cloven Hoof must rate as one of the most legendary bands of the entire New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement. The origins of the group go back to the year 1979, when they first formed under the name of Nightstalker. In 1981, however, the band switched to their new moniker: Cloven Hoof. Original vocalist David Potter, guitarist Steve Rounds, drummer Kevin Poutney and main man Lee Payne on bass adopted the stage characters of ‘Earth’, ‘Fire’, ‘Water’ and ‘Air’.

After recording demo versions of songs such as “Return Of The Passover” and “Nightstalker”, Cloven Hoof issued their debut vinyl 12” EP »The Opening Ritual« on Elemental Music in 1982. In 1984, the self-titled Cloven Hoof album was released, followed by »Fighting Back« (1986), »Dominator« (1988) and »A Sultan’s Ransom« (1989).

After splitting up in the 1990s, Cloven Hoof returned with a new line-up and a new record called »Eye Of The Sun« in 2006. In 2014, »Resist Or Serve« was recorded, followed by »Who Mourns For The Morning Star?« (2017), both on High Roller Records.

The album was a bit of a game changer for the band, as they were able to tour with it in North America for the first time in their career. Since then, Cloven Hoof have issued two more studio albums, »Age Of Steel« on Pure Steel Records in 2020 and »Time Assassins« on FM Revolver two years later.

With songs like “Do What Thou Wilt”, “Sabbat Stones” and “The Summoning” their brand new album »Heathen Cross« marks the return to High Roller Records. “We are back now where we belong,” smirks Lee Payne. “»Heathen Cross« is Cloven Hoof’s most dark and heavy album yet! It has the Satanic undertones of our debut album, but with the best vocalist the group has ever had. Personally speaking it is hands down my favourite Cloven Hoof album. We wanted to recapture the spirit and the supernatural majesty of the debut album. Talking to the fans we have given them what they wanted most, a return to the roots of the NWOBHM. They are going to love it!”

The bassist is indeed full of praise for the band’s new vocalist, enter a certain Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin, of all people: “Harry Conklin is a world-class vocalist. He is super dedicated and highly professional and we knew he would fit in the band seamlessly. His vocal performance on the new album raises the band to new heights, so I can’t wait for the fans to hear him. Harry is an astounding singer, he is so versatile. He can sing high, low and always with power and passion. He knows how to live and sell a song. Harry is like an actor telling a story, no one interprets my lyrics like Mr. Conklin. I can’t praise him enough. We should have worked together years ago.”

MATTHIAS MADER