After the excellently titled 'The Opening Ritual' mini-lp, Cloven Hoof emerge with this album, seven tracks of dark yet melodic heavy rock that brings to mind Angel Witch and that New Wave Of British Heavy Metal feel, with the satanic imagery and warrior yelps. Cracking stuff. Most accessible is the almost thrashy 'Nightstalker' featuring some superb guitar work and a stuffy atmosphere that releases bats from the belfry and ghouls from the grave. For me, this record is packaged perfectly, at times touching on Maiden's finer moments with the epic tales of woe and wisdom, making for a wondrous ride into caverns dark and rooms of black. 'Crack The Whip' is an underground metal classic, catchy as Hell and featuring a superb riff. At times there is a clanking leathery sleaze behind it all, reminiscent of Crue's 'Too Fast...'...bring your lantern.
8/10
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