Released 40 years ago
Fighting Back
Cloven Hoof · 1986
45 min · 8 tracks · heavy metal
Thunderous riffs collide with soaring vocals, embodying the quintessential sound of 1980s heavy metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Reach for the Sky — This opening track features an anthemic chorus and powerful guitar solos that encapsulate the album's spirit of resilience and ambition.
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Daughter of Darkness — This track stands out with its haunting melodies and intricate guitar work, showcasing a more atmospheric side of Cloven Hoof.
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Heavy Metal Men of Steel — A quintessential tribute to heavy metal culture, this song combines aggressive instrumentals with lyrics celebrating the genre’s ethos and community.
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Eye of the Sun — Closing the album, this track delivers a climactic blend of lyrical depth and musical intensity, leaving listeners with a lasting impression.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Fighting Back showcases solid songwriting and performance typical of its era, appealing to fans of classic heavy metal.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a fast tempo, maintaining this intensity through the first four songs before introducing a slower ballad.
- Each song features prominent guitar solos that are woven into the structure, often appearing after the chorus.
- The vocal delivery is consistently powerful, with soaring melodies that contrast against the heavy instrumentation throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- galloping rhythms for adrenaline seekers
- anthemic choruses for group sing-alongs
- dynamic shifts for engaged listening
- soaring vocals that inspire empowerment
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek soft, mellow soundscapes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Fighting Back was Cloven Hoof's second album, following their debut, which had established them as a rising force in the UK heavy metal scene. Released in 1986, this album came during a period when the band was solidifying their presence and honing their sound, aiming to build on the momentum from their earlier work.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Iron Maiden· Judas Priest· Helloween
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Reach for the Sky 8:04
- 2 The Fugitive 5:18
- 3 Daughter of Darkness 4:28
- 4 Heavy Metal Men of Steel 8:09
- 5 Raised on Rock 4:49
- 6 Break It Up 4:29
- 7 Could This Be Love? 4:02
- 8 Eye of the Sun 5:59
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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