TRIUMPH [AKA: IN THE BEGINNING]

It has been almost twenty years since I listened to a Triumph album (all my vinyls stayed in Canada) so I got the albums from a friend on loan. Triumph to most Torontonian kids meant a whole lot more than just the second trio of the city. The debate whether they should be included here is a minor issue especially regarding their early albums. Yes Triumph were a good times and party RNR band but they had some good wildcards in their line-up. First a superb guitarist with an exceptional acoustic guitar skill In Rick Emmett, but also able to dish out the riffs like the best of the hard rock genre. A sort of crossover between Stotzem and Paco De Lucia on the acoustic side and Blackmore and Steve Perry on the riff side. Then they had also one of the hardest skin pounder in Gill Moore around rivalling with Moon, Powell Bonham etc... and he was the main singer on top of it. Mike Levine's bass playing is fine but not often heard clearly enough on the first generation Cds and he doubles up on Kbs but those remains discreet and just as symphonic layers.

The first three tracks are all good kick-ass RnR tracks with many tempo changes and heavy drumming and they resemble a bit the early Rush (Working Man & Anthem) , sometimes going to Aerosmith and Journey. The two part Street Fighter is the fist glimpse of their brilliance as the fist part is still riffy but there are many qualities that you will enjoy most notably Moore's good vocals sustain powers (while drumming away, he did those in concert too) and the second part starting from scratch to build up through many moods the song to end up with the full powered riffs of the first part.

The second side is built a little similar with three rock tracks depicting rock and roll lifestyle (one of their favourite subject) and resembling the first side but they are less inspired. Then comes the real monster: the Blinding Light Show, a full blown progressive track clocking in at almost 9 minutes and full of delightful atmospheres, good virtuosity, and great interplay. This is Triumph at their most......... Triumphant moment and the second most prog moment in their career after the three part epic The City in the following album.

Well after twenty years of rest, Triumph came back to liven up the many souvenirs of my turbulent teendom, and I had a real joy rediscovering (I had not forgotten any tracks) them , but to be fair from a prog point of view , they do sound a bit dated , a bit boyish rock and I cannot help but blush a bit at how I was so into the fabulous three bands from Toronto (Rush , Max Webster and Them) , but none seem to have the same effect nowadays. I hope I have not grown old before I die...... would say Roger Daltrey nowadays.

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