Triumph-Thunder Seven, 1984

Triumph were one of those bands that I heard here and there on the radio a lot in the mid-1980's. However, I didn't know anyone who owned any of their albums for me to borrow and it was actually several years until I heard a whole album by them. Too often known as "that other power trio from Canada", Triumph to me slowly built up their skill in the late 70's, but came into their own in the early to mid 80's. At times they hit a progressive sound, but more often than not they are closer to being a very polished hard rock band. However they do it very well and this album mixes things up just enough to keep it from being too standard. The instrumentals Midsummer's Daydream and Little Boy Blues allow the band to show they still have an edge. While the vocal short Time Canon allows the band to something very different from what people expected even if it's just for a minute or so. I think most of the is album is melodic without being sappy and not all bands who attempt to do this type of hard rock can do that. Tracks like Spellbound and Rock out, roll on have some elements of standard hard rock of the time, but the band was quite honestly more talented than a number of other bands. They have their own touches thrown in, you just have to listen. Triumph may be subtle to a point, but that what's worked for them and I think they were certainly a solid hard rock whose best album (this one) and most of their albums still hold up pretty well.

***Canada Rocks week continues with Annihilator's Never, neverland.