Triumph
Triumph
1976
Attic Records (LAT 1012)
Produced by Mike Levine and Doug Hill
*** noteworthy
Fairly awful derivative debut from this Canadian hard-rock power trio, tons more enjoyable than the superior junk they’d deliver during the decade that followed this set.
It’s really not all that different than the rest of their output, but little differences can make all the difference.
(And you have to appreciate that they take Sammy Hagar’s lead and sport their own band’s name across their T-shirts.)
Here, the influences appears to be Kiss, Grand Funk, Joe Walsh, Aerosmith, Mountain, Zeppelin, King Crimson, Ted Nugent, Sammy Hagar, Rush, Frank Marino, and Hendrix. In fact, they likely clocked in countless basement hours jamming tunes by those outfits because the licks and riffs and vocal delivery are clearly the five-finger-discount variety.
While 1979’s Just A Game might have featured their best sleeve, this was their best album. Fans of 70s hard rock will likely find plenty to enjoy.
–winch (author of
Sounds Good 