Triumph-Rock & Roll Machine (1977)

Perennial runners-up to their compatriots Rush, this Canadian band has left behind a series of superb and surprising albums of vibrant and powerful hard rock with some progressive influences. While they never reached the magnitude and excellence of Rush, they certainly occupy a place of honor in rock history. This power trio consisted of guitarist and vocalist Rick Emmett, drummer Gil Moore, and bassist and keyboardist Michael Leviney. Their beginnings date back to 1975 in Toronto, where they started performing in clubs and venues until late 1976 when they released their first album, "Triumph", on the Attic Records label. On this debut, the band still displayed an undefined sound; however, their influences from iconic British bands like Led Zeppelin were more than evident, thanks to powerful tracks like "Let Me Get Next To You". In 1977 came their second work “Rock and Roll Machine”, where they began to show an interest in progressive sounds that are reflected in the suite “The City” or in “New York City Streets”, while on the other hand the trio continues to show their more forceful side with the powerful “Rock and Roll Machine”, “Little Texas Shaker” or “Takes Times”, and they even dared to do the excellent version of Joe Walsh's song “Rocky Mountain Way”, masterfully executed with a sound close to blues rock.