Great Metal Albums of 1980: Triumph- Progressions of Power
In 1980, we had metal contributions from Great Britain, the USA and Australia, so it would only be natural that we had at least one from Canada. Of course in this year of great rock and metal albums, there was a brilliant album from Rush, which I have already posted on, but since even they don’t want to be called heavy metal, I decided to honour their wishes and not refer to them as such. I’m digressing again, what Canada did give the metal world that year was a brilliant album from Triumph.
When I visited their “Just a Game” album during my tour of 1979, I explained that because heavy metal was still in it’s infancy back then, Triumph was still looking for the sound that would stamp them firmly onto the metal monument. I can now safely say that after hearing “Progressions of Power” twice, that they definitely found the sound they were looking for. For me, this is yet another great metal album from the year. Not only did the opener “I Live for the Weekend” had me banging my head away, but that lasted through the second song “I Can Survive.” Even the more power ballad “In the Night” didn’t lessen my happy mood. Then there were two great back to back rockers, “Nature’s Child” and “Women in Love” and I have to really sing the praises of “Tear the Roof Off.” That songs really gets me going even if it is followed by a total ballad in the form of “Take My Heart.” Finally “Hard Road” that takes the album to it’s conclusion in a very well done fashion.
The problem that has always plagued Triumph is that because they’re Canadian, the get compared to Rush. Shame on those who do that. They are noticeably different. While Rush likes to go more progressive, Triumph lets you know that they are a hard rocking band and should be seen as such. I’m even going to go out on a limb here and say that I prefer the guitar playing of Rik Emmet to Alex Liefson but that’s just me. The solos he performs on this album are just grand.
Track Listing:
1. I Live For the Weekend
2. I Can Survive
3. In the Night
4. Nature’s Child
5. Women in Love
6. Take My Heart
7. Tear the Roof Off
8. Finger Talkin’
9. Hard Road
Triumph
Rik Emmet- guitars, prophet 5 synthesiser, vocals
Gil Moore- drums, percussion vocals
Mike Levine- bass, keyboards
Way back when I first began this blog nearly three years ago, I said that Canadian metal doesn’t get the respect it deserves. I hope that as people follow me through this journey of heavy metal history, they will begin to give that respect to them. If you want a good place to start, then I can wholeheartedly suggest this album.
Next post: Van Halen- Women and Children First
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80smetalman's Blog 
November 13, 2013 at 12:24 pm
Thanks for giving Canada some metal cred!
The comparisons to Rush were easy for the press to grasp. Both trios, both Canadians, both with a high-pitched lead singer…
I think that’s where the comparisons end though. Rik Emmett was not beyond putting progressive moments in their music from time to time but as you say, this is a rock band primarily.
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November 13, 2013 at 1:02 pm
You’re welcome and more on that subject is still to come. Especially as the years roll on and I visit Anvil, Lee Aaron and my personal favourite, The Killer Dwarfs. Come to think of it, there were some brief prog moments on the album but yes, it is definitely hard rock.
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November 13, 2013 at 1:06 pm
Killer Dwarfs! I will definitely be talking about them more in the future. Dirty Weapons was 1990 but an amazing album.
I was watching their old music videos. They did so much with like no money.
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November 13, 2013 at 2:52 pm
This was my first exposure to Triumph, back in 1980, and I immediately became a fan. The extended outro of “I Live For The Weekend” always makes me laugh because it seems to have 3-4 false endings. I love the fact that they started the album with a song that could be the encore of their live show. They would go on to make a couple of albums I enjoyed more (Allied Forces and Never Surrender), and I might like Just A Game slightly more (although, as you pointed out, they weren’t really metal at that point), but Progressions Of Power should get more love from the metal community when discussing the best albums of that era.
As for Killer Dwarfs, I only discovered them about 10-12 years ago but like a lot of their stuff now. I hope to see some write-ups on their music in the future.
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November 13, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Rich, I reviewed the Dwarfs’ Dirty Weapons album last year if you want to have a look. I’m still missing their Method to the Madness CD. It seems to be rare now.
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November 13, 2013 at 3:16 pm
I own the expanded version of Big Deal and Dirty Weapons. That’s my only exposure to their music. Never heard of Method To The Madness. I’ll check out your Dirty Weapons review later.
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November 13, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Expanded editions? Oooh! Do tell!
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November 13, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Big Deal comes with 6 bonus tracks and Dirty Weapons has 5. I think they both were released around 2002. I don’t have them in front of me so I can’t tell you the details. Sorry.
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November 13, 2013 at 3:46 pm
I think, I may be wrong, but I think those bonus tracks make up the entire Method to the Madness CD. Maybe. I’m not sure.
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November 13, 2013 at 3:48 pm
I’ll have to check that out when I get home. That would be very convenient.
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November 14, 2013 at 4:01 am
Confirming that the 11 bonus tracks spread across the reissues of The Killer Dwarfs albums “Big Deal” and “Dirty Weapons” do, in fact, come from “Method To The Madness.” Apparently the only song missing from that album is “Doesn’t Matter.” I assume it was left off due to time constraints.
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November 14, 2013 at 11:37 am
Actually Rich I know the answer to this one. Doesn’t Matter was originally on Dirty Weapons. It was their “summer hit ballad” that never was. They thought it was a lost opportunity that the song never took off so the put the exact same version on the next album as well! So that would be why it’s excluded — it’s already on Dirty Weapons.
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November 14, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Thanks for clarifying. Nice to know I actually have three Killer Dwarfs albums and not two. I had never heard of them before VH1 Classic launched in 1999. They were playing nothing but old videos, many of which I had never seen, and from the first time I saw/heard “We Stand Alone” I knew I had to hear more. I think of them as more power-pop than metal, and maybe that’s one of the reasons they never made it big: too pop for metal fans and too metal for pop fans. The same can be said for Enuff Z’nuff.
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November 14, 2013 at 9:59 pm
Their earlier stuff was pretty heavy. Uncle Meat recently got me into their first album and it’s great! (3 bonus tracks on that one, previously unreleased).
I think they made some of the best music videos of the 1980’s. Keep the Spirit Alive was the kind of video that ALL the kids at school liked, whether they were rappers or rockers.
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November 16, 2013 at 9:06 pm
I’ve never seen this video, thanks for sharing it. I forgot how good this song really is.
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November 17, 2013 at 12:53 pm
They were a pretty talented band eh? Especially at coming up with great videos. This was just one, Stand Tall and We Stand Alone were equally funny and creative.
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November 17, 2013 at 1:42 pm
They were one of my favourites. I’ve seen the vid for Stand Tall, will have to watch “We Stand Alone.”
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November 17, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Here you go! For context the only thing you need to know is that this was their major label debut. Enjoy!
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November 17, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Always loved this song and cool video, thanks! :@)
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November 14, 2013 at 12:33 pm
I will definitely be visiting all of the Killer Dwarfs albums in the 80s as well as the two Triumph albums you’ve mentioned. Mike, I am going to go back an read your review of “Dirty Weapons.” Good album although “Big Deal” remains my favourite.
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