Late-'70s/early-'80s prog metallists Triumph endured countless comparisons … Read Full Bio ↴Late-'70s/early-'80s prog metallists Triumph endured countless comparisons to Rush throughout their career, and with good reason; they were both quite similar musically and lyrically, comprised of three members each, and hailed from Canada (although it must be said that Rush were the originator, and were much more commercially successful). Formed in Toronto during 1975, the trio consisted of guitarist/singer Rik Emmett, drummer/singer Gil Moore, and bassist/keyboardist Mike Levine, and issued its self-titled debut a year later via the independent Attic label. Although the album was largely ignored, it became a favorite of a radio DJ in San Antonio, Texas, which led to a regional following solidified by a tour of the state.

The exposure also gave way to a deal with RCA Records, which reissued the debut as well as Triumph's sophomore effort, 1977's Rock & Roll Machine, which spawned the group's first semi-hit single, a cover of Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way." It was also around this time that the group became known for its concerts, which relied heavily on pyrotechnics and an intricate light show (just in case their following couldn't figure this out themselves, the trio penned a track called "Blinding Light Show").

With their stock rising among hard rock fans, Triumph inked a new recording contract with MCA, which led to their most successful period both artistically and commercially. Such resulting albums as 1979's Just a Game and 1980's Progressions of Power inched the group closer to breakthrough success, which was obtained by a pair of back-to-back gold-certified albums: 1981's Allied Forces (often considered the group's best album, which spawned the hit anthem "Fight the Good Fight") and 1982's Never Surrender. Such further albums as 1984's Thunder Seven, 1985's Stages, 1985's The Sport of Kings, and 1987's Surveillance failed to meet the expectations set by Triumph's earlier releases, yet the group was able to retain its following. Come 1988, Emmett opted to leave the group to pursue a solo career, but instead of calling it a day, Moore and Levine decided to carry on with a new frontman/guitarist, while an 11-track best-of set, Classics, was issued a year after Emmett's exit.

Their first choice, ex-Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake member John Sykes, was too busy getting his project Blue Murder off the ground at the time, so the gig ultimately went to former Frozen Ghost/Aldo Nova associate Phil X (it was also around this time that the group built its own recording studio in Mississauga, Ontario, called Metalworks). The Phil X-led version of the group only managed to issue a single release, however, 1993's Edge of Excess, before Triumph split up for good. In the wake of their breakup, several archival releases popped up in record stores, such as 1995's In the Beginning and 1996's King Biscuit Flower Hour (the latter of which chronicled a 1981 concert), while Rik Emmett continued on with his solo career, issuing albums on a regular basis throughout the '90s.

In 2007, it was announced that Triumph were to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Subsequently, the original lineup of Emmett, Levine, and Moore reunited for several high-profile live shows leading up to their induction into the Hall of Fame during the 2008 Juno Awards. In 2012, the band released the DVD/CD set Live at Sweden Rock Festival, which documents Triumph's reunion concert from 2008.

There are other artists with the same name:

2. A Scottish Christian rock band who released at least three albums. They were later known as Triumph UK to distinguish themselves from the Canadian band.
Discography:
* 1986 Triumph
* 1987 Don't Look Back
* 1989 Cry Freedom

3. Also a Brazilian Black Metal Band, formed in 1998 in Sao Paulo
They released:
* 1999 Discord is Our Impulse, Anarchy is Our Revolution
* 2000 Dies Irae
* 2000 …Walking To The Triumph…
* 2002 Dominium (The Torment To He)
* 2003 The Beginning of Chaos
* 2004 Triumph…

4) Triumph is a eurobeat group that very occasionally appears on the Super Eurobeat compilations.

5) Triumph is a band, spawned in Vanløse, Denmark by two friends named Hjalmar and Niklas. They started to create their first songs immediately after attending a Slipknot concert in Copenhagen. Their first two songs were made only by natural body sounds (Farts and Burps) recorded on their computer. A few days later, Jonas and Johannes, two associates joined them and the quartet worked on music releases. Apparently, their greatest hits are "God Tur Til Færøerne" (a song dedicated to Niklas), and "En Kæmpe Bunke Lort".

6) Triumph from Reno, Nevada (USA) is a One Man Band, also knows as Evan Richardson (member of Ritual Genocide (USA)), plays War Black Metal. Created in 2020, the first album was released on 30/12/2020
https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/triumph-4
https://triumph2.bandcamp.com/album/edict-of-iron-ascendancy

The City
Triumph Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I have watched in wonder as
The colours turned to grey
I've seen the metal machines and
The factory dreams

I just got to get away
I have grown accustomed to
The drugs of power and steel

And the achin' in my head and the concrete bed

And the politician's velvet feel, oh
I have learned to save my smile and
Use it like a knife
We've all learned to trust in profit and value

Profit over life
I have watched the skyline grow in
Defiance of the sun
We let it take us and we let it break us

Now the damage has been done, oh
I have learned the language
Of the lost that walk the streets
And I'm the city's minstrel

Who knows all of her syncopated beats
I can recall when ambitions were small
And the music filled the air
But the minstrel's crying 'cause the music's dying

And the city's everywhere
It's everywhere
Now there's no more singing
Just a ringing in my ears

And the city's story in all it's power
Is the greatest of my fears
Long gone once upon a time
I sang a song so sweet

But now I can't hear the melody

I just feel the driving beat, beneath my feet
Hear my crying

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Triumph's song The City delves deeply into the singer's perception of the gradual destruction of a city's natural resources and beauty, and the sacrifices and compromises of personal values made in the name of progress and power. The opening line, "I have watched in wonder as the colors turned to gray", suggest a sense of melancholia or despair at seeing the vibrancy and life of the natural world tainted by the cold concrete of the city. The next line, "I've seen the metal machines and the factory dreams" represents the lifeless, mechanical nature and industrialization of the city that has ravaged and tamed nature.

The singer expresses a desire to "get away" from the chaos and dissonance of the city, the "drugs of power and steel", the ache in their head, and politicians who hide behind a "velvet feel". The singer acknowledges the universal prioritization of profit and value over human welfare and happiness. They note the defilement of natural beauty as skyscrapers replace the sun, and in walking amidst the lost souls that roam the city's streets, they have become the "city's minstrel." The singer laments the loss of the city's old music, the gentle melodies replaced by the "driving beat" that resonates beneath their feet, a dispiriting, distressing rhythm.

And so the singer cries out in a lamentation, their voice joining the myriad of other crying voices echoing throughout the city. The city that was once filled with music and color has now betrayed its inhabitants, leaving them with a cacophony of sounds and a bleak future of profit and progress at the expense of their humanity and the natural world.

Line by Line Meaning

I have watched in wonder as The colours turned to grey
The singer has observed the city's transformation from a colorful place to a dull one over time.

I've seen the metal machines and The factory dreams
The singer has witnessed the widespread presence of industrial machinery and the dream of turning the city into a manufacturing hub for profit.

I just got to get away
The singer feels suffocated by city life and desires to escape it.

I have grown accustomed to The drugs of power and steel And the achin' in my head and the concrete bed And the politician's velvet feel, oh
The artist has become accustomed to the negative effects of the power dynamics and industrial lifestyle of the city, including physical pain, emotional detachment, and the corrupt nature of politicians.

I have learned to save my smile and Use it like a knife We've all learned to trust in profit and value Profit over life
The artist has adapted to using their smile as a weapon in the competitive environment of the city, where success is measured by profit and value, often at the expense of human life and dignity.

I have watched the skyline grow in Defiance of the sun We let it take us and we let it break us Now the damage has been done, oh
The singer has observed the expansion of the city's skyline despite the negative effects on the environment and human life. The city has taken control and caused much harm.

I have learned the language Of the lost that walk the streets And I'm the city's minstrel Who knows all of her syncopated beats
The singer has become familiar with the language of the marginalized people who live on the city streets and have become a master of the chaotic rhythm of city life.

I can recall when ambitions were small And the music filled the air But the minstrel's crying 'cause the music's dying And the city's everywhere
The artist remembers a time when people had simple dreams and music was prevalent. However, the city's culture and noise have drowned out the music and the artist mourns its loss.

Now there's no more singing Just a ringing in my ears And the city's story in all it's power Is the greatest of my fears
The artist no longer hears music, only the deafening noise of the city. The artist is terrified of the power the city holds and what it might do.

Long gone once upon a time I sang a song so sweet But now I can't hear the melody I just feel the driving beat, beneath my feet Hear my crying
The artist once sang a beautiful song, but the city's noise has drowned it out. Now all they can feel is the city's relentless rhythm beneath their feet and the pain of crying out for help.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GIL MOORE, MIKE LEVINE, RIK EMMETT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS