Please join Sidney, Logan, Tim Durling and myself LIVE at 3:00 PM EST Saturday January 11 for this special double-header episode!
This is my second ever episode of Slogan’s Rock and Metal Extravaganza, my first being Black Sabbath’s Dehumanizer. I am excited to discuss this Triumph album, The Sport of Kings, which I have owned for 26 years now. It has been a love/hate affair over the decades, with some undue influence from Martin Popoff colouring my impressions too much in the 2000s. Have I come back full circle? Find out this afternoon.
Then, their bonus review is Montrose’s self titled debut album, a record which I have never tackled on this site. Check out the back half of this episode for our take on this legendary album, with the expert himself Tim Durling. I mean, he kinda wrote the book, didn’t he?
Catch us LIVE!
(By the way, there’s a story about the feature image here that I will explain during the show.)
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike, Aaron KMA and Tim Durling
Special Edition Episode: An 8 Track Holy Grail & More
This video is years in the making. More than just an “unboxing” video, this is a fun and informative episode that documents one man’s journey to collect his favourite bands on obsolete formats, and another man’s ability to find them.
About four years ago, Aaron provided Tim with a rare 8-track tape that he needed for his collection. Another one of Aaron’s tapes went to Martin Popoff. But there was one tape that Tim needed to “complete” a specific collection. And this summer, Aaron found that one too. He just has a knack for it, and it seems appropriate that it was Aaron who found this last tape. There’s a story that goes with it, and three tapes that went to me as well!
“Complete” is in quotes, because this video is far more than just an unboxing video. This is a philosophical (and fun) discussion about 8-track tapes, collecting, and genuine Australian bubble wrap. We discuss breaks in the middle of tracks, altered track listings, and for good measure, a little bit about vintage Star Wars toys. We also speculate on one tape that may still be out there, but remains unknown.
This episode is in two parts. It begins with Aaron and I unboxing three beautiful 8-track tapes, and a number of birthday gifts. Also inside that box was Tim’s tape, which I mailed immediately to New Brunswick. The video cuts and picks up with Tim, ready to open his treasure in front of the cameras.
These Gil Moore interviews that I have are all from a MuchMusic Spotlight. Therefore, all the original information about the time and location of the interview are now lost to me. It looks like this was recorded on the west coast, which would make the interviewer Terry David Mulligan (“TDM”). It is some time in the mid-80s. Gil is asked about the “essence” of rock and roll, and he argues that it has a lot to do with the live experience. Check it out!
Short and sweet video here today, featuring Triumph drummer and vocalist Gil Moore. Possibly from The New Music in 1983, in this interview Gil discusses Triumph’s famed light show. In their early days, Moore was the man who brought in the light show, and here he talks a little bit about what it’s like to play on stage with such a complex show, and the dangers involved. Have a look.
SVEN GALI – Bombs and Battlescars (2023 Music In Motion Entertainment)
Look at me, in the eyes! When I say “Sven Gali is back,” I’m meaning it! The Canadian Quintet revitalised themselves with the 3 EP in 2020, and took their time with their next full-length (their first since 1995). They recruited Coney Hatch bassist/singer Andy Curran for some of the production duties, picked a Triumph song to cover, and hit the road playing well-received shows in 2023. Bombs and Battlescars is the name of the record. Of note, the late Dee Cernile is credited with co-writing several tracks, and the album includes some unreleased demos from the before-fore times. Let’s have a listen.
One thing for certain: don’t expect Sven Gali to suddenly revert back to the sound of their self-titled debut. This is a much heavier, more pounding and frankly more satisfying Sven Gali. Opener “One Gun” slams with a more viscous brutality, but singer Dave Wanless is still the same. If I wanted to hear the sound of ’92 again, I’d play the original purple platter by Sven (recently reissued on coloured vinyl). I want the sound that satisfies the “me” of today – and I’m as frustrated as Sven Gali sound on “One Gun”. The snaky guitar solo is just icing on the cake. “I’m losin’ faith!” proclaims Wanless, and I believe him.
A steady chunky groove introduces “Coming Home”, a headbanger with a dark Metallica vibe. Dan Fila and Shawn Minden lay down this beat that just boils. The lead guitars are like liquid adamantium, but beneath it all churns a volcanic pressure cooker. This is possibly the highlight of the new songs, a memorable track that demands to be cranked. Car test it for good measure. (The band is rounded out by guitarists Andy Frank and Sean Williamson.)
The Triumph cover is, appropriately, third in line. “Spellbound” suits Sven Gali surprisingly well, but they don’t play it straight. They’ve thrown the track into the darkest night, but let the chorus light the way. Guitar textures are added. This song should make the longtime fans very happy. It’s Triumph, but presented as heavy as possible. Listen to Fila annihilate his drums!
Darkness dominates on “Life Inside”, a dusky dirge with some pretty cool guitar work. The atmospheric “Monster” resists being called a “ballad” but it’s the slowest moment in the journey thus far. “Monster” just kills, not straightforward or easy to categorize. It’s moody and doesn’t let up.
“Hang Me Out” is the first of the unreleased demos, and there’s something nostalgic about that. You can hear an audible shift in sound, and “Hang Me Out” definitely has a mid-90s vibe. There are twists and turns in the music that bring you right back. Then the wah-wah pedal comes out for the relentless guitars on “Hogs”. The funky groove here definitely brews nostalgia, but this track should have been released long ago! By the end of it, you’ll be shoutin’ “HOGS!” The 8th track “All” goes for speed and groove while the guitars ring in chaotic perfection.
Finally, a record needle drops and the acoustic guitars come out for the closing ballad and classic in the making: “Nothing New”. As much as Sven are known for rocking, some of their big hits were ballads (like “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”). “Nothing New” is a lovely, stripped down ballad with sweet melodies and the purity of acoustic music.
Ultimately the demos are just as entertaining as the rest of the album. They make you wish they’d come out ages ago.
Well done to Sven Gali on Bombs & Battlescars, a blazing comeback with a surprisingly tender ending.
TRIUMPH – Just A Game (1979 MCA/2003 Round Hill Records remaster)
Landmark album, solid front to back, and a sign of growth for the Canadian trio. Arguably their greatest song, “Lay It On the Line” has the biggest presence here, from soft intro to bangin’ chorus. Highlights include the rocking opener “Movin’ On”, the blues “Young Enough to Cry”, the boogieing “American Girls”, the folksy power ballad “Hold On” and the progressive title track.
I was doing some online reading the other day, on Wikipedia as we often do. I was curious about the book Moby Dick so I clicked the article and did a quick dive. One thing in the article intrigued me immediately. Someone wanted to determine when the first review of Moby Dick appeared in print, and their length criteria for “review” was “three lines or more”.
That got me thinking.
A lot of you want me to do reviews again, which I have been staunchly resistant to. I’m tired of the extensive work that my type of review required. However, would you be interested in a new kind of review that is only three sentences long? Is that something you’d be interested in?
The key here is making the sentences count. Let’s give it a try below. I was recently given this album by good pal Tim Durling.
TRIUMPH – Thunder Seven(1985 MCA)
Far heavier than I expected, given Martin Popoff’s scathing 1/10 star review in Riff Kills Man. Thunder Seven is fine mix of riffy rock, progressive experimentation, Bluesy licks, thundering songs, and even one choral exploration. Highlights are “Time Goes By”, “Follow Your Heart”, “Spellbound”, “Killing Time”, and the beautiful acoustic instrumental “Midsummer’s Daydream”.
The final ofmythreeepic Rik Emmett interviews in the VHS Archives.
August 1990: It was the Magic Summer Tour and the Perfect Gentlemen were opening for New Kids On the Block at the CNE in Toronto. That was the big news. With all that teenage hype looming outside the big glass MuchMusic windows in the form of young girls, in walked Rik Emmett with his first solo material since leaving Triumph in 1988. Nobody knew what to expect!
Interviewer Steve Anthony is his usual goofy self and loosens Rik up with a few joke questions about New Kids, Perfect Gentlemen and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, before diving into the big ones.
Topics discussed:
What artistic expression was he not able to fulfil in Triumph but now can as a solo artist?
The new album Absolutely and the response from Triumph fans and the music industry.
The writing process.
Hair production.
The Judas Priest trial.
His (awesome) new six piece band.
Being a guitar player vs singer/songwriter.
The new song and video “Big Lie”.
That’s it for my Rik Emmett treasure from the Archives, I hope you enjoyed them.
2021: the year of the hamster wheel. It sure felt like we were spinning our tires all year! Sometimes inching a little forward in the mud, only to slide right back. What a year. But we did get some great music out of it.
Here at LeBrain HQ, if you go strictly by the numbers, there were two bands that dominated the year, both oldies acts from the 1980s: Coney Hatch and Iron Maiden! They (or members thereof) appear numerous times in the lists you’re about to read. Not so “oldies” after all eh? Five appearances for Iron Maiden, and a whopping seven for Coney and its members!
Even I was surprised by the lists this year! All my favourite things, and the stats of 2021, are curated below.
– 
mikeladano.com 