Top 10: Triumph Songs

Even in these last dark days of December, 2025 manages to be full of surprises, both good and bad. This one, however, falls into the former. As of yesterday morning, Triumph is officially an active band again. Yes, you read that correctly. The original lineup will embark upon their first tour in nearly 40 years next April, with a string of Canadian and American dates to start. If you told me at the beginning of the year that 2025 would see both Triumph and Rush become active touring vehicles again, I’d never believe it, but here we are. To commemorate this monumental news, we’re going to attempt the impossible (some bands catalogs are THAT great, and Triumph fit that bill) and present to you our Top 10 Triumph Songs. Here’s to hoping they play all 10 next year!

10. “Spellbound” (Thunder Seven, 1984)

Like many bands of their era, the mid ’80s saw Triumph shift away from their signature blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock towards a more streamlined brand of radio-friendly AOR. Despite its blatant commercialism, this era boasted its fair share of gems. “Tears in the Rain” and “Never Say Never” happen to be two personal favorites of mine. That being said, they could easily pass for Night Ranger or Foreigner songs of the same era. “Spellbound”, on the other hand, is distinctly Triumph through and through. There’s no mistaking the riff-driven delivery and power trio punch that lies beneath the sheen of a crystal clear production. It’s no wonder “Spellbound” became yet another massive hit for the band, dominating both MTV and rock radio upon its release.

9. “Hard Road” (Progressions of Power, 1980)

1980’s Progressions of Power is an example of an album that fell between the cracks, not because it was inferior to past Triumph releases, but rather because the albums that directly proceeded and followed it (1979’s Just a Game and 1981’s Allied Forces) were THAT massive, both creatively and commercially. When revisiting this album, there’s no shortage of killer jams, with the most killer of all being the closing “Hard Road”. In true classic Triumph fashion, this is a pomp metal masterclass, complete with brass-knuckled riffs, larger than life harmonies, exotic soloing, soaring high vocals, and an arrangement with more drama than a Hollywood picture. As the old saying goes, they saved the best for last!

8. “Street Fighter / Street Fighter Reprise” (Triumph, 1976)

If your only knowledge of Triumph comes in the form of Adam Sandler soundtracks and the greatest hits CD your dad would play endlessly throughout your childhood, then a song like “Street Fighter” and its accompanying reprise might come as a surprise. Showcasing the band at what might arguably their most metallic, “Street Fighter” boasts proto-thrash riffs and full speed aggression only rivaled at the time by Judas Priest. Keep in mind, this was 1976. Think for a second who ruled the roost back then. Peter Frampton, Steve Miller Band, Eagles…yeah, a song like “Street Fighter” would’ve scared the daylights out of even the most devoted of denim-clad rockers. And yet it was in none other than San Antonio that this song, and its accompanying album, became an overnight sensation. More on that in a bit.

7. “Never Surrender” (Never Surrender, 1982)

True to their moniker, a dominant theme of Triumph’s lyrics is the importance of self-belief and self-worth, persevering in the face of despair, prying victory from the jaws of defeat. Never surrender: Two simple words that sum up the Triumph ethos. It’s almost too obvious, yet made perfect sense as the title of their 1982 follow up to the massive Allied Forces. Its title track has since become a staple of the Triumph catalog: Not just another rock radio hit, but a war cry, an anthem in the truest sense of the word. Come 1983, arenas full of kids all over Canada and America were screaming in unison, “Never surrender!” What better band to lead the battle cry?

6. “Lay It on the Line” (Just a Game, 1979)

Having proven themselves competent in the worlds of both metal and prog on their first two albums, come 1979’s Just a Game, Triumph attempted to traverse new territory: AM radio. The mission proved to be a success, as the band scored their first two hits, “Hold On” and “Lay It on the Line”, both of which receive regular airplay on classic rock radio today…well, the classic rock stations that haven’t capitulated to the likes of Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters, at least. With all due respect to the ultra-poppy “Hold On”, “Lay It on the Line” remains a clinic in being able to write a catchy hit while still maintaining your true spirit. With its heavy chorus and neo-classical soloing, “Lay It” is as Triumphian as any other song in their catalog, but with an accessible undercurrent: Something they’d explore on subsequent releases.

5. “Blinding Light Show / Moonchild” (Triumph, 1976)

When revisiting Triumph’s 1976 debut, it’s incredible how ahead of their time they were. As if “Street Fighter” wasn’t groundbreaking enough in all its raging proto-thrash glory, “Blinding Light Show / Moonchild” foreshadows the epic metal of bands like Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol by half a decade, as well as progressive metal. Darkness clashes with light violently, with trusty leader Rik Emmett showing off his prowess on both acoustic and electric guitars. When the band turns up the volume dial, they bring the hammer down as forceful as the aforementioned Priest and Rainbow. There isn’t a moment of filler to be found on this nearly 9 minute suite, its proto-prog metal majesty eclipsing 99% of the genre as it stands today.

4. “A World of Fantasy” (Never Surrender, 1982)

It’s been said that music is the closest one can get to a time machine, and I’m inclined to agree. Whenever I hear “A World of Fantasy”, I’m immediately 10 years old again, hanging out in the backyard with my dad, listening to this jam in the pool and thinking aloud, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if Triumph came back?” For this nostalgia alone, “A World of Fantasy” is probably my favorite Triumph song, and it also happens to be ONE of their greatest. No doubt about it, the guitars on this one (and Never Surrender as a whole, for that matter) aren’t as harsh as past releases, foreshadowing the AOR-isms of future releases, but man, leave it to these three to beat the AOR crop at their own game. This is as top shelf as melodic rock gets, that lush, harmonious chorus serving as the cherry on top.

3. “Ordinary Man” (Allied Forces, 1981)

Despite their prog credentials, I seldom hear the prog crowd namedrop Triumph, and I can’t help but wonder why. Is it because they’re THAT embraced by the old school metal crowd? Sure, it’s safe to say the majority of Triumph’s output resonated more with the denim and leather-clad masses than the prog aficionados, but how about a cut like “Ordinary Man”. Hailing off the landmark Allied Forces, “Ordinary Man” is yet another progressive metal behemoth, beginning as a delicate, acoustic ballad, rife with emotion and intricacy, before going all guns blazing with proto-power metal riffs, crashing drums, and enough gusto to explode the heart of a Middle Age peasant. It’s as if the mighty Hällas heard this and said, “Yeah, let’s make a career out of this!” Not that I’m complaining. I’m just reminding you Triumph did it first.

2. “Allied Forces” (Allied Forces, 1981)

OK, so maybe THIS is why Triumph aren’t as embraced by proggers as they are headbangers. There’s not a hint of prog to be found on the title track of their fifth opus. No, this is pure, unadulterated maple leaf metal at maximum speed, or at least as fast as metal could go in 1981 outside of Venom. Remember kids, this was before the rise of thrash, death, black metal, and every other extreme metal subgenre we take for granted today. If it’s 1981 and all you’re going off of is what you hear on radio, what your friends tell you is cool, and blind album cover buys, a song like “Allied Forces” is a game changer and a half. Nearly 45 years on, and its unrelenting fury is as impactful today as ever.

1. “Fight the Good Fight” (Allied Forces, 1981)

Ladies and gentlemen, behold: Triumph’s definitive masterpiece. When Rik Emmett, Mike Levine, and Gil Moore leave this earthly plane, when the history books are written, when our planet as we know it ceases to exist, it’s “Fight the Good Fight” which will echo through eternity, its unshakeable chorus rattling the cosmos with violent intensity. You want a battle cry? You got it. Nearly 45 years of power metal lyricism, and I’m not sure anyone has come close to capturing the emotion and spirit that Emmett conveys on this song here. Not to mention, that solo…what a work of art. I’d go on, folks, but I’m not sure what I can say that hasn’t been said already. Every minute of everyday, “Fight the Good Fight” stands tall as Triumph’s greatest song, and I can’t wait to scream my heart out to it next year with all of you. See you in 2026, boys!