THE TRAGEDY OF INNOCENCE

I have to admit I hesitated in buying this disc for some time because of the subject matter. This is the true story of Valerie Quirarte the wife of drummer Chris Quirarte. Valerie was sexually abused for years by her father and went on to live a life of drug use and promiscuity leading to a suicide attempt and being put in an institution. This record took about 2 years to make,with Chris having a hand in writing all the songs but one "What Little Girls Are For" which was written by Valerie. I really feel that the most disgusting thing that happens on this planet is the sexual abuse of children by adults, and especially when it's a parent who is responsible for this crime. Fortunately this subject is handled as well as it could have been, and I give Valerie so much credit for her wanting to get this story out in order to help children right now who are suffering through this,and also to help those adults who have suffered through it in their past. As for the music, it's excellent ! A cross between FATES WARNING and ZERO HOUR I would say. Complex, dark and heavy at times with some lighter, beautiful passages as well. The singer Mike Di Sarro is fantastic ! If you look at the pictures of him in the liner notes you would think he would rather rip your limbs off than talk to you. Haha. James Sherwood and Chris Quirarte both play in the band REDEMPTION and I have to say the drumming on this disc is what impresses me the most. Sean Entrikin on lead guitar shines and Smiley Sean on synths provides some great atmosphere and support.

"Dirty Room Part I" opens with eerie sounds before the heavy riffs come in with sinister vocals.The drums sound fantastic ! This song blends into "In My Shell" which has plenty of tempo changes and really reminds me of ZERO HOUR. The background synths are great,and actually the whole soundscape is amazing. I love the odd metered drumming and incredible vocals, man he can hold a note ! Five and a half minutes in it's as heavy as hell with blistering guitar solos. The song comes to a close with some beautiful guitar melodies. "Soul Deceiver" is heavy with riffs as it feels like something evil is near. Vocals, bass lines and drumming are all incredible on this song. "Oceans Of Insolence" has reserved vocals and synths as the guitar grinds away. The song does get intense at times,eventually turning heavy with deep angry vocals. Check out the bass ! And the drumming is insane ! The song turns pastoral with piano, strings and waves of synths. Gulp. It blends into the next song "Miracle" with soft vocals and a tranquil soundscape. So beautiful. The song does get heavier but it's tasteful with some soaring guitar.

"Born Again" is a short mellow tune about Chris entering her life. "Only Love" features these slow heavy riffs with background synths and vocals. I like the chorus "Only love can save me, only love can set me free..." The guitar and drums 4 minutes in are terrific. "What Little Girls Are For" opens with Valerie saying "I have a secret, but if I tell you do you promise to still love me ?" An emotional song written by Valerie. This song is a ride with lots of mood shifts and tempo changes as guitar, drums and vocals amaze ! Percussion to end it. "Running Away" has these fast paced riffs and more freakish drumming. The guitar and synths really light it up. "Dirty Room Part II" is dark and heavy with screaming vocals, it ends with Valerie saying "I just can't go on." "Ask the Angels" is a ballad with acoustic guitar, synths, cymbals and a vocal melody. The softer,higher pitched vocals remind me of LaBrie. "Choices" is the final song and it is so heavy, oh my ! Pounding drums, synths and more great vocals. 7 minutes we get heavy duty drums and bass as the guitar lights it up.

This is a great album. If your a fan of THE POWER OF OMENS, FATES WARNING or ZERO HOUR i'm sure you will love this amazing disc.

The Tragedy of Innocence is a strong concept album. Unlike so many concept albums that have been made over the years, this is an album where the songs and the story really go hand in hand - and where the story being told seems to have been given first priority, and the music being written as vessels for the story.

The concept - incest and later consequences for the victimized - is an original one, and all the more heart-wrenching as it is based on a true story.

Musically I find this release to be average; with many similarities to Dream Theater musically and structurally; and my rating is based on the musical aspect only. But for those into lyrics and concepts; this is a release worth checking out.

Prymary is a progressive metal band from USA with 3 albums to date, this one is their second one named The tragedy of innocence from 2006. It took me long then usual to listen to fully appreciated this album and specialy this concept. I'm not gonna talk about the concept here, because , first: sinkadotentree said everything must to known about this concept and second I don't realy like what is going on lyricaly, not because is bad , but because is a truly said story that will make anyone's hair stand up after study the lyrics, it's dark, sad, emotional to the limits. I'm gona tell my opinion about the music of this album only. The music to me is similar to Pain of Salvation, but is 10 times better then anything POS released after Remedy lane. Musicaly speaking the album is dense, full of emotions, very well written, rougher in places, but aswell mellower to calm down the atmosphere. Every musician shines here, specialy i like a lot the drumer Chris Quirante, excellent work here , he is the main composer and the main man who felt the tragedy along with his wife of this story. In other words he is also a member of Redemption on latest album of theirs and aswell plays with Roswell Six. The vocal parts of Mike Di Sarro again remind me of POS, not a copy for sure, he has a perfect voice for this kind of prog metal., the rest of the musicians also are strong. Musicianship is top notch, from blistering key passages combined with excellent guitar chops to superb and very solid drum interplays. I will not extract a piece as favourite, because only as a whole will be fully apreciated this concept. Definetly this album is a grower, third and fourth time I heard this record aI begone to understand the core. So, finaly a worthy album for sure, a good one all the way, but is not my kind of prog metal I want to listen constantly, POS is not one of my fav bands so Prymary will never be aswell, because of this aproach to prog metal, thier similarities, unique but not realy for my taste.3 stars for sure, a good towards great, some parts are truly stunning.