Dream Theater - Falling Into Infinity (1997)

Sometimes the record companies can be a true pain in the ass. Oh, I am sorry, I mean that they are always a pain in the ass. Especially if your band had one successful single. Cause as soon as your band becomes popular the record company will try to pressure you and your buddies to repeat that success, a manoeuvre that is rarely successful on metal bands. In Dream Theater's case, that pressure nearly led to an early retirement for the band. But luckily for us fans the band chose to continue their musical journey with their fourth album entitled "Falling Into Infinity", a album that has received a lot of criticism from DT fans. Why? Well, "Falling Into Infinity" is much more mainstream than its predecessors and because the band seemed to get away from the metal shell. There is almost no heavy riffs in the entire album, which is of course a shame, but the progressive part is still there which is pretty much enough for me as long as the songs held a high standard.

As previously stated, there is few parts in this album that would fit in the metal file but the lack of heaviness is made up with a more melodic sound. Unfortunately, this new sound is not completely convincing. It sounds  way too smooth for its own good. Take for example the opener "New Millennium". Overall a good song but I believe it could have been a little better with a heavier foundation and a more powerful chorus (an attribute many songs on this album is missing). That definitely shows that the record company had a huge role in Dream Theater's song writing on this album. The only song that can be reckoned as a heavy piece is "Burning My Soul", a mid-tempo song that shows just how good this album could have been. Some great guitar work, LaBrie's voice on high gear and a very epic and exciting chorus. Without a doubt the best song in this album.

Most of the songs on this album is more or less ballads and most of them are actually quite well written. Especially "You Not Me" which succeeds on bringing out emotion, something every good ballad should be able to do, with its beautiful chorus and well balanced melody. But not all ballads on "Falling Into Infinity" stands on top. "Anna Lee" is one song that just leaves me completely empty. What is it trying to tell me? All I know is that it is a boring and bland song. Nothing else.

So how about the two mastodon's on this album then? Well, I like the first one at least ("Lines In The Sand") since it is a song which keeps your interest during the entire time (12:06 to be exact) but I feel that Dream Theater could have done a lot more with the other song ("Trial of Tears", a song that is 13:06 long). I keep getting lost in that humongous jungle and I cannot find something on this track that is anywhere near interesting. Probably one of my least favourite Dream Theater epics of all time.

So is the hate from the fan base righteous? No, at least not in that big of a degree. "Falling Into Infinity" is clearly the worst Dream Theater album so far in their carrier but that does not mean that it is a horrible album. Sure the sound is more mainstream than it should be but some songs on here are well constructed and does the job. "Falling Into Infinity" may not reach all the way but it still reaches relatively far.

Songs worthy of recognition: Burning My Soul, You Not Me, Lines In The Sand

Rating: 6,5/10 Peruvian Skies

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