Artist: Dream Theater Album: Falling Into Infinity

Year: 1997
Duration: 1:31:40

A Deep Dive into Dream Theater's Falling Into Infinity Album

Dream Theater, one of the most influential progressive metal bands to grace the music industry, has released many beautiful albums over the years. From their debut album, When Dream and Day Unite, to their masterpiece, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, the New York-based group has earned a formidable reputation among their hardcore fans. One of their albums that dive deep into a lesser-known kind of music genre is Falling Into Infinity. Released in 1997, Falling Into Infinity was an ambitious attempt to infuse their signature style with an array of unique musical influences. In this article, we provide a critical review of the album and what makes it stand out from their other albums.

First, we have to acknowledge the complexity of the album - it is filled with various time signatures, intricate riffs, and sublime moments of musical genius. The album's opening track, New Millennium, sets the tone for what's to come by showcasing Dream Theater's mastery of power metal. It's a perfect track that shakes the listener's core with its brutal guitar riffs, beautiful vocals by James LaBrie, and frantic drumming by Mike Portnoy. The album's title track, Falling Into Infinity, is another great example of Dream Theater's ability to blend many different musical styles. It starts with a delicate acoustic guitar solo and then builds up to an explosive chorus with harmonized vocals.

One of the greatest achievements of Falling Into Infinity is that it showed Dream Theater's willingness to experiment with the music genre. For instance, they ventured into funk with Burning My Soul, a track that delivers some off-kilter musical moments accompanied by John Petrucci's groovy guitar riffs. The song's spoken-word verses and catchy choruses stand out in the album, making it a fan favorite. Dream Theater also dove into the ambient electronic genre with Hollow Years. It's a somber ballad that showcases the band's softer side, with some of Petrucci's guitar work that is nothing short of breathtaking.

One of the other significant highlights of the album is the presence of some of their most innovative moments. For example, the track Peruvian Skies delivers some fantastic moments of Mike Portnoy's drumming, who alternates between soft hi-hat playing and blistering thrash beats. Also, the seven-minute Lines In The Sand is one of the defining moments of the album, brilliantly showcasing the band's musical versatility.

However, Falling Into Infinity does have some shortcomings. For one, the album has a bit of an identity crisis, which makes sense when you realize it was an attempt to elevate the band's stature. However, it led them to experiment with several genres, which took the album's focus off. Additionally, the album is a bit inconsistent, with some tracks not living up to the band's usual high standards.

Despite its weaknesses, Falling Into Infinity is an ambitious, well-executed album that demonstrated Dream Theater's impressive creativity and musical prowess. The album is a reminder of the band's willingness to push boundaries and try something new, a factor that makes their legacy in the music industry everlong. The album's high points are remarkable, showcasing the band's incredible talent, and while it might not be considered their greatest work, it remains an essential chapter in their musical journey. If you love progressive metal, then Falling into Infinity is an excellent album that showcases the genre's versatility and evolution.