FALLING INTO INFINITY

When in high school and during long conversations with my prog rock fanatic friends, I overheard someone mentioned DREAM THEATER, and for what I heard them saying it was this kind of neo progressive, prog metal influenced band, completely new for me. It was the year of 1998, so my first approach to the band was throughout "Falling into Infinity" recently released in 1997, and my curiosity regarding this band totally "brand new" to me, finally paid off when I purchased the album. I must say that it didn't convince me the first time I listened to it, not the second or even the third one actually, because my maturation and self-growing into prog was through the classical, psychedelic way due my inclinations to PINK FLOYD, GENESIS, YES, JOURNEY and some others and specially because this was my first approach to the so called "prog metal" genre, and I couldn't believe there was such a thing in prog rock. So, songs like "Hollow Years" and "Take Away my Pain" appeared in way to many music styles to me but metal or even prog and I regretted purchasing the album at all; then, I listened attentively to "Trial of Tears" and many of my doubts concerning this prog metal experience to me, started to dissipate and I understood that there must've been something in the depths of their music so I could like it in the first place. and there it was, "DREAM THEATER is clearly influenced by PINK FLOYD, GENESIS and YES that despite its lead singer's (James LaBRIE) squeaking, hateful voice, that's the most suitable explanation!" thought I. It is indeed the DREAM THEATER album I appreciate the most, not only because I consider it the link between my first approach to prog metal and my appeal to some other bands, but for taking me to incredible understanding ways within progressive rock music. This album will always be the first step to take in order to retrieve early releases from the band and to bump into some other magnificent bands such as SPOCK'S BEARD and THE FLOWER KINGS due Mr. PORTNOY's special appearance in TRANSATLANTIC. Highly recommended!