FALLING INTO INFINITY

This album has taken a lot of flak from fans of Images and Words and Awake for being too mainstream and not progressive enough. I've even heard it called "alternative"-sounding by a tone-deaf person or two. Although lacking the energy and complexity of previous releases, this is no Queensryche-style faux-grunge, or Metallica-style commercialization. Falling Into Infinity can best be described as an "ideal compromise"; a small concession to record-label pressure without jumping on any trends. The concession here was a simplification of the songs, and a more focused approach to song structure. One thing this album is guilty of is wearing the band's influences on its sleeve. "New Millenium" starts off with a Discipline-era King Crimson musical line, and hits '90s Ozzy Osbourne sounds close to the end of the song. "Peruvian Skies" is an effective combo of Pink Floyd and Metallica influences, with each band being given a nod in its own section. "Take Away My Pain" borrows from Genesis's "Follow You Follow Me", while "Trial of Tears" combines '80s Rush with an extended fusion-style jam, and features an intro ripped right from Rush's "Xanadu". One of the most impressive parts of this album is the flow between the fifth, sixth and seventh songs (the Faith No More/Metallica exercise "Burning My Soul", the outstanding and uplifting instrumental "Hell's Kitchen", and the somewhat overlong "Lines In the Sand", which features King's X member Doug Pinnick). The keyboard ballad "Anna Lee" is a pleasant surprise; however, the anti-MTV tirade of "Just Let Me Breathe" is a tad too bitter, despite the good music. Be forewarned: there's isn't a lot of instrumental wackiness here. Still, this album is very solid