FALLING INTO INFINITY

The successful "Images and Words" and "Awake" put Dream Theater in a more than expectant place in the delicate moment that progressive rock was going through in the mid 90's, anaemic of new relevant references and eager to find them. And so when the band's fourth album, "Falling into Infinity" (1997), was released and its character was somewhat distant from the intricate, heavy progressive elaborations that the New Yorkers had established as sonic standards in their previous albums, a sense of disenchantment took hold in the general consideration.

Hard-rock melodies and less complex elements prevail in the work, such as "You Not Me" and its memorable chorus, or the somber and soaring "Peruvian Skies", or the rocking "Burning My Soul" and "Just Let Me Breathe" dominated by John Petrucci's powerful guitar riffs, or the unplugged sadness of the accessible "Hollow Years" and "Anne Lee" and a correct James LaBrie on vocals, all versatile songs in which the virtuoso guitarist shows great ability to structure solos without necessarily resorting to supersonic speed as a way to express himself. But also, of course, the band's DNA leads Petrucci to run at high speed up and down the guitar neck, as in the stupendous instrumental "Hell's Kitchen".

And while the progressive complexities were not abundant on "Falling into Infinity", they were present, both in the opening "New Millenium" and in the reflective intensity of "Lines in the Sand" and its introductory intriguing atmosphere created by Derek Sherinian's keyboards and Petrucci's spirited guitar plucking, and the counterpoint of both musicians in the excellent instrumental section of the concluding mini-suite "Trial of Tears", sustained by John Miyung's solid bass playing (as in the whole album, by the way) as much as by Mike Portnoy's percussion.

"Falling into Infinity" is not Dream Theater's most representative album without a doubt, but the fact of not being "aggressive enough" in progressive terms does not make it a failure, but a very good one with a different orientation and, by the way, very enjoyable. No more, no less.

3.5 stars