Falling into Infinity

Falling into Infinity is a fulfilling work on which Dream Theater, tightening its former grand construction a little, attempted to fit outstanding technique and beautiful melody into shorter songs. A record from the period welcoming the virtuoso Derek Sherinian on keyboards. Though made amid various circumstances, such as commercial demands from the record company, the precise rhythm and outstanding solos are fully in vigor, and the songs reach the singing’s emotion and its hooks more quickly. From the powerful drive of the opener “New Millennium” and the drama of “You Not Me” to a cut like “Peruvian Skies,” every song is engaging, while cuts like “Hollow Years” and the long epic “Lines in the Sand” convey the work’s fullness. Metal’s sure weight, progressive complexity and the delicate beauty of ballads line up richly within the same work. A truly intriguing record on which, even in the band’s long career, the trial of its musical balance is particularly clearly visible. While seeking a more accessible direction, Dream Theater’s own sure character is by no means lost. An engaging record that inscribed an important transitional period leading to the next masterpiece — a record where the band’s many-sidedness shines.