Take Away My Pain
| Falling into Infinity | ||||
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| Studio album by Dream Theater | ||||
| Released | September 23, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | June–July 1997 | |||
| Studio | Avatar Studios in Manhattan | |||
| Genre | Progressive metal, progressive rock | |||
| Length | 78:12 | |||
| Label | EastWest | |||
| Producer | Kevin Shirley | |||
| Dream Theater chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Falling into Infinity | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
Falling Into Infinity is the fourth studio album by American progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater, released on September 23, 1997 through EastWest Records. It is the band's first and only studio album to feature keyboardist Derek Sherinian following the departure of Kevin Moore in 1994.
Falling Into Infinity was produced by Kevin Shirley. The album's writing and pre-production phases were stressful periods for the band as they were feeling constant pressure from the record label to deliver a more radio-friendly album. It was recorded in June 1997 at The Power Station (now Avatar Studios) in Manhattan, New York.
Following a brief tour in support of the A Change of Seasons EP, Dream Theater entered Dream Factory Studios in East Rutherford, New Jersey in early 1996 to begin writing material for a new album. It was their first time writing with keyboardist Derek Sherinian, who replaced Kevin Moore in 1994. Around this time, Elektra Records was exerting pressure on the band to write concise, radio-friendly songs. Consequently, creative conflicts arose, with guitarist John Petrucci accepting the label's plea for change and drummer Mike Portnoy fighting against it.
For over a year, Dream Theater wrote songs without being given permission to record them; according to Portnoy, at one point they became so frustrated that they considered retirement. In March 1997, the band was finally given the go-ahead to record the new album with Kevin Shirley producing. By May, the band had enough material for a double album but was told to keep it to one disc for budget reasons. As a result, certain songs were not included on the final cut of the album, including "Raise the Knife", "Where are You Now", "Cover My Eyes", "Speak to Me", "The Way It Used to Be", and "Metropolis Pt. 2", the latter of which was later expanded into its own album, with the rest being included on the 1999 fan club CD "Cleaning Out the Closet". Shirley made significant alterations to some of what was left on the album; most notably, he took the middle section out of "Burning My Soul" and turned it into what would become "Hell's Kitchen". Shirley also recommended that the band work with Desmond Child to re-write "You Or Me", resulting in Petrucci being flown down to Florida to work on the song with Child. Following the sessions, the song became "You Not Me".
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