DREAM THEATER - SCORE: 20TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR LIVE WITH THE OCTAVARIUM ORCHESTRA

This is a culmination of 20 years of this era's most recognizable progressive band. THE band that every other progressive metal band is measured against. SCORE is broken into 2 parts. The first DT only section and the second with DT being accompanied by a live orchestra for portions of their songs. In my opinion, DT could have done without the orchestra but props to them for trying something different. Their music is so lush they don't need an orchestra. For me the orchestra could have been better, but from what I've read, the orchestra had one day with DT before SCORE was recorded. For something as important as the bands 20th year celebration, I would have hoped they would have spent more time polishing this performance with the orchestra but that didn't happen. Everyone knows DT had a VERY busy touring schedule before this concert but couldn't they have spent more time up front getting it right?

Besides the orchestra, you have to be in awe of DT's performance. Petrucci and Rudess are spot on. I am very hard pressed to find any band performance as tight as theirs. James has been ridiculed for some time now about his performances but I'm very impressed with his performance on SCORE. I don't know if he's being autotuned/overdubbed or not, he's rarely sounded as good as he does on Score. As for John's and Mike's performances, flawless.

The magnitude of this over 3 hour performance is incredible. The set truly spans the bands 20 year past. I really enjoyed hearing 6DOIT in its entirety as well. DT can do it all and they prove in this live performance that it's not studio tricks. They are the real deal and they are here to stay. Any band that can stay together for 20 years has accomplished a lot and DT seem to just be beginning as it seems their fan base just continues to grow worldwide and I can understand why with performances such as SCORE.

In closing, I would have enjoyed hearing what the orchestra could have done better with more time and planning. I think I might have enjoyed the second portion more without the orchestra but I consider the orchestra addition as icing on the DT cake.

4.5 stars rounded up. ;)