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

One Score and zero years ago, a band named Majesty (in reference to Rush's "Bastille Day") was formed. Twenty years later, the same band now named Dream Theater graces listeners with the most amazing music man could possibly listen to.

Score is perfect in every way. It has the most balanced sound any listener could ever hope for from a live recording. The bass is punchy and still cuts through the rest of the band during louder more metal parts, the keyboards have amazing clarity, the guitar is clean and not overpowering, and the drums are crisp. This works hand in hand with seemless DVD footage such as the animation in "Octavarium" and other visual effects all throughout the DVD.

There were two pleasant suprises on this DVD, the first was the orchestra in the second half of the set, which was kept secret until the night of the show. The second are the two previously unreleased tracks "Another Won" from the Majesty demos and "Raise the Knife" from the Cleaning Out the Closet fan club release and the Falling Into Infinity sessions. "Another Won" is one of the best early Dream Theater releases, and fans would have been unjustly deprived of it had Dream Theater not released even better music. "Raise the Knife" didn't impress me as much at first, but as the song keeps moving on I keep becoming more an more intrested in it.

The Octavarium Orchestra does an incredible job. Dream Theater is one of those bands that can give the listener the "feeling" they are watching a band with an orchestra (they sure as hell did it to me in Denver), but when Dream Theater actually plays with an orchestra, and the listener can see the body language of all the musicians, the listener has just been brought into a whole new world of musical ecstacy. "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" and "Octavarium" were expected to be amazing with an orchestra, they were. What's so impressive about "Six Degrees" is that unlike the orchestra having parts edited to fit the band, the band edits their parts to fit the orchestra. "Octavarium" being originally composed with the orchestra has more of a visual impact. Watching Jordan Rudess play the continuum intro for "Octavarium" live is an inspiring experience. I couldn't believe my ears or my eyes. "Metropolis" encore with the orchestra was suprise. I didn't expect the orchestra to be back for the encore, but they were,and what an impact they had.

This is the best live release I have ever had the pleasure of listening/watching, it's even better than my old favorite Dream Theater releases. Dream Theater consistently is able to please fans with releasing matierial that breaks down their creative walls, and this DVD is no exception. This DVD is an entirely new and different experience, in short to quote James LaBrie "THIS IS UNBELIVEABLE!"

I can't wait from Dream Theater's next release, as the band has only built up momentum with this release.