I have landed this under progressive rock. Let me just say that I didn't intend to put it there. I've mostly heard this band in terms of their radio songs. I always felt that they were more modern metal, with a more mainstream version of the kind of epic metal that bands like Lacuna Coil do. I might still hold that view of other works of theirs. However, with these arrangements built to include a symphony orchestra, this definitely lands in the progressive rock zone.

This show was captured incredibly well in terms of both video and audio production. You just don't get a lot better than that, really. The performance is what really makes it shine, though. I remember once hearing Chris Squire talking about the fact that he always felt one of the best things about Yes music was the way it could go from the soft passages to powerful rocking ones with quick turns. To me that's really a lot of the magic of progressive rock, that kind of dynamic range. This music really captures that. The musical performances are so powerful, with the peaks and valleys all working so well together. Amy Lee's voice is amazing and really captures a lot of that same element, too. The combination makes this an exceptional show that really stands tall. We don't do best of list for videos listed during the year (as we do with CDs), but if we did, this would probably land pretty close to the top of my list.

There is one video bonus. That's a music video of the song "Hi-Lo." Additionally, though, an audio CD of the music included as a bonus. I always love that touch when it's done on a video release. This is no exception. All in all, this is a very classy release of a very special show.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2018  Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2018.