Examples of Dream Theater's influences

I have no problem with bands taking inspiration from other bands, but it feels like after Falling Into Infinity DT ran out of semi-original ideas of their own. They then moved on ripping more bands off and mindless shredding.

I agree with sleeper: those examples aren't even bad ones.  If Labrie is trying to mimic Roger Waters, he's doing a terrible job!  The only thing they have in common is that they like to sing out of their range, though unfortunately Labrie holds his  notes forever.

One that I always noticed is the similarity between Repentance and most of Opeth's Damnation album--but I like both!

I also agree with MikeEnRegalia as well.  DT's wearing their influences on their sleeves is fine by me, and it actually makes the music more interesting in many places (the Rush nod in Dance of Eternity).  What bothers me is just playing the same old fast arpeggios ad nauseum--and that aspect is almost uniquely DT.

keiser willhelm wrote: The song Panic Attack off of Octavarium sounds too much like Muse for comfort. particularly in the lyrics and bass lines. straight off of Absolution. its a great cover song though

Can't agree with you. Not Panic Attack, but Never Enough sounds like one of the songs from Muse's Absolution. We all can notice giant Muse influence in recent Dream Theater's music, but it doesn't matter for me. I call it "quoting some stuff", not ripping by the way.

6 Degrees of Inner Turbulence uses many of the same notes as Mekanik Destruktiw Kommandoh by Magma, although admittedly in a somewhat different order .

Zitro wrote: You left out a significant one: _The bass riff (and the guitar riff) in "Home" seem to come from the bass riff in Tool's "forty-six & two", even its variation is like Tool's. The moment when it's identical is at 5:15. A few others I noticed: _The bass riff in "This Dying Soul" and "Repetance" are also somewhat similar to "46 & 2" but not as much. _"The great Debate" sounds way too much like Tool.

I've always thought that as well

"Pull Me Under" is 1812 Overture note for note. If you don't hear it, you're not listening hard enough.

Drew wrote: Zitro wrote: You left out a significant one: _The bass riff (and the guitar riff) in "Home" seem to come from the bass riff in Tool's "forty-six & two", even its variation is like Tool's. The moment when it's identical is at 5:15. A few others I noticed: _The bass riff in "This Dying Soul" and "Repetance" are also somewhat similar to "46 & 2" but not as much. _"The great Debate" sounds way too much like Tool. I've always thought that as well

If you think DT is a rip off of other bands wait till you hear Abigail's Ghost(complete rip off and I do mean completely of Porcupine Tree, Blackfield and other Steven Wilson's projects).

On the other hand I do agree that DT has a obvious influence of all these other bands(called by the term ripping in this thread). They should have done a less obvious influence or rip off.

How many threads are there about DT on this forum in an average week? :|

I'm just as big a fan of early DT as anyone, but I can think of about 100 other prog bands that deserve to be discussed in place of the endless streams of DT threads.