Most of you had no idea of the similarities until you read about it.
Well, yes. But that is because Tiago posted it BEFORE THE ALBUM CAME OUT. Hence, most of us read it before we had a chance to hear the album.
But quite a few of the similarities are pretty up front and obvious. True that many people WAY overstate them and/or reach for similarities that just aren't there. But on a very nontechnical level, it is obvious, for example that:
-On the Backs of Angels shares many similar sounds and structural elements with Pull Me Under--so much so that I found it very distracting for the longest time, which, sadly, hampered me from appreciating what a terrific song OTBOA is in its own right for awhile. The fact that it is the opening track enhances the similarity.
-The beginning of Lost Not Forgotten, as well as some other parts of the song, sound pretty similar to Under A Glass Moon. Moreover, the similar parts appear in similar sections of the two songs.
-This one is more attenuated, but Outcry sounds similar in many respects to Metropolis and contains similar structural elements at similar points in the song.
-You already noted the similarities of FFH/BAI and WFS/LTL.
I think a lot of folks would have picked up on a lot of those just from listening to the album a few times.
And I still think DT12 pwns I&W.
(Which btw, some of you actually gave some nice arguments! It's awesome to see these opinions and thoughts, altho I really didn't expect it to spark SUCH controversy, I tho it was largely viewed as a good album around here)
I think "pwns" is too strong. But, again, I generally agree. I love I&W. But I think DT12 is the stronger, more consistent album.