The ongoing conversation between ex-MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro and ARCH ENEMY has taken a sharper turn, with the band now issuing a detailed public response after claims of possible similarity between two songs circulated online.
The discussion originally began when Loureiro shared an Instagram post on March 27, comparing his 2024 composition “Talking Dreams” from Theory Of Mind with ARCH ENEMY’s recent single “To The Last Breath,” released on February 19. The post, captioned: “Just helping promote @archenemyofficial new song… you’re welcome.”, was widely interpreted as playful but quickly sparked debate among fans over possible resemblance.
The situation escalated when former ARCH ENEMY vocalist and current manager Angela Gossow responded in the comments, pushing back on the implication of plagiarism and suggesting the matter could have been handled privately.
She wrote: “Never heard Kikos song before tbh. So 3 notes are the same? Well, I guess that happens quite often in music. I have heard a lot of ARCH ENEMY notes in other songs but would never accuse the other band of plagiarism.. more the contrary, I would probably feel honoured to inspire others. So sad to read a post like this from a guitar player we all respected. What is this good for? If you really feel you got a case, get in touch and discuss professionally, not make such a post. Respectfully, the management who is used to tread carefully with such allegations and prefers to handle things with care.”
ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott, however, appeared to treat the situation more playfully, replying: “Thank you brother @kikoloureiro – it seems I should pay more attention to your solo work! See you at @bangersopenair!”
However, ARCH ENEMY have now taken a more formal stance, releasing a new social media statement that directly addresses what they describe as a “copyright infringement accusation” involving Loureiro and his legal representation.
In their post, the band shared early demo material of “To The Last Breath,” stating it serves as evidence of the song’s development timeline: “In light of a recent copyright infringement accusation against ARCH ENEMY made by Brazilian YouTuber/guitarist Kiko Loureiro and his lawyer, we feel it best to present clear evidence proving this to be a false claim. In this video (available below) you can see and hear the early demos in 2022 which led to becoming ‘To The Last Breath’.
“Anyone familiar with our creative process knows that we document extensively. Demos, drafts, and iterations are part of how we build our sound, and in this case, that documentation unquestionably establishes the timeline.
Michael Amott also said in a statement: “Hey Kiko, sorry to disappoint you and your lawyer, but as you can see and hear, I had the melody back in 2022 already, 2 years before you released your song. Any similarities are purely coincidental. Enjoy the video and good luck with your music, I will continue to not listen to it. Cheers!”
ARCH ENEMY are currently in the middle of their 2026 Asian tour, which officially launched on March 27 in Beijing, China, at Dongsan Live. The show marked the first live appearance of the band’s new vocalist Lauren Hart, following lineup changes announced late last year.
The tour continues throughout April with dates across China and Japan, including stops in Shenzhen, Kunming, Chengdu, Shanghai, Osaka, Minato, and Koto.
“To The Last Breath” is also the first ARCH ENEMY release featuring Hart after the departure of Alissa White-Gluz last November.
Despite the controversy, both ARCH ENEMY and Loureiro remain scheduled to appear at Bangers Open Air, performing on consecutive nights in São Paulo, ensuring their paths will cross again soon—both on stage and in the public eye.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.