The dispute involving Kiko Loureiro and Arch Enemy has developed further, with the band now directly responding not only to Loureiro, but also to his legal representative, following accusations related to their latest single “To The Last Breath.”
The conversation first emerged on March 27 when Loureiro shared an Instagram post comparing his 2024 track “Talking Dreams” from Theory Of Mind with Arch Enemy’s February release. His caption, “Just helping promote @archenemyofficial new song… you’re welcome.”, was light in tone, but the comparison quickly gained traction online and sparked debate among fans.
The post did not go unnoticed by Arch Enemy’s camp. Former vocalist and current manager Angela Gossow responded directly in the comments, writing: “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.”
Guitarist Michael Amott chimed in as well, approaching the situation with humor:
“Thank you brother @kikoloureiro – it seems I should pay more attention to your solo work! See you at @bangersopenair!”
However, the situation escalated after claims of possible copyright infringement were reportedly raised by Loureiro and his lawyer. In response, Arch Enemy issued a formal public statement alongside early demo footage of “To The Last Breath,” aiming to clarify the timeline of the song’s creation.
The band explained their position in a detailed post:
“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 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.
Alongside the statement, guitarist Michael Amott issued a direct message aimed at both Loureiro and his legal team: “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!”
Meanwhile, Arch Enemy remain in the middle of a busy touring period. The band officially launched their 2026 Asian tour on March 27 in Beijing, China, with a performance at Dongsan Live. The show also marked the first live appearance of new vocalist Lauren Hart, signaling the start of a new chapter for the group following recent lineup changes.
“To The Last Breath” is the first Arch Enemy release featuring Hart, who joined the band following the departure of Alissa White-Gluz last November.
Despite the online back-and-forth, both sides will soon cross paths in person at Bangers Open Air. Arch Enemy are scheduled to headline on Saturday, April 25, while Loureiro will take the stage the following night with Angra.
