Former Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro publicly accused Arch Enemy of plagiarizing his solo track ‘Talking Dreams’ on their new single. He claimed that three notes were identical between the two compositions. In a caption accompanying his post, Loureiro wrote: “Just helping promote Arch Enemy new song… you’re welcome.”
The accusation prompted swift responses from Arch Enemy’s camp. Former vocalist and current manager Angela Gossow commented directly on Kiko’s post, stating: “Never heard Kiko’s 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.”
Gossow’s response went further, criticizing Loureiro’s approach to the matter. She wrote: “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’s guitarist Michael Amott also weighed in on the controversy with a more lighthearted tone. He commented: “Thank you brother… I should pay more attention to your solo work!”
The exchange highlights a broader tension within the metal community regarding musical originality and how disputes over creative similarities should be handled. Rather than escalating the matter through public channels, Gossow emphasized the importance of professional dialogue when addressing such serious allegations.
Metal Addicts reported that Gossow’s perspective reflects a common understanding within the music industry. Certain note progressions and riff patterns naturally recur across different compositions. The three-note similarity that Loureiro highlighted is relatively minor in the context of full musical compositions. Such overlaps are not uncommon in metal music, where certain scales and chord progressions are foundational to the genre’s sound.
Gossow’s willingness to acknowledge that Arch Enemy’s own work has likely influenced other musicians demonstrates a mature approach to the question of musical inspiration versus plagiarism. This perspective suggests that rather than viewing such similarities as theft, many established artists in the metal community see them as evidence of their influence on the genre. For these artists, such influence is a point of pride rather than concern.
Wiki Metal’s coverage indicates that the incident underscores the importance of handling creative disputes through proper channels rather than public accusations. Gossow’s management emphasized that allegations of plagiarism should be addressed privately and professionally. Both parties should allow legal and creative representatives to discuss the matter.
