Arch Enemy has fiercely fired back at former Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro’s copyright infringement accusations. The Swedish metal band released a video of their 2022 demos, explicitly proving their new single “To The Last Breath” was written long before Loureiro’s solo track.
In a statement accompanying their video evidence, Arch Enemy wrote: “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.'”
The band emphasized their meticulous documentation process. “Anyone familiar with our creative process knows that we document extensively,” they stated. “Demos, drafts, and iterations are part of how we build our sound. In this case, that documentation unquestionably establishes the timeline.”
Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott delivered a particularly scathing personal response to the allegations. “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!” Amott’s dismissive tone made clear the band’s confidence in their position.
The dispute represents a significant moment in the metal community. Both parties have now made their positions public. To understand the broader context of this copyright controversy, it’s important to examine how the dispute emerged and what the evidence reveals about the timeline of these compositions.
Kiko Loureiro showed similarities between one of his songs and Arch Enemy’s new single, which prompted Arch Enemy to issue a formal response. KLAQ covered the escalation of this dispute. The Brazilian guitarist, known for his work with Megadeth, publicly highlighted the musical similarities between the tracks. This prompted the Swedish metal band to defend their originality with concrete evidence.
The timing of Loureiro’s accusation appears to have caught Arch Enemy’s attention in early 2026. The band took the unusual step of releasing their creative process documentation to the public. This move demonstrates how seriously the band took the allegations and their confidence in the chronological evidence supporting their claim.
