MEGADETH have revealed the complete tracklist and bonus content for their self-titled seventeenth and final studio album, due January 23. The record marks the band's only album featuring guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and the first with bassist James LoMenzo since 2009's "Endgame." Among the bonus tracks is a cover of METALLICA's "Ride The Lightning," a song Dave Mustaine co-wrote before his departure from the band in 1983, as well as "Bloodlust," exclusive to Target store versions.
The four pre-release singles — "Tipping Point," "I Don't Care," "Let There Be Shred," and "Puppet Parade" — have built massive anticipation for what Mustaine has described as the definitive closing chapter of MEGADETH's four-decade career. The inclusion of "Ride The Lightning" carries enormous symbolic weight, representing Mustaine's acknowledgment of the creative origins he shared with METALLICA before their acrimonious split. In a recent interview, Mustaine explained the decision: "That song has my DNA in it. I wrote parts of it. Recording it for the final MEGADETH album felt like closing a circle that has been open for over 40 years."
The standard edition features 12 tracks, with the deluxe version adding three bonus cuts including the METALLICA cover. Mäntysaari's lead guitar work has been singled out in early previews as a revelation, with his technical precision and melodic sensibility adding a fresh dimension to the classic MEGADETH sound. LoMenzo's return to the bass position brings a thunderous low-end presence that connects the album sonically to the "Endgame" era while incorporating modern production techniques. MEGADETH confirmed this will be their final studio recording, though Mustaine has not ruled out farewell touring. The album was produced by Mustaine with mixing by Andy Sneap, who has helmed the band's sound since 2016's "Dystopia." Physical editions are available for pre-order in multiple configurations including a collector's box set.