Former Megadeth Bassist David Ellefson Says Band’s Final Album “Doesn’t Sound Like Megadeth”

Former Megadeth bassist and backing vocalist David Ellefson has weighed in on the band’s newly released — and reportedly final — studio album, offering a candid take shaped by decades spent as one of the group’s core members.

Speaking on a recent episode of The David Ellefson Show, Ellefson shared his reaction after finally listening to Megadeth’s self-titled release, which arrived on January 23rd. The album has already made history, becoming the first Megadeth record to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200.

Ellefson’s relationship with frontman Dave Mustaine famously collapsed in 2021 following a public scandal involving the bassist, leading to his dismissal from the band and a frosty public split that has lingered ever since. With that context in mind, Ellefson made it clear his perspective was personal — but firm.

“I hear it and I go, ‘Okay, this is a Dave solo record.’ This is Dave and his new band, Dave and his new guys,” Ellefson explained.
“It says Megadeth, so obviously it gets all the attention, but realistically, I hear it and to me it just doesn’t sound like Megadeth. And that’s just me. Period.”

He went on to frame the album as Mustaine operating in a new phase of his career rather than a continuation of the band’s legacy.

“It’s like Dave doing what Dave does, but with a different set of guys in a new day. And this is Dave’s retirement, you know? So that’s my view on it.”

Ellefson also addressed one of the album’s most talked-about moments: its cover of Metallica’s “Ride The Lightning.” Mustaine famously co-wrote the song before being fired from Metallica in 1983, and Ellefson pointed out what he viewed as a layer of irony in the new recording.

“The funny thing is he was mad at Kirk Hammett for playing his solos, and now here’s Dave playing Kirk’s solo — unless that’s Teemu,” Ellefson remarked, referencing current Megadeth guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari.

The former bassist has previously commented on Mustaine’s long-running fixation with Metallica. While Mustaine has acknowledged that he remains estranged from James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich following a royalty dispute in the mid-2010s, the rivalry continues to cast a long shadow.

During the episode, Ellefson also revisited his memories of first hearing Ride The Lightning shortly after its original release, recalling a party in Orange County where members of both bands were present.

He described Mustaine reacting angrily upon hearing the track, believing that riffs he had previously written were used without his involvement. While Ellefson acknowledged Mustaine’s songwriting contribution, he questioned how complete the song truly was prior to Mustaine’s departure from Metallica.

“If it was really a finished song, it would have been on ‘Kill ’Em All,’” Ellefson said, noting that the track emerged years later and bore James Hetfield’s distinct lyrical voice.

Ultimately, Ellefson emphasized that his recollections are based on proximity rather than firsthand involvement in Metallica’s writing sessions — but maintained that the evolution of “Ride The Lightning” reflects a band finding its own identity after Mustaine’s exit.

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