MEGADETH’s Final Album Rumored To Feature Cover Of METALLICA’s “Ride The Lightning”

Megadeth are inching closer to the release of their self-titled farewell album, unveiling its tracklist piece by piece on social media. The thrash metal legends will release the record—set to be their seventeenth studio album—on January 23rd through BLKIIBLK.

Frontman Dave Mustaine had previously hinted that a cover of a song he originally co-wrote would appear on the album. Now, with fans spotting what looks to be a partially blurred title among the latest teaser images, speculation has mounted that the track in question is a rendition of Metallica’s classic “Ride The Lightning.”

Although Mustaine was dismissed from Metallica before the release of their 1984 album of the same name, he does hold writing credits on two songs from that record: “Ride The Lightning” and “The Call Of Ktulu.” Speaking at Norway’s Tons Of Rock festival earlier this year, Mustaine teased: “One of the songs is a cover song but I actually wrote it, so it’s kind of like a cover, kind of like my song.”

So far, the revealed track listing for Megadeth’s final album includes:

01 – “Tipping Point”
02 – “I Don’t Care”
03 – “Hey God?!”
04 – “Let There Be Shred”
05 – “Puppet Parade”
06 – “Another Bad Day”
07 – “Made To Kill”
08 – “Obey The Call”

Three more tracks remain unannounced. Thirteen songs were reportedly recorded for the sessions, with the extras expected to surface later as B-sides during the band’s farewell touring cycle.

The idea of covering Metallica has apparently been on Mustaine’s mind for years. Former bassist David Ellefson once revealed that Mustaine proposed recording “No Life ’Til Leather” back in 2018—a plan Ellefson declined.

Mustaine’s relationship with his former Metallica bandmates has long been turbulent, marked by reconciliations and renewed disputes over the years. Their most recent falling out reportedly stemmed from royalty disagreements in 2018 that derailed plans for a deluxe reissue of the No Life ’Til Leather demo.

After officially announcing the end of Megadeth in August, Mustaine confirmed that the self-titled album and a global farewell tour will close out the band’s storied career. That final trek will include a major North American run alongside Iron Maiden and fellow “Big Four” act Anthrax in summer and fall 2026.

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