Megadeth’s Final Album Will Feature A Reimagined Metallica Classic

Megadeth’s final self-titled album will feature a reimagined version of Metallica’s ‘Ride the Lightning’, a song Dave Mustaine co-wrote before leaving the band.

Dave Mustaine is closing the book on Megadeth with a move no one saw coming, by revisiting the song that started it all. The band’s upcoming self-titled final album, out January 23, 2026, will feature a new rendition of Metallica’s ‘Ride the Lightning’, the track Mustaine co-wrote before being fired from Metallica in 1983.

After weeks of teasing snippets and tracklist clues online, Megadeth confirmed that the cover will appear on what will be their last studio record, marking a full-circle moment in heavy metal history. For Mustaine, the choice is less about rivalry and more about reconciliation.

Out of respect

Speaking with Rolling Stone, Mustaine explained, “It wasn’t really that I wanted to do my version. I think that we all wanted it to turn out a certain way and for me, this was about something so much more than how a song turns out. It was about respect.”

That respect, he says, is directed squarely at Metallica frontman James Hetfield. “One day he’s a singer, the next day he’s this f**king powerhouse and I’ve always respected him as a guitar player,” Mustaine admitted.

He added, “Since my career started off with Panic and several of the songs that ended up in the Metallica repertoire, I wanted to do something that I felt would be a good song… to close the circle on my career.”

Faster paced

Megadeth’s take on ‘Ride the Lightning’ is said to be faster, in a lower key, and sung differently from Hetfield’s original performance. Don’t expect to hear it live, Mustaine confirmed the band won’t be performing the track on tour.

Interestingly, he didn’t loop Metallica’s camp in on the idea. “I think the whole purpose of this was not to try and rekindle relationships… It was about showing respect to a man that I don’t believe thinks I respect him. I wanted to make that clear,” he told Rolling Stone.

It’s a closing gesture steeped in history, not revenge. After decades of rivalry, Mustaine’s final statement isn’t a snarl. It’s a salute.