Megadeth (album)

Megadeth
Studio album by
Megadeth
ReleasedJanuary 23, 2026
Recorded2024–2025
Length41:02
Label
Producer
Megadeth chronology
The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!
(2022) 		Megadeth
(2026)
Singles from Megadeth
  1. "Tipping Point"
    Released: October 3, 2025
  2. "I Don't Care"
    Released: November 14, 2025
  3. "Let There Be Shred"
    Released: December 19, 2025
  4. "Puppet Parade"
    Released: January 19, 2026

Megadeth (also known as the White Album)[1] is the seventeenth and final studio album by the American thrash metal band Megadeth. Produced by Dave Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw, the album was released on January 23, 2026. It is Megadeth's only album with guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, and their first since 2009's Endgame to feature bassist James LoMenzo.

The album was announced on August 14, 2025; its release will be accompanied by the band's farewell tour. Four singles were released, starting with the lead single "Tipping Point", followed by "I Don't Care", "Let There Be Shred", and "Puppet Parade". The album received mixed to positive reviews from critics. It is the band's first (and, as of February 2026, only) album to reach number one on the Billboard 200, with 73,000 units.[2]

Production

In December 2024, frontman Dave Mustaine announced on Twitter that production of the album was underway with producer Chris Rakestraw. At the time, every other member of the band was away from the studio due to the holiday season, although he and Teemu Mäntysaari were working on new music remotely; the album is Mäntysaari's only appearance on a Megadeth studio album. Mustaine said that the band members would meet up in the studio to record the album a couple of weeks after Christmas.[3][4] By June 2025, the album was near completion and Mustaine shared another social media post of him recording vocals.[5]

Promotion and release

Megadeth was formally announced on August 14, 2025, with a social media trailer featuring band mascot Vic Rattlehead as well as a press release from Mustaine. Both stated that the record would be the band's last.[6] It will be accompanied by the band's farewell tour. The album was released on January 23, 2026,[7] and the tour will take place throughout the year.[8] While the album was initially announced without a title, the band unveiled its cover art, which depicts a burning Vic Rattlehead.[9]

The album's lead single, "Tipping Point", was announced on September 25, 2025; a 30-second clip of the music video was also released.[10] The single was released on October 3,[11] with the music video released the same day.[12] The album's second single, "I Don't Care", was released on November 14.[13] The third single, "Let There Be Shred", was released on December 19.[14] The fourth single, "Puppet Parade", was released one month later.[15]

The titles of songs from the record were slowly revealed over the course of a few days in October.[16][17] In addition to the ten main tracks, two bonus tracks have been made for the album. These include a cover of Metallica's "Ride the Lightning", a song which Mustaine co-wrote,[18] and "Bloodlust", which will be available exclusively on versions of the album purchased at Target stores.[19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic61/100[20]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[21]
Blabbermouth7.5/10[22]
The GuardianStarStarStar[23]
Kerrang!3/5[24]
Metal HammerStarStarStarStar[25]
musicOMHStarStarStarHalf star[26]
NMEStarStarStar[27]
Pitchfork5.2/10[28]
Slant MagazineStarStar[29]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[30]

Megadeth received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics. On the review aggregator Metacritic, it holds an average score of 61 out of 100 based on 12 critic reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[20]

Track listing

Standard edition[31]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Tipping Point"
4:29
2."I Don't Care"
  • Mustaine
3:10
3."Hey, God?!"
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
3:29
4."Let There Be Shred"
3:58
5."Puppet Parade"
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
  • Verbeuren
  • Chris Rakestraw
4:41
6."Another Bad Day"
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
3:37
7."Made to Kill"
4:01
8."Obey the Call"
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
  • Verbeuren
  • Rakestraw
4:20
9."I Am War"
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
  • LoMenzo
3:46
10."The Last Note"
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
5:31
Total length:41:02
Bonus track[32] (All releases)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Ride the Lightning" (Metallica cover)
6:11
Total length:47:13
Target edition bonus track[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Bloodlust"
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
  • Mary Evelyn Clement
[33]		3:47
Total length:50:58
Expanded Digital Edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Nobody's Hero"
  • Mustaine
  • Rakestraw
[34]		3:43
Japan bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."The Last Note" (Instrumental)
  • Mustaine
  • Mäntysaari
5:31

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[31]

Megadeth

Additional musician

  • Brandon Ray – backing vocals

Additional personnel

  • Chris Rakestraw – production, engineering
  • Campbell Young – engineering assistance
  • Isabel Caballero – engineering assistance
  • Steve Fisher – additional recording
  • Mathias Sorum – additional recording
  • Matt Hyde – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Blake Armstrong – artwork, album design
  • Ross Halfin – band photo

Charts

Notes

  • ^[a] indicates an additional writer.

References

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  2. ^ a b "Megadeth Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200". Billboard. February 1, 2026. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  3. ^ Wilkes, Emma (December 27, 2024). "Megadeth have started working on a new album". NME. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
  4. ^ Piner, Chris (December 28, 2024). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Teases New Album: "You Guys Are Gonna Be Excited"". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
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