music
January 22, 2026
Megadeth: Megadeth review
(BLKIIBLK/Frontiers)Tuneful yet overlong, Dave Mustaine and co’s final album is a recap of Megadeth’s strengths, flaws and familiar grudges
TL;DR
- Megadeth announced their retirement from the music industry, including a final album and tour, initially in August.
- Frontman Dave Mustaine cited health issues like arthritis and Dupuytren's contracture as impediments to his guitar playing.
- Three months after the retirement announcement, Mustaine stated the farewell dates were just the beginning, with the tour expected to last three to five years.
- The 17th studio album is described as a career-summarizing redux, featuring thrash metal tracks like 'Tipping Point', 'Made to Kill', and 'Let There Be Shred'.
- The album also includes punk influences on 'I Don’t Care' and melodic styles from the mid-to-late 90s on tracks like 'Puppet Parade'.
- Despite technical precision from guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, the second half of the album is noted for lagging inspiration, exemplified by the track 'Obey the Call'.
- A bonus track features Megadeth covering Metallica's 'Ride the Lightning', a song Mustaine contributed to before his 1983 ejection from the band.
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