Thinking about the phrase " Megadeth is going to release their final album" sounds scary, but it makes sense to a certain extent. After facing several physical and health problems in recent years – including throat cancer that was cured in 2020 – Dave Mustaine chose to end his band. But knowing the guitarist's personality, we all know he would never end without making a fuss.
With a release date set for January 23rd, Megadeth offers a comprehensive overview of the group's four decades of existence and is characterized by a more balanced sound. It's also noteworthy that this is the first – and possibly last – release to feature guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari , chosen by Kiko Loureiro to replace him.
Regarding the released singles, “Tipping Point” and “Let There Be Shred” are tracks that could be featured on the This Was Our Life Tour . Both feature extremely heavy riffs and powerful solos from the duo Mustaine and Mäntysaari, strongly reminiscent of the iconic Rust in Peace (1990), especially in the second song. “I Don't Care” also stands out for its clear 70s punk/rock influence.
"Puppet Parade," the latest single released , is sure to pique the curiosity of fans. The opening seconds of the song evoke a feeling of "I've heard this before." And yes, there's a strong resemblance to the album Cryptic Writings (1997), especially the track "Almost Honest."
“Hey, God?!” has an introspective tone and a first-person account of Dave – who is a Christian – talking to God about his insecurities. Because of its melody, the song would certainly fit into the tracklist of the classic Countdown To Extinction (1992). The album also features more measured tracks that break the fast pace of the beginning, especially “Another Bad Day” and “I Am War”. In these two, one can perceive ideas drawn from Th1rt3en (2011), Super Collider (2013), and United Abominations (2007).
Megadeth closes album with a melancholic tone and a powerful phrase from Dave Mustaine
For the final stretch, Megadeth's new album continues with "Obey The Call," whose introduction directly recalls the hit "Trust," and "Made To Kill," which features one of the fastest openings on the entire album and has a chorus similar to the compositions of Dystopia (2016). Closing, we have the melancholic "The Last Note." With a sad lyrical tone, the album ends with the following phrase spoken by Mustaine: "I arrived. I commanded. Now, I disappear."
“Ride The Lightning” closes a chapter in a historic and symbolic way
The main curiosity for fans is certainly the bonus track: the long-awaited version of Metallica ," which Dave co-wrote. His justification for the re-recording was to mark "the closing of a cycle." For the most part, the song doesn't feature drastic changes . The main one is perhaps Mustaine's vocal tone, less raspy than James Hetfield's. It's a tribute not only to his career and his former band, but mainly to the musical style he helped create and popularize. In terms of tempo, the track is slightly faster than the original.
Overall, Megadeth doesn't introduce new elements, but uses already established resources to create a final narrative. Even though it's not as direct as its predecessor, The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! (2022), the album stands out as a good release overall. The highlight is the high level of collaboration among all the members – with only one track written entirely by Dave – something that would have been impossible in the past. Traversing all its eras, Megadeth closes its musical chapter in a cohesive and solid way.
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