Megadeth is either teasing a new record or a reissue of a classic. Honestly, I'm cool with either.
The band's official website has launched a countdown clock set to expire on Thursday, August 14 at 8:00 a.m. PDT / 11:00 a.m. EDT, teasing fans with the tagline: "The End Is Near. It's Crystal Clear. Part Of The Master Plan" — a line pulled from their 1990 classic "Holy Wars… The Punishment Due". Visitors are encouraged to sign up for the band's newsletter, with more details promised soon.
While no specifics have been confirmed, many believe the reveal could tie into either Megadeth's long-awaited 17th studio album or a special celebration of Rust in Peace, which turns 35 this year and features "Holy Wars" as its opening track. Given the lyrics on the screen, I'm guessing it's the latter – especially considering it seems Megadeth is still in the studio recording their new album.
Rust in Peace — widely regarded as one of thrash metal's defining albums — was released in September 1990. Its 35th anniversary is approaching, and the album's opener is directly referenced in the website teaser. That's more than enough for fans to suspect an expanded reissue, special tour, or some form of commemorative project.
What is known is that Megadeth recently wrapped studio work on their upcoming LP, once again collaborating with producer/engineer Chris Rakestraw, who worked on both The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! in 2022 and Dystopia in 2016. The new album will arrive via Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint in partnership with the Frontiers Label Group's BLKIIBLK.
The as-yet-untitled album will be the band's first full-length release since guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari officially joined in 2023. Mäntysaari stepped in for longtime member Kiko Loureiro, who announced last September that he would be sitting out the Crush The World tour. Loureiro has not returned (and just kinda quietly quit the band), leaving Mäntysaari as a permanent fixture in the line-up.
Rust in Peace, Megadeth's fourth studio album released on September 24, 1990, marked a pivotal creative and commercial high point for the band. Introducing Marty Friedman on guitar and Nick Menza on drums, the album showcased technically dazzling thrash metal, with standout tracks like "Holy Wars… The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18."
Commercially, Rust in Peace achieved Platinum certification in the U.S. for shipping over 1 million copies. It also reached No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and surged into the top 10 in the U.K.
