Megadeth final album includes Ride the Lightning cover as bonus track

Megadeth has confirmed that its self-titled final album, due January 23, 2026, will include a reimagined cover of Metallica’s "Ride the Lightning" as a bonus track, the band announced after teasing its tracklist. The inclusion marks a notable return to material Dave Mustaine co-wrote during his early tenure in Metallica and comes as Megadeth prepares a farewell album and touring cycle that will include dates supporting Iron Maiden next year.

Mustaine, Megadeth’s founder and only constant member, said including the song was a way to acknowledge where his career began. He said, "As I come full circle on the career of a lifetime, the decision to include Ride the Lightning, a song I cowrote with James, Lars, and Cliff, was to pay my respects to where my career first started." In a separate interview, he described the band’s recorded version as slightly faster than the original and called it a tribute, saying, "I think it was the right time to record it and close the circle."

The newly revealed tracklist features the previously released lead single "Tipping Point" along with songs titled "I Don't Care," "Hey, God?!," "Let There Be Shred," "Puppet Parade," "Another Bad Day," "Made to...