Megadeth — the legendary thrash metal band led by frontman Dave Mustaine — has confirmed plans to release its seventeenth and final studio album, to be followed by a farewell world tour in 2026.
Their iconic mascot, Vic Rattlehead, made the announcement in a cinematic teaser video addressed to the “Cyber Army,” declaring:
“It is confirmed, the next Megadeth studio album will be the last… Forty years of metal, forged in steel, ending in fire. And when the new year arises, the global farewell tour.”
Dave Mustaine on Going Out on His Own Terms
In an emotional statement following the announcement, Mustaine reflected on the weight of choosing the right moment to say goodbye:
“Most of them don’t get to go out on their own terms on top, and that’s where I’m at in my life right now. … The hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye to them.”
Drawing a line under four decades of global influence, Mustaine added:
“Don’t be mad, don’t be sad, be happy for us all — come celebrate with me these next few years. We have done something together that’s truly wonderful and will probably never happen again. We started a musical style… we changed the world.”
