Present and Farewell

After the release of The Sick, the Dying... and with a new lineup, Megadeth maintained their relevance in the present. In 2023-2024 they carried out extensive tours, including the North American stage "Crush The World" (coinciding with festivals and a tour alongside Five Finger Death Punch in the US) and an acclaimed return to Latin America in 2024 with sold-out dates in Brazil, Chile, Argentina (their Buenos Aires shows in April 2024 were streamed worldwide). During this period, Dave Mustaine began to hint that the band's end could be near, making comments in interviews about his legacy and his desire to retire at the top.

The penultimate great world tour

Historic show broadcast worldwide

These suspicions were confirmed in August 2025: on the 14th, through a dramatic social media video starring Vic Rattlehead (the mascot), Megadeth announced they would release a final studio album in 2026 and embark on a final worldwide farewell tour. Shortly after, Dave Mustaine sent an emotional statement to fans saying: "Most [bands] don't get to retire on their own terms and at the top, and that's the point I'm at right now. I've traveled the world and gained millions of fans, and the hardest thing of all is saying goodbye to them... Don't be angry, don't be sad, be happy for us, come celebrate with me these next few years."

Vic Rattlehead announces the end

Megadeth's final album, still without a revealed title at that time (it has subsequently been confirmed to be a self-titled album, i.e., titled Megadeth), is scheduled to be released on January 23, 2026. As a preview, on October 3, 2025, the band released the first single, "Tipping Point", a furious thrasher track that critics praised for recalling the group's classic style. "Tipping Point" is Megadeth's first studio recording featuring new guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari (instead of Kiko) and also marks James LoMenzo's return on bass on an album since Endgame (2009). The song's music video shows Mustaine and company playing in an abandoned prison, with symbolic elements like Dave in the electric chair being harassed by demons.

The first preview of the final album

As Megadeth approaches the twilight of their history, the legacy they leave is impressive. With almost four decades of music, 16 studio albums (soon 17), several live ones, compilations that summarize their impact, and official documentaries that narrate their ups and downs, Dave Mustaine's band is consecrated as one of the most important in metal history. Few groups have survived so many changes and crises while maintaining their essence. Megadeth inspired generations of musicians and leaves an arsenal of immortal songs. From the technical fury of Rust in Peace to the combative maturity of Dystopia, each chapter of their discography reflects Mustaine's indomitable personality and his quest for excellence in metal. Dave Mustaine, the General of this thrash revolution, will be able to retire knowing he fulfilled his mission: to "change the world" through metal music.

Four decades that changed metal forever