Dave Mustaine Confirms Megadeth Covered Metallica’s Song For Final Album

Dave Mustaine has officially confirmed that Megadeth‘s final studio album will include a cover of the Metallica classic, “Ride the Lightning.” In an exclusive new interview with Metal Hammer, Mustaine—who has a co-writing credit on the 1984 track—explained the decision as a final mark of “respect” for his former bandmates and a way to “close the circle.”

The cover, which will be featured as a bonus track on the upcoming final album, Megadeth (due January 23), is a full-circle moment for the guitarist. Mustaine was dismissed from Metallica in 1983 but retains co-writing credits on “Ride the Lightning” and “The Call of Ktulu” from that iconic album.

“I think it was the right time to record it and close the circle,” Mustaine told the magazine. “It’s back to where I came from, and honestly, it’s a good song, we played it really well.”

He also revealed that Megadeth‘s rendition is not a straight copy. “We sped it up a little bit, but I personally think when you’re going to do a version of a song then you have to make it just as good or if not better,” he stated. “I really think that we’ve done it just as good [as] the original.”

Despite decades of a well-documented and often bitter rivalry between the two thrash giants, Mustaine framed the cover as a gesture of deep respect, particularly for Metallica‘s frontman, James Hetfield.

“I’ve always respected James’ playing and so this is a tip of a hat to him and to Metallica for everything that they’ve done, and everything that we’ve done,” Mustaine said. “That legacy that really happened in that teeny little garage in Norwalk, California.”

In a separate interview with Rolling Stone, Mustaine stated that James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich were unaware that Megadeth was re-recording the song. He originally intended to get Hetfield‘s approval before putting it on the album, but ultimately decided to include the track as is.

“I think the whole purpose of this was not to try and rekindle relationships or anything. It was about showing respect to a man that… I don’t believe he thinks I respect him and I wanted to make that clear. I wanted to pay tribute to the band,” he admitted.

“And just now that I’m getting ready to hang my guitar up, I wanted to make sure that nothing is left unsaid.”

The fraught history between the bands began with Mustaine‘s firing, which led directly to the formation of Megadeth. The rivalry was famously cemented when Megadeth included the track “Mechanix” on their 1985 debut, Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!, which was the original, high-speed song Metallica later reworked into “The Four Horsemen” on Kill ‘Em All.

This cover of “Ride the Lightning” serves as a final bookend to that decades-long history, as Megadeth embarks on its farewell. As Mustaine announced in August, the band will conclude after this final album and touring cycle. Megadeth‘s final tour dates include a run of European festivals and a high-profile support slot for Iron Maiden‘s North American “Run For Your Lives” tour in 2026.