Kings of Thrash, the formidable heavy metal unit anchored by former Megadeth alumni David Ellefson (bass) and Jeff Young (guitar), has officially confirmed plans to release a brand new single. The band, which is rounded out by vocalist/guitarist Chaz Leon and drummer Fred Aching, has signed a deal with Cleopatra Records to distribute the upcoming track.
While a release date and title have yet to be unveiled, the group issued a high-octane statement regarding what fans can expect from the new recording:
“Get ready for an explosive track packed with killer riffs, electric solos, and nonstop headbanging moments. Stay tuned!!!”
The new song will serve as the immediate successor to “Lockdown,” the band’s original track released back in May. That single marked a significant pivot for the group, moving them from a project celebrating the legacy of Megadeth‘s mid-80s era to an active creative force.
In a Spring 2025 interview with “The Rock N’ Roll & Coffee Show,” Ellefson shed light on the creative direction of the band’s original material, revealing that he specifically instructed Leon to channel the golden age of the genre when writing “Lockdown.”
“I said, ‘Dude, 1984, full-blown thrash metal.’ I said, ‘Just head for Nuclear Assault ‘Game Over‘, Metallica ‘Ride The Lightning‘. Just go right to the heart of the matter,'” Ellefson recalled telling the singer. “‘Cause he’s got a real thrash heart. And plus he’s our singer… I find it’s always better to write around the singer and let him kind of lead the charge.”
Ellefson noted that while the band was founded on the premise of honoring classic thrash—specifically the Megadeth albums Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! and So Far… So Good… So What!—writing original music was the necessary evolution to establish their own identity.
“I think the next logical step to kind of legitimize yourself is to write your own tunes,” Ellefson explained. “And even though, look, some of the Megadeth stuff is stuff that I wrote, and so they already are my songs… But to move forward, it’s always good to sort of freshen it up a little bit and show everybody what you got.”
When pressed on whether these singles could culminate in a full-length studio album, Ellefson remained open to the idea but pragmatic about the logistics, citing the geographical distance between members and their distinct personalities.
“It’s possible. I’m certainly not gonna say no to it… Making a record is a lot of work, especially when you live in different cities and you’re trying to collaborate,” he said. “One of the things about Kings is we are not four of the same guy. We are four very different individuals.”
However, Ellefson views this internal diversity as the band’s greatest strength, comparing the dynamic to his tenure in Megadeth.
“It’s the diversity that makes Kings so cool. And I guess I come from that even with Megadeth. And Chris Poland, Jeff Young, they were sort of the diverse guitar players to Dave [Mustaine]… So to have Kings mirror that, I think is cool. I’m already used to that dynamic.”
The band operates as a collaborative democracy with distinct roles: Ellefson steers the ship, Young handles setlists, Leon drives the songwriting, and Aching acts as the liaison for artwork and video production.
Kings of Thrash previously released the live CD/DVD package Best Of The West…Live At The Whisky A Go Go in March 2023, which captured their live prowess and featured a guest appearance by another ex-Megadeth guitarist, Chris Poland.
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