Dave Mustaine has sparked excitement among Megadeth and Metallica fans with a recent revelation about the upcoming Megadeth album, as reported on X (formerly Twitter).
The Megadeth frontman discussed the new album’s track list. He revealed an intriguing detail about one particular song.
“We have 13 new songs for the new album,” Mustaine said. “One of the songs is a cover song but I actually wrote it, so it’s kind of like a cover, kind of my song.”
The statement immediately caught the attention of former Metallica bassist Ron McGovney. He responded with his own comment on the matter.
“Just sign on to let Metallica release a proper version of No Life Til Leather,” McGovney said. “It’s a win/win for everyone!”
Mustaine’s cryptic comment has fueled speculation among fans about which song he might be referring to. This is particularly notable given his history with Metallica and the ongoing discussions about early material from both bands.
Wikipedia reported that Megadeth’s final studio album is set to be released on January 23, 2026. The album will be self-titled as “Megadeth.” Dave Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw produced the album, which features Teemu Mäntysaari on guitar. It includes 10 tracks with “Tipping Point” as the lead single.
The “No Life ‘Til Leather” demo holds significant importance in Metallica’s early history. Louder Sound noted that Dave Mustaine contributed to several tracks on the demo before his departure from the band. There have been disputes over songwriting credits and royalties related to this material. These disputes have contributed to tensions between Mustaine and Metallica over the years.
Metal Injection revealed that Mustaine had previously expressed interest in re-recording songs from the demo. Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson met this idea with skepticism. The ongoing discussions about these early recordings highlight the complex relationship between Mustaine’s contributions to Metallica’s formative material and his subsequent career with Megadeth.
In a June 2025 interview, Loaded Radio shared that Mustaine mentioned one of the songs on the new album is a cover. He also wrote it, making the situation somewhat ambiguous. This statement aligns with his recent comments and suggests that fans may finally hear Mustaine’s interpretation of material he originally helped create during his time with Metallica.
Further details about the new Megadeth album and the identity of the mysterious cover song are expected to be announced soon.
