Does MEGADETH’s New Album Have A METALLICA Cover Song?

Megadeth is set to release their final, self-titled album on January 23, 2026 and it seems there’s going to be a bit of a surprise on there.

Let’s start back in June with a recently-resurfaced quote from Dave Mustaine in an interview with Stjernepose, as posted by Loudwire: “We have 13 new songs for the new album… One of the songs is a cover song but I actually wrote it, so it’s kind of like a cover, kind of like my song. Then there’s two extra songs for when the record’s been out for a while just to keep everybody excited.”

“One of the songs is a cover song but I actually wrote it.” Alright, so there are three options based on that quote:

• Mustaine re-recorded a Megadeth song, which seems unlikely given Mustaine generally “remixes” albums heavily enough to where they can be classified as re-recordings. Possible? Sure. Likely? I’m guessing not.
• Mustaine re-recorded an MD.45 song. I’m also guessing this isn’t the case, seeing as Mustaine barely ever acknowledges MD. 45.
• Mustaine re-recorded a Metallica song, which I’m guessing is the case. Mustaine has long felt that he doesn’t get enough credit for his work in Metallica – so much so that it tanked the No Life ‘Til Leather reissue, which Mustaine thought about re-recording. Mustaine has also stated that he feels Metallica is coasting off his music.

It also seems safe to assume that whatever the cover is, is a bonus track. Megadeth has been revealing the tracklisting to their final record lately on Instagram and that last track might say “Ride The Lightning”? It hasn’t been revealed yet, but check out the below screenshot and see what you think. That would be fucking wild.