After months of anticipation, Megadeth‘s final studio album has arrived. That self-titled affair is closed out by a bonus cover of Metallica‘s “Ride The Lightning” — a song Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine had a hand in writing before his 1983 ousting from Metallica. Mustaine has spoken at length about covering that track already, describing it as a way of ‘paying his respects’ to his former bandmates in Metallica‘s vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich.
With Mustaine preparing to eventually hang it up with Megadeth following the conclusion of a 3 to 5 year farewell tour on the back of this new record, this nod to his past has been self-described as being as his way of ‘closing the circle’ as well.
As it currently stands, it would appear that Mustaine, Hetfield and Ulrich once again remain estranged, after a royalty dispute over Metallica‘s “No Life ‘Til Leather” demo once again spiked their relationship. Despite that, Mustaine remains hopeful of once again patching things up.