After almost 40 years of career, Megadeth reached the #1 position on the Billboard 200 for the first time with their new album Megadeth, released on January 23, 2026. An achievement as late as it is symbolic: the album is not only the band's first to reach the top of the most important chart in the United States, but also marks their definitive farewell from the studio. The album debuted at the top of the chart dated February 7, with 73,000 equivalent units in its first week in the U.S., according to Luminate data. This is Megadeth's best commercial debut in the modern era of the units-based chart (since 2014). THE STRONGEST DATA IS IN PURE SALES: 69,000 copies sold between physical and digital formats. Of that total, 56,000 were physical sales, including 22,000 vinyls, the band's best vinyl week since electronic record-keeping began (1991). This performance makes Megadeth the album with the best initial sales of the group since Risk (1999), which had opened with 74,000 copies. As for streaming, the album accumulated around 4.23 million on-demand plays, contributing about 4,000 SEA units, while the contribution from individual track sales (TEA) was marginal. The commercial push was clearly focused on the album format, boosted by: • More than a dozen vinyl variants • An exclusive Target CD with bonus track • A deluxe digital edition released mid-week The album's release came just one day after the theatrical premiere of the documentary Megadeth: Behind the Mask, and a few weeks before the start of the farewell tour, which will begin on February 15 in Victoria, Canada. With this debut, Megadeth breaks a historic barrier: until now, their best position had been #2 with Countdown to Extinction (1992). In total, the band has placed 23 albums on the Billboard 200, nine of them within the top 10. Dave Mustaine celebrated the achievement with a message full of gratitude: "After 40 years releasing Megadeth music and playing around the world, I feel nothing but gratitude. Knowing that our last album is also our first #1 validates my desire to retire at the top." And he added a special thanks to his bandmates, the technical team, management, and above all, the fans: "This album is a work made with love. Without you, none of this would be possible." The final fact is significant: Megadeth's debut with 73,000 units represents the lowest figure for a #1 album on the Billboard 200 since May 2025, a clear sign of the current industry context... and, at the same time, proof of the specific weight that Megadeth still carries when deciding to say goodbye.

Just days after its release, Megadeth is having a solid and global debut. The album went straight to #1 in Australia (ARIA Albums and Vinyl Chart), reached #1 on iTunes United States, and debuted at #3 on the UK Official Albums Chart, one of the world's most demanding markets. Beyond the numbers, the key fact is consistency: the album performed strongly in both physical and digital sales, confirming that the interest was not just nostalgia or morbid curiosity about the "last album," but a real and sustained reception. Some important rankings (such as Billboard and other European markets) have yet to be published, but the start leaves a clear conclusion: Megadeth says goodbye with impact, global presence, and a commercial closing worthy of its history.

Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine recently revealed the reason behind his last argument with Metallica guitarist James Hetfield. The incident occurred during a conversation about the copyright of the 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo, recorded in 1982. The dialogue ended abruptly and, since then, both musicians have not spoken again. The incident became known on January 29, 2026, and is set against the backdrop of a prolonged dispute over the authorship of several emblematic heavy metal songs. The conversation between Mustaine and Hetfield revolved around the official release of the 'No Life 'Til Leather' demo, a historic recording for both musicians. Hetfield contacted Mustaine to discuss the possibility of releasing the album and resolving issues related to copyright. The conversation quickly took on a tense tone, leading to the definitive estrangement between the former bandmates. According to statements by Dave Mustaine in a recent interview, broadcast by Rock FM, the dispute originated in the distribution of credits and royalties corresponding to songs in which he claims to have had a decisive participation. Mustaine maintained that the conflict with Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, Metallica's drummer, focuses on the allocation of percentages for the authorship of fundamental songs for the band. According to the musician, his former bandmates' decision to distribute credits unequally was the trigger for the disagreement. THE COPYRIGHT CONFLICT The problem arose when Metallica proposed to reissue 'No Life 'Til Leather' in different formats, including CD, vinyl, and a collector's edition. According to Mustaine, he composed all the music for songs like 'Phantom Lord', 'Metal Militia', 'Jump In The Fire', and 'The Mechanix', in addition to writing the lyrics for the last two. "If I composed the music and James wrote the lyrics, then the credit is 50% mine and 50% James's," Mustaine stated. However, the musician pointed out that Lars Ulrich received a percentage of authorship in songs in which he did not participate as a composer. According to Dave Mustaine's testimony, this situation prevented him from continuing any future collaboration with Metallica. The Megadeth leader expressed his discomfort at what he considers an injustice: "You have more money than God, why do you have to take mine?" These words reflect the magnitude of the conflict and the impossibility of reaching an agreement. The No Life 'Til Leather demo was released in 2015 as a limited edition cassette for Record Store Day. According to Rock FM, Metallica then promised the publication of expanded versions, but so far they have not been officially released. The original recording featured Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Ron McGovney, and Dave Mustaine. A CONVERSATION WITHOUT RECONCILIATION In Mustaine's account, Hetfield called him to try to clarify the copyright and move forward with the release of the album. However, both maintained different versions about the events that occurred in 1982. Mustaine recalled that he offered his perspective, but Hetfield rejected his account. The discrepancy caused the conversation to end abruptly and, since then, they have not resumed contact. According to Dave Mustaine, the lack of agreement and the tension accumulated over years made reconciliation impossible. The musician stated that the distance between both parties remains and the demo remains unpublished in its definitive version. The dispute over credits and royalties continues to affect the personal and professional relationship between the original members of Metallica and Mustaine. The conflict over copyright and authorship of the songs on 'No Life 'Til Leather' illustrates how creative and economic differences can break bonds in the music industry. The inability to reach consensus left fans of both bands without the expected official reissue of a key piece in heavy metal history. IMPACT ON THE HEAVY METAL SCENE The rivalry between Dave Mustaine and Metallica dates back to the early years of both bands. Mustaine left Metallica in 1983 and founded Megadeth, a group that also achieved international recognition. Since then, clashes between the musicians were frequent and fueled the interest of fans. According to specialized media, the case of No Life 'Til Leather became a symbol of the challenges artists face in protecting their legacy. The story demonstrates that intellectual property disagreements can last for decades and affect both artistic careers and personal relationships. To date, the official reissue of the demo remains pending and the future of this material remains uncertain. Mustaine's stance and Metallica's response will define whether the recording will finally see the light. Meanwhile, the episode adds a new chapter to the long history of disagreements between two of the most important names in heavy metal. Dave Mustaine and James Hetfield are protagonists of one of the genre's most remembered conflicts. The dispute over the credits of a historic demo and the lack of understanding forever marked the relationship between both musicians. The case of No Life 'Til Leather evidences the complexity of agreements in the music industry and leaves open the possibility of new tensions in the future.

To celebrate release week Megadeth released a special expanded digital edition of the album including the exclusive track "Nobody's Hero," available until 11:59pm on Thursday, January 29 (local time). "'Nobody's Hero' was the first song we worked on during the session, which is funny because it didn't end up on the album. Everything we'd written up to that point had to fight for a place on the record. Some riffs were replaced by better ones. Some songs never quite got finished, and others rose to the top. 'Nobody's Hero' has been around for a while and it really shows how quickly we found our groove once we got into the studio, so I'm glad it's finally going to see the light of day in our exclusive digital release." - Dave Mustaine

Relive the highlights of Megadeth on TalkShopLive, where the band shared behind-the-scenes stories, details of the new album, and answered fan questions in an interactive and unforgettable session.