Megadeth's Mustaine Rerecords Metallica's "Ride the Lightning" for Farewell Album

As Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine prepares to release his final album with the band, he has revealed a surprising inclusion – a rerecorded version of Metallica's "Ride the Lightning." Mustaine, who co-wrote the original song before leaving Metallica in 1983, says he wanted to do something to "close the circle" on his career and pay respect to Metallica's James Hetfield.

"No one ever talks to me about that," Mustaine says of Hetfield's guitar playing prowess. "One day he's a singer, the next day he's this fucking powerhouse and I've always respected him as a guitar player." Mustaine's rendition of "Ride the Lightning" is a little faster and deeper in tone than Metallica's original, but the guitar work remains just as muscular.

Megadeth's 10-track farewell album is set for release on January 23, 2026, following 13 Grammy nominations, a win for Best Metal Performance, and 17 albums over the band's 40-year career. While Mustaine has no plans to perform the Metallica cover live, he hopes the gesture will open the door for him to reconnect with Hetfield, with whom he has lost touch over the years.

"I wanted to pay tribute to the band," Mustaine explains. "And just now that I'm getting ready to hang my guitar up, I wanted to make sure that nothing is left unsaid."