Dave Mustaine, the legendary leader of MEGADETH, has officially entered the studio to kick off the writing and recording process for the band’s next studio album. Teaming up once again with producer Chris Rakestraw, Mustaine plans to spend the next six months crafting the follow-up to 2022’s The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!.
Band Collaboration
While Mustaine begins work in the studio, bassist James LoMenzo, drummer Dirk Verbeuren, and guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari are contributing ideas remotely, sending in riffs and musical concepts. The band plans to reconvene in the studio later in the process to finalize and refine the material.
Rakestraw, who worked on The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! as well as 2016’s Dystopia, brings familiarity and continuity to MEGADETH’s creative process.
Teemu Mäntysaari’s Role
Teemu, who officially joined MEGADETH over a year ago as a replacement for Kiko Loureiro, has been actively involved in preparing material for the new album. In an interview with Detroit’s WRIF radio station, Teemu explained how he’s been compiling and recording riffs for Mustaine’s review:
“Dave likes to work where everyone does their riffs, and then we get together to review them, connect them, and create the song skeletons. I’m really looking forward to seeing how my ideas fit into the bigger picture.”
Teemu emphasized Mustaine’s supportive approach and his desire to incorporate all band members’ input, signaling a collaborative dynamic reminiscent of MEGADETH’s classic eras.
A “Band Again”
In a recent interview, Mustaine expressed excitement about the current lineup, comparing the chemistry with Mäntysaari to the golden days of working with Marty Friedman. Reflecting on the addition of Teemu, Mustaine said:
“We are a band again. It doesn’t feel like me and some side players or session guys. The connection I have with Teemu is even closer than I had with Kiko. It harkens back to the days when Marty was in the band.”
Anticipation for the Next Album
With the band operating as a cohesive unit and Mustaine leading the charge, expectations are high for MEGADETH’s next record. Fans can look forward to a continuation of the band’s legendary sound, possibly infused with the fresh energy brought by Mäntysaari’s contributions.
As Mustaine and the team dive deeper into the creative process, 2025 is shaping up to be another landmark year for the thrash metal titans. Stay tuned for more updates on the album and potential tour announcements!
