July saw the death of Ozzy Osbourne, and now August sees beginning of the end of Megadeth. It’s been a hell of a year, huh?

Dave Mustaine has announced that Megadeth‘s upcoming album will be their final studio release, marking the end of one of metal’s most influential careers. The record, due early next year via Mustaine‘s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group’s BLKIIBLK label, will be accompanied by a global farewell tour.

In a statement to fans, Mustaine reflected on the decision: “There’s so many musicians that have come to the end of their career, whether accidental or intentional. Most of them don’t get to go out on their own terms on top, and that’s where I’m at in my life right now… The hardest part of all of this is saying goodbye…

“This is also a perfect time for us to tell you that it’s our last studio album. Don’t be mad, don’t be sad, be happy for us all, come celebrate with me these next few years.”

Mustaine said the farewell would be a celebration of the band’s impact: “We started a musical style, we started a revolution, we changed the guitar world and how it’s played, and we changed the world. The bands I played in have influenced the world. I love you all for it. Thank you for everything.”

The new album’s first single will arrive this fall alongside the launch of global pre-orders. Next year will also see the release of Mustaine‘s new memoir, with details to follow.

Megadeth was formed in 1983 by Mustaine after his dismissal from Metallica. Teaming up with bassist David Ellefson, Mustaine set out to create a faster, more technically aggressive brand of heavy metal, helping to pioneer the emerging thrash metal movement. Their debut album Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! came out in 1985, establishing their raw speed and ferocity.

The band quickly refined their sound with Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? in 1986, which became a defining record in metal history. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Megadeth released a string of influential albums, including So Far, So Good… So What! in 1988, Rust in Peace in 1990, and Countdown to Extinction in 1992, cementing their reputation as one of thrash metal’s “Big Four” alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax.

Despite numerous lineup changes and Mustaine‘s struggles with substance abuse, Megadeth maintained a prolific output, experimenting with more accessible and radio-friendly material in the mid-to-late 1990s with albums like Youthanasia in 1994 and Cryptic Writings in 1997, before returning to a heavier style in the 2000s.

Following Mustaine‘s recovery from an arm injury that nearly ended his career, the band experienced a resurgence with releases such as The System Has Failed in 2004, Endgame in 2009, and the Grammy-winning Dystopia in 2016. And now all these years later… it’s over. Crazy.