Megadeth is the American thrash metal band Dave Mustaine formed in Los Angeles in 1983 after his exit from Metallica — one of thrash's Big Four. Rust in Peace (1990) is among the greatest thrash albums ever cut, and Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986) runs it close. Shop Megadeth vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Megadeth formed in Los Angeles in 1983 around Dave Mustaine, who had been fired from Metallica in April 1983 due to substance abuse and personal conflict. They are widely cited as one of the Big Four of American thrash metal alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax. Their 1990 album Rust in Peace (featuring the foundational guitar interplay of Mustaine and Marty Friedman) is widely cited as one of the most important thrash metal albums of all time. Countdown to Extinction (1992) marked their commercial breakthrough, reaching number two on the Billboard 200. The band has dissolved and reformed multiple times across decades with lineup rotation. Mustaine has been the only constant member throughout. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2019 and has recovered. He has been open about his religious conversion (Christian) and political positions. He revealed in May 2025 that Megadeth will dissolve after the upcoming 2026 final album and tour.
Megadeth's sound is foundational to American thrash metal - combining thrash metal, heavy metal, speed metal, progressive metal, and groove metal with Mustaine's distinctive snarled vocal delivery and intricate dual-guitar arrangements (particularly the Mustaine/Friedman era), complex compositional approaches, and lyrical content addressing politics, war, nuclear proliferation, religion, and personal experience.
Original Combat and Capitol Records pressings of the late-1980s and 1990s Megadeth catalog are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues, and the comprehensive Capitol/UMC reissue programs have been released.
Listeners new to Megadeth typically start with Rust in Peace (1990) or Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986).
