After a nearly 40-year wait, MEGADETH achieves its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. The metal band’s new self-titled set, which also marks its expected final studio album, debuts atop the list dated Feb. 7. Megadeth made its Billboard 200 chart debut in 1986 and has placed 23 albums on the ranking through its career. Until this week, the band had gone as high as No. 2, with 1992’s Countdown to Extinction.
The new self-titled album earned 73,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending Jan. 29, according to Luminate — marking the act’s best week, by units earned, since the chart began ranking by units in December 2014. The bulk of that sum was driven by pure album sales (purchases of physical and digital copies of the album), totaling 69,000. That’s the biggest sales week for any Megadeth album since 1999, when Risk opened with 74,000 sold.
Mustaine says: "After 40 years of delivering MEGADETH music, playing shows around the world, I have nothing but gratitude at this moment. Finding out that our last MEGADETH record is also our first No. 1 only further validates my will to go out on top.
"Thank you to my family, Teemu Mäntysaari, James LoMenzo, Dirk Verbueren and Chris Rakestraw, all our fans for making this possible. Without you MEGADETH would not be as successful as we are. I'd also like to thank the people behind the scenes, our management, Danny Nozell, Justis Mustaine, and Steve Ross at CTK, and our label BLKIIBLK/Tradecraft.
"This recording is a labour of love, and I hope you enjoy this as much as we do. See you on tour soon!"
Mäntysaari states: "Absolutely amazing news! Thank you and congrats to our entire extended MEGADETH family!"
LoMenzo says: "I want to sincerely thank all our friends and fans who grabbed a copy, we're over the moon!"
Verbeuren adds: "It feels unbelievable to sit atop the charts with an album that's uncompromisingly MEGADETH. Huge thanks to all of you who support us- you made this happen! See you on tour!"
Jeff Stevenson, general manager, Frontiers Label Group, comments: "This moment represents the culmination of the trust Dave and the MEGADETH team placed in our label, BLKIIBLK/Frontiers Label Group, to deliver these results. As our label and its owner, Serafino Perugino, celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, the timing felt right to proudly partner in this next chapter with a band that has shaped music history since its formation in 1983."
Tom Lipsky, A&R USA, Frontiers Label Group, adds: "This achievement is a testament to the relationship that Dave Mustaine and MEGADETH have built with fans over the course of their career."
Danny Nozell, MEGADETH's manager and founder/CEO of CTK Enterprises, says: "The impact MEGADETH has made on music has forever been cemented. And, now with this long overdue No. 1 all-genre album, the band is going out on top. I am so proud of Justis Mustaine, Steve Ross, and the entire CTK team, our Results Global marketing team, SRO PR, and our partners at BLKIIBLK/Frontiers Label Group and The Orchard for bringing this project to life."
Megadeth - Megadeth tracklisting
1. Tipping Point
2. I Don’t Care
3. Hey, God?!
4. Let There Be Shred
5. Puppet Parade
6. Another Bad Day
7. Made To Kill
8. Obey The Call
9. I Am War
10. The Last Note
11. Ride The Lightning (Bonus Track)
