Megadeth Featured in 2026 Album Roundup
Metal legends Megadeth are highlighted among ten standout albums that have set the tone for 2026, according to ABC News' year-opening roundup. The list also features acclaimed projects from A$AP Rocky, J. Cole, and Willow, showcasing cross-genre innovation in early 2026.
Megadeth's seventeenth studio album, self-titled *Megadeth*, is being called their last. Released on January 23, 2026, the album is the first to feature guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and the first since 2009 to include bassist James LoMenzo. The release will be followed by a multi-year global farewell tour. The album's tracklist features 10 new songs, including the lead single "Tipping Point." A bonus track is a cover of "Ride the Lightning," a song frontman Dave Mustaine co-wrote during his early career with Metallica. Mustaine has stated the cover is a way of paying respect to the beginning of his career. The album is produced by Dave Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw, who also produced their 2022 album, *The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!*. The cover art for the final album depicts a burning image of the band's iconic mascot, Vic Rattlehead. A$AP Rocky's fourth studio album, *Don't Be Dumb*, was released on January 16, 2026, his first in nearly eight years. The album's cover art was designed by filmmaker Tim Burton, and the music video for the single "Punk Rocky" features actress Winona Ryder. J. Cole also released his proclaimed final studio album, *The Fall-Off*, on February 6, 2026. The release is a double album that the rapper had been teasing for several years. Willow surprise-released her seventh album, *petal rock black*, on February 17, 2026. The album continues her move into experimental jazz fusion and progressive pop, following her 2024 jazz-oriented album, *empathogen*.
