You’d think recording your own version of one of Metallica’s most famous songs might get a reaction from the Metallica camp.
Apparently not.
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine says he still hasn’t heard from Metallica about what they think of his newly recorded version of “Ride The Lightning” — but, as far as he’s concerned, that was never really the point anyway.
The track appears on Megadeth’s final self-titled studio album and represents something considerably bigger for Mustaine than simply adding another cover to the record.
For him, it’s about closing the circle on a career that began, in part, alongside James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich more than four decades ago. ⚡🤘 (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
🎸 Mustaine Wanted To ‘Close The Circle’
Speaking in a new interview, Mustaine explained that the decision to record “Ride The Lightning” came when Megadeth were already well into making their final album.
The band traditionally likes throwing a cover or reinterpretation onto its records, but this one was obviously different.
Mustaine doesn’t really regard it as simply covering somebody else’s song.
And he’s got a point.
Dave is officially credited alongside James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich and Cliff Burton as one of the writers of “Ride The Lightning”, despite having been dismissed from Metallica before the album of the same name was released in 1984. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
For Mustaine, revisiting it all these years later gave him the opportunity to return to a piece of his own musical history.
And with Megadeth approaching the end of their recording career, the timing clearly felt right.
⚡ But Has Metallica Heard It?
That’s the million-dollar question.
Mustaine says he hasn’t heard anything from the Metallica camp about whether they actually like Megadeth’s version.
No message from James.
No thumbs-up from Lars.
No mysterious carrier pigeon arriving at Megadeth HQ.
Nothing.
But Mustaine insists getting Metallica’s approval was never why he recorded it.
The purpose was personal.
It was about looking back at what he, Hetfield and Ulrich achieved together during Metallica’s earliest days and acknowledging the part that period played in everything that came afterwards. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
🤘 ‘As Good Or Better’
There was one fairly sizeable condition attached to recording it, though.
If Megadeth were going to tackle “Ride The Lightning”, Mustaine wanted them to make the thing absolutely rip.
The goal was essentially to make their version as strong as the original — or better.
No pressure, then.
Rather than simply copying Metallica’s 1984 recording note for note, Megadeth put their own stamp on it.
They increased the tempo slightly, beefed up parts of the arrangement and changed the approach to the guitar solo.
Current Megadeth guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and Mustaine split sections of the lead work, while drummer Dirk Verbeuren was given room to put his own stamp on the closing fills. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
In other words:
This isn’t karaoke Metallica.
It’s Megadeth playing “Ride The Lightning” like Megadeth.
Exactly how it should be.
🎸 Dave’s Connection To ‘Ride The Lightning’
Mustaine’s relationship with the song goes all the way back to Metallica’s formative years.
He was part of the band between 1981 and 1983, contributing to material that would eventually appear across Kill ’Em All and Ride The Lightning. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
He has often pointed towards some of his distinctive guitar techniques appearing within the title track, including his so-called “spider chord” technique.
That connection made “Ride The Lightning” a more fitting choice than simply picking something recognisable from the Metallica catalogue.
This wasn’t Mustaine randomly deciding to have a crack at “Enter Sandman” after a few pints.
This was revisiting something he genuinely helped create.
🖤 Respect For James Hetfield
What makes the whole thing particularly interesting is how openly respectful Mustaine has been towards James Hetfield while discussing the recording.
Anyone familiar with the decades of Metallica/Megadeth history will know that the relationship between Mustaine and his former bandmates has not exactly been straightforward.
There has been bitterness.
Arguments.
Reunions.
More arguments.
Occasional hugs.
More interviews about old arguments.
Basically, enough material to power heavy-metal soap opera television until approximately 2043.
But Mustaine has repeatedly praised Hetfield’s abilities as a rhythm guitarist and vocalist, while also giving Lars Ulrich credit for his songwriting contributions during those formative years. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
That’s important.
Because Mustaine insists this version isn’t about digging up old grudges.
Quite the opposite.
🔥 Megadeth Have Already Played It Live
And the track hasn’t been confined to the studio either.
Megadeth gave their version of “Ride The Lightning” its live debut on 26 April 2026 at the Movistar Arena in Bogotá, Colombia. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
Seeing Dave Mustaine standing onstage performing one of Metallica’s most celebrated songs more than four decades after helping write it?
That’s one of those wonderfully strange heavy-metal full-circle moments.
History has a funny way of coming back around.
Usually much louder.
⚡ From Metallica To Megadeth
Mustaine’s dismissal from Metallica in 1983 remains one of the most famous personnel changes in metal history.
Metallica went on to become one of the biggest bands on the planet.
Mustaine responded by forming Megadeth and creating another cornerstone of thrash metal.
Not a bad pair of outcomes, really.
Songs connected to Mustaine’s Metallica period have continued to follow both bands throughout their careers.
Perhaps the most famous example is “Mechanix”, which appeared on Megadeth’s 1985 debut Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!, while a reworked version became Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen” on Kill ’Em All. (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
Four decades later, “Ride The Lightning” has now become another fascinating link between the two camps.
🤝 Could We Ever Get Metallica And Megadeth Together Again?
This is where things get interesting.
Mustaine has spoken positively about the possibility of sharing stages with Metallica again and has suggested that a Megadeth/Metallica tour would be something special.
Whether the planets ever align enough for that to actually happen is another matter entirely.
Heavy-metal fans have been playing the “will Dave and Metallica properly reunite?” game for decades.
At this point it should probably come boxed with dice and a rulebook. 😂 (BLABBERMOUTH.NET)
Still, Mustaine’s attitude towards “Ride The Lightning” certainly sounds considerably more reflective than confrontational.
And given where Megadeth currently stand in their career, perhaps that’s exactly how it should be.
🖤 Closing One Hell Of A Circle
There’s something fitting about Dave Mustaine revisiting “Ride The Lightning” at this stage.
Before Megadeth.
Before decades of albums.
Before world tours.
Before Grammys.
Before the endless Metallica-versus-Megadeth arguments.
There was a young Dave Mustaine writing riffs alongside James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich while a completely new strain of heavy metal was beginning to take shape.
More than forty years later, he’s returned to one of those songs.
Not to restart an old feud.
Not necessarily to get Metallica’s approval.
But to acknowledge where the story began.
🤘 The Riff Report Says…
Metal history can be wonderfully messy.
And the Dave Mustaine/Metallica story might be one of the messiest of the lot.
But there’s something genuinely cool about hearing Mustaine talk about this song with respect rather than resentment.
Megadeth taking on “Ride The Lightning” could easily have been treated like some giant musical middle finger.
Instead, Mustaine sees it as a tribute.
A nod towards Hetfield.
A nod towards Ulrich.
And a final opportunity to put his own stamp on a song carrying his name in the writing credits.
Metallica haven’t told him what they think yet.
Maybe they will.
Maybe they won’t.
Either way, more than four decades after Dave Mustaine left Metallica, “Ride The Lightning” is somehow connecting the two sides of thrash-metal history all over again.
And bloody hell…
what a circle to close. ⚡🎸🤘
