The List of Megadeth Albums in Order of Release Date

All Megadeth Albums Available on:  Apple Music 

Also See: Metallica Albums In Order

How many albums does Megadeth have?

Megadeth has released seventeen studio albums, six live albums, seven compilation albums, one EP, fifty-nine singles, ten video albums, and fifty three music videos.

The List of  Megadeth Albums in Order of Release Date

Here is the list of Megadeth  Album in Order of Release Date:

1. Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! — June 12, 1985
2. Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? — September 19, 1986
3. So Far, So Good… So What! — January 19, 1988
4. Rust in Peace — September 24, 1990
5. Countdown to Extinction — July 14, 1992
6. Youthanasia — November 1, 1994
7. Cryptic Writings — June 17, 1997
8. Risk — August 31, 1999
9. The World Needs a Hero — May 15, 2001
10. The System Has Failed — September 14, 2004
11. United Abominations — May 15, 2007
12. Endgame — September 15, 2009
13. Thirteen — November 1, 2011
14. Super Collider — June 4, 2013
15. Dystopia — January 22, 2016
16. The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! — September 2, 2022
17. Megadeth — January 23, 2026

All Megadeth Albums List in Order

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1. Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! (1985)

Tracks

1. Last Rites/Loved to Death
2. Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!
3. The Skull Beneath the Skin
4. These Boots
5. Rattlehead
6. Chosen Ones
7. Looking Down the Cross
8. Mechanix

Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! is the explosive debut album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released in 1985 via Combat Records and Music for Nations. Fueled by Dave Mustaine’s raw aggression after his exit from Metallica, the album delivers fast, chaotic riffs, lightning-speed solos, and dark themes of death, violence, and occultism. Despite a low budget and rough production, it earned strong critical praise and helped establish thrash metal as a legitimate heavy metal subgenre. Featuring fan favorites like “Mechanix” and “Rattlehead,” the album remains a landmark release in Megadeth’s discography.

2. Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? (1986)

Tracks

1. Wake Up Dead
2. The Conjuring
3. Peace Sells
4. Devils Island
5. Good Mourning/Black Friday
6. Bad Omen
7. I Ain’t Superstitious
8. My Last Words

Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? is the iconic second studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 25, 1986, via Capitol Records. Widely regarded as a thrash metal classic, the album blends blistering speed, sharp musicianship, and politically charged lyrics that helped define extreme metal. Featuring standout tracks like “Peace Sells,” “Wake Up Dead,” and “The Conjuring,” the record showcases Dave Mustaine’s aggressive songwriting and social commentary. Despite turbulent recording sessions and lineup changes, Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? earned critical acclaim, multiple reissues, platinum certification, and a lasting legacy as one of the most influential heavy metal albums of all time.

3. So Far, So Good… So What! (1988)

 

Tracks

1. Into the Lungs of Hell
2. Set the World Afire
3. Anarchy in the U.K.
4. Mary Jane
5. 502
6. In My Darkest Hour
7. Liar
8. Hook in Mouth

So Far, So Good… So What! is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on January 19, 1988, via Capitol Records. Known for its blistering speed, technical guitar work, and aggressive songwriting, the album features themes of nuclear war, censorship, freedom of speech, and personal isolation, led by frontman Dave Mustaine. It is the only Megadeth album to feature drummer Chuck Behler and guitarist Jeff Young. Critically praised at release, the album reached the Top 30 on the Billboard 200, earned Platinum certification, and marked Megadeth’s powerful transition from underground metal to mainstream success.

4. Rust in Peace (1990)

Tracks

1. Holy Wars… The Punishment Due
2. Hangar 18
3. Take No Prisoners
4. Five Magics
5. Poison Was the Cure
6. Lucretia
7. Tornado of Souls
8. Dawn Patrol
9. Rust in Peace… Polaris

“Rust in Peace,” the fourth studio album by American thrash metal giants Megadeth, unleashed its ferocity on September 24, 1990, via Capitol Records. A pivotal moment in the band’s history, it marked the debut of lead guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. This iconic release featured standout singles “Hangar 18” and “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due.” In 2004, a remixed and remastered edition emerged with four bonus tracks. Hailed as one of the genre’s finest, it earned acclaim from Decibel and Kerrang!, earning a place in the revered “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die” book. Additionally, it earned Grammy and Foundations Forum honors.

5. Countdown to Extinction (1992)

Tracks

1. Skin o’ My Teeth
2. Symphony of Destruction
3. Architecture of Aggression
4. Foreclosure of a Dream
5. Sweating Bullets
6. This Was My Life
7. Countdown to Extinction
8. High Speed Dirt
9. Psychotron
10. Captive Honour
11. Ashes in Your Mouth

Megadeth’s Countdown to Extinction, released on July 14, 1992, is the band’s landmark fifth studio album and their most commercially successful release. Featuring the classic lineup of Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, David Ellefson, and Nick Menza, the album blends powerful thrash metal with a more melodic, groove-driven sound. Iconic tracks like “Symphony of Destruction,” “Sweating Bullets,” and “Skin o’ My Teeth” gained massive chart success and cultural impact. Praised for its politically charged lyrics and polished production, Countdown to Extinction debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earned double platinum status, and remains a defining album in heavy metal history.

6. Youthanasia (1994)

Tracks

1. Reckoning Day
2. Train of Consequences
3. Addicted to Chaos
4. A Tout le Monde
5. Elysian Fields
6. The Killing Road
7. Blood of Heroes
8. Family Tree” 4:07 9. “
9. Youthanasia
10. I Thought I Knew It All
11. Black Curtains
12. Victory

“Youthanasia,” the sixth studio album by American heavy metal titans Megadeth, unleashed its sonic fury on November 1, 1994, through Capitol Records. Drawing upon the stylistic essence of its predecessor, “Countdown to Extinction” (1992), the album’s title holds a thought-provoking twist, suggesting a society’s euthanizing of its youth. The striking cover art portrays an elderly woman suspending babies by their feet on an unending clothesline, directly echoing the album’s title track. Critically acclaimed, “Youthanasia” achieved commercial success, peaking at number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart and earning platinum status in the United States. A reissued version in 2004 featured bonus tracks and in-depth liner notes, solidifying its place in Megadeth’s storied discography.

7. Cryptic Writings (1997)

Tracks

1. Trust
2. Almost Honest
3. Use the Man
4. Mastermind
5. The Disintegrators
6. I’ll Get Even
7. Sin
8. A Secret Place
9. Have Cool, Will Travel
10. She-Wolf
11. Vortex
12. FFF

Cryptic Writings, Megadeth’s seventh studio album, hit the heavy metal scene on June 17, 1997, courtesy of Capitol Records. This record marked the end of an era, as it was drummer Nick Menza’s swan song with the band, concluding their longest-standing lineup. Dissatisfied with their previous producer, Max Norman, Megadeth ventured to Nashville, Tennessee, to collaborate with Dann Huff, resulting in twelve tracks tailored for radio airplay. The album’s shift towards more accessible song structures and altered lyrics aimed at a broader audience divided critics, straying from the band’s thrash metal roots. Nevertheless, it debuted at number 10 on the Billboard 200 and went gold, with a remastered edition emerging in 2004. “Trust” earned a Grammy nomination and became the band’s highest-charting song on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks.

8. Risk (1999)

Tracks

1. Insomnia
2. Prince of Darkness
3. Enter the Arena
4. Crush ‘Em
5. Breadline
6. The Doctor Is Calling
7. I’ll Be There
8. Wanderlust
9. Ecstasy
10. Seven
11. Time: The Beginning
12. Time: The End

Risk is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on August 31, 1999, via Capitol Records. Designed as a bold experiment, the album marked a major shift from Megadeth’s traditional thrash metal sound toward alternative and hard rock influences. Risk introduced drummer Jimmy DeGrasso and became the final Megadeth album featuring guitarist Marty Friedman. While tracks like “Crush ’Em,” “Breadline,” and “Insomnia” achieved radio success, the stylistic departure divided fans and critics. Despite mixed reception, Risk debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and remains one of Megadeth’s most controversial and discussed albums.

9. The World Needs a Hero (2001)

Tracks

1. Disconnect
2. The World Needs a Hero
3. Moto Psycho” 3:06 4. “
4. 1000 Times Goodbye
5. Burning Bridges
6. Promises
7. Recipe for Hate… Warhorse
8. Losing My Senses
9. Dread and the Fugitive Mind
10. Silent Scorn
11. Return to Hangar
12. When

“The World Needs a Hero,” Megadeth’s ninth studio album, arrived on May 15, 2001, courtesy of Sanctuary Records, following the critical and commercial setback of its predecessor, “Risk” (1999). Marking a return to their heavier musical roots, the album climbed to number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart. This release was significant as it marked the band’s shift from Capitol Records to Sanctuary. Featuring drummer Jimmy DeGrasso and guitarist Al Pitrelli, it was also the last album to include original bassist David Ellefson until his comeback in 2010. Notably, it brought back the iconic mascot Vic Rattlehead on the cover and housed Megadeth’s lengthiest track, “When,” at 9 minutes and 14 seconds.

10.The System Has Failed (2004)

Tracks

1. Blackmail the Universe
2. Die Dead Enough
3. Kick the Chair
4. The Scorpion
5. Tears in a Vial
6. I Know Jack
7. Back in the Day
8. Something That I’m Not
9. Truth Be Told
10. Of Mice and Men
11. Shadow of Deth
12. My Kingdom

“The System Has Failed,” Megadeth’s tenth studio album, unleashed its thrash metal fury on September 14, 2004, marking a significant moment in the band’s history. Following Dave Mustaine’s recovery from a debilitating arm injury in 2002, this release marked his triumphant return. It was also the first of four Megadeth albums without original bassist David Ellefson. With former member Chris Poland on guitar and session musicians Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Jimmie Lee Sloas on bass, the album harkened back to the band’s earlier, more ferocious sound. Critics lauded its return to form, and it debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200. Singles like “Die Dead Enough” and “The Scorpion” further solidified its impact, even finding a place in an episode of Duck Dodgers in 2005.

11. United Abominations (2007)

Tracks

1. Sleepwalker
2. Washington Is Next!
3. Never Walk Alone… A Call to Arms
4. United Abominations
5. Gears of War
6. Blessed Are the Dead
7. Play for Blood
8. À Tout le Monde (Set Me Free)
9. Amerikhastan
10. You’re Dead
11. Burnt Ice

Released on May 15, 2007, “United Abominations” stands as Megadeth’s eleventh studio album, marking a significant shift as their debut under Roadrunner Records and featuring an entirely new lineup, with Dave Mustaine as the sole constant. It marked a return to a full-time band recording, unlike its predecessor “The System Has Failed” (2004). The album’s politically charged lyrics, addressing global issues, resonated with fans and critics alike, earning it a debut at number eight on the Billboard 200. Megadeth’s rebirth was hailed by AllMusic as they “sound reborn.” Notably, the album sparked an official United Nations response, inadvertently validating some of its lyrical accusations.

12. Endgame (2009)

Tracks

1. Dialectic Chaos
2. This Day We Fight!
3. 44 Minutes
4. 1,320
5. Bite the Hand
6. Bodies
7. Endgame
8. The Hardest Part of Letting Go… Sealed with a Kiss
9. Head Crusher
10. How the Story Ends
11. The Right to Go Insane

“Endgame,” the twelfth studio album by American thrash metal titans Megadeth, unleashed its sonic fury on September 15, 2009, via Roadrunner Records. Produced by Dave Mustaine and Andy Sneap, this masterpiece marked a significant transition for the band as it introduced guitarist Chris Broderick, following Glen Drover’s 2008 departure. It also served as bassist James LoMenzo’s swansong until his return post-2022’s “The Sick, The Dying, and The Dead.” With eleven tracks exploring themes from “The Lord of the Rings” to the 2008 Great Recession, “Endgame” showcases Megadeth’s lyrical prowess. The album stormed the Billboard 200 at number nine, and singles like “Head Crusher” earned Grammy nominations, solidifying its place as a thrash metal gem.

13. Thirteen (2011)

Tracks

1. Sudden Death
2. Public Enemy No. 1
3. Whose Life (Is It Anyways?)
4. We the People
5. Guns, Drugs, & Money
6. Never Dead
7. New World Order
8. Fast Lane
9. Black Swan
10. Wrecker
11. Millennium of the Blind
12. Deadly Nightshade
13. 13

Thirteen (stylized as Th1rt3en) marks the thirteenth studio album by the American thrash metal legends, Megadeth. Originally launched in Japan on October 27, 2011, and globally on November 1, 2011, this release marked the return of bassist and founding member David Ellefson to the band, ending a decade-long absence. Thirteen made an impactful debut, securing the 11th position on the Billboard 200 chart with 42,000 initial copies sold. It also achieved strong international standings and garnered positive critical acclaim. The album featured both new tracks and reworked older songs, some intended for video game soundtracks. Notable singles like “Public Enemy No. 1” and “Sudden Death” received Grammy nominations.

14. Super Collider (2013)

Tracks

1. Kingmaker
2. Super Collider
3. Burn!
4. Built for War
5. Off the Edge
6. Dance in the Rain
7. Beginning of Sorrow
8. The Blackest Crow
9. Forget to Remember
10. Don’t Turn Your Back…
11. Cold Sweat

“Super Collider” is the fourteenth studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on June 4, 2013. Notably, it marked the band’s debut under the Universal label, Tradecraft, specially created for frontman Dave Mustaine. This album features a guest appearance by David Draiman, the vocalist of Disturbed, and its title track served as the lead single. While it retained the same lineup as its predecessor, this record would be the last to feature drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick, who departed in November 2014. “Super Collider” debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 86,000 copies in the United States as of December 2015, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

15. Dystopia (2016)

Tracks

1. The Threat Is Real
2. Dystopia
3. Fatal Illusion
4. Death from Within
5. Bullet to the Brain
6. Post American World
7. Poisonous Shadows
8. Conquer or Die!
9. Lying in State
10. The Emperor
11. Foreign Policy

“Dystopia,” Megadeth’s fifteenth studio album, marked a pivotal moment in the band’s history. Released on January 22, 2016, under frontman Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft label via Universal, the album introduced guitarist Kiko Loureiro to the Megadeth lineup. Produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw, its striking cover artwork was created by Brent Elliot White. Prior to recording, drummer Shawn Drover and guitarist Chris Broderick departed, replaced by Lamb of God’s Chris Adler and Kiko Loureiro, respectively. “Dystopia” received critical acclaim, revitalizing the band’s sound after 2013’s “Super Collider.” It reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart and won Megadeth their first Grammy for “Best Metal Performance” at the 59th Grammy Awards.

16. The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! (2022)

Tracks: 

1. The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!
2. Life in Hell
3. Night Stalkers
4. Dogs of Chernobyl
5. Sacrifice
6. Junkie
7. Psychopathy
8. Killing Time
9. Soldier On!
10. Célebutante
11. Mission to Mars
12. We’ll Be Back

“The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!” is the sixteenth studio album by American thrash metal pioneers Megadeth. Released on September 2, 2022, on Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft label via Universal, it marked the return of drummer Dirk Verbeuren and the band’s first studio album in six years since “Dystopia” in 2016, the longest gap in their career. Production duties were shared by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw. The album’s creation was marred by delays, including Mustaine’s 2019 throat cancer diagnosis and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Bassist David Ellefson’s departure led to Steve Di Giorgio’s bass re-recordings and the return of James LoMenzo. With critical acclaim, it charted impressively worldwide, including a No. 3 spot on the US Billboard 200 and a Grammy nomination for the lead single “We’ll Be Back.”

17. Megadeth (2026)

Tracks:

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

Megadeth is the seventeenth and final studio album by legendary American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on January 23, 2026. Produced by frontman Dave Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw, the album marks a historic farewell, launching alongside the band’s final world tour. It is the only Megadeth album to feature guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari and the first since Endgame (2009) to include bassist James LoMenzo. Led by singles like “Tipping Point” and “Let There Be Shred,” the album blends classic thrash energy with reflective themes, earning mixed to positive critical reviews.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Megadeth’s legacy is best understood by exploring Megadeth Albums in Order, which showcases the band’s constant evolution, resilience, and influence on heavy metal. From the raw aggression of Killing Is My Business… to genre-defining classics like Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction, each release reflects Dave Mustaine’s vision and technical mastery. The journey through Megadeth Albums in Order highlights their lyrical depth, musical complexity, and cultural impact as part of thrash metal’s “Big Four.” Together, their discography stands as a definitive chronicle of innovation, controversy, and enduring metal excellence.

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