Megadeth’s “Let There Be Shred” is a Nostalgic Thrash Ripper
Fuck. Yes. This is what I was hoping this track would be — just a pure, unadulterated thrash metal anthem from Megadeth. Riffs for days, soaring solos, and the kind of energy that makes you want to get off your ass and start up a circle pit.
I know I’ve been hella critical of Megadeth’s singles as of late. The first single “Tipping Point” was pretty cool despite the lyrics, but “I Don’t Care” felt like a cringe-worthy teenager’s first draft at a punk song. “Let There Be Shred” though? Hell yes, man.
The best part comes about two minutes into the track. It’s just a chuggy breakdown riff part that flows into one a blistering solo from Teemu Mäntysaari, followed naturally by an equally killer solo from Dave Mustaine himself. The whole damn thing just kick ass, man. Oh and the music video is just fun.
This sort of whiplash from their singles worries me though. I really want Megadeth’s self-titled and final album to be one massive exclamation point to what will ultimately end up being a legendary career. Were there bumps along the road? Absolutely, but at the end of the day, Dave Mustaine and company (all 50,000 of the band’s current and past members) put together a body of work that cements them in the annals of music history. Metallica be damned.
Megadeth’s self-titled, farewell LP is set to release January 23 of 2026 via BLKIIBLK, but you can preorder your copy today.
As for their farewell tour, the band will be around for a couple more years, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see them as soon as possible. If they’re coming to a venue near you, you owe it to yourself to catch Mustaine and co. one (or more than one) last time before they’re through. The dates that have been announced so far have been listed below.
Megadeth Farewell Tour Dates
1/17 La Vergne, TN Let There Be Shred: Immersive Listening Event
2/15 Victoria, BC Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
2/17 Abbotsford, BC Rogers Forum
2/18 Kelowna, BC Prospera Place
2/20 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome
2/21 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
2/24 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
2/25 Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre
2/28 London, ON Canada Life Place
3/1 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
3/3 Halifax, NS Scotiabank Centre
3/4 Moncton, NB Avenir Centre
3/6 Québec City, QC Videotron Centre
4/23 Lima, Peru Costa 21
4/26 Bogotá, Colombia Movistar Arena
4/27 Bogotá, Colombia Movistar Arena
4/30 Buenos Aires, Argentina TBD
5/10 Mexico City, Mexico Arena Ciudad de Mexico
5/11 Mexico City, Mexico Arena Ciudad de Mexico
5/13 Guadalajara, Mexico Arena Guadalajara
5/2 São Paulo, Brazil Espaco Unimed
5/4 Santiago, Chile Movistar Arena
5/5 Santiago, Chile Movistar Arena
5/8 Monterrey, Mexico Arena Monterrey
6/10 Hradec Králové, Czechia Rock For People – Park 360
6/11 Luxembourg, LUX Rockhal
6/14 Ferrara, Italy Ferrara Summer Festival – Piazza Ariostea
6/15 Zurich, SWI Halle 622
6/16 Vienna, AUT Gasometer
6/2 Hanover, Germany Heinz von Heiden Arena
6/23 Istanbul, TUR KüçükÇiftlik Park
6/26 Helsinki, Finland Suvilahti – TUSKA
6/28 Almaty, KAZ Spartak Stadium
6/7 Gelsenkirchen, GER Amphitheater
8/29 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
8/30 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
9/11 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
9/12 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
9/15 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
9/19 Shakopee, MN Mystic Lake Amphitheater
9/22 Tinley Park, IL Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
9/25 Los Angeles, CA BMO Stadium
9/26 Los Angeles, CA BMO Stadium
9/29 San Antonio, TX Alamodome
9/3 Montréal, QC Parc Jean Drapeau
9/5 Harrison, NJ Sports Illustrated Stadium
9/6 Harrison, NJ Sports Illustrated Stadium
9/9 Boston, MA TD Garden
