The American thrash metal band 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. After he was fired from Metallica in April 1983, guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth along with bassist Matt Kisselstein, guitarist Robbie McKinney, and drummer Dijon Carruthers. After some various lineup changes in 1983 and 1984, Megadeth's lineup was cemented in late 1984, consisting of guitarist Dave Mustaine, bassist David Ellefson, guitarist Chris Poland, and drummer Gar Samuelson. The band toured and gained a following, signing with the independent label Combat Records in late 1984. Megadeth's debut album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (1985), sold very well for an independent release, and the group attracted the attention of major record labels. By the end of the year, the group signed with Capitol Records. Megadeth's first major-label album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?, was released in 1986.
Before the recording of the band's third album, Mustaine fired Poland and Samuelson; they were replaced by Jeff Young and Chuck Behler, respectively. The new lineup debuted on So Far, So Good... So What! in early 1988. Later that year, Mustaine fired Young and Behler and replaced them with guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. This lineup recorded Megadeth's fourth album, Rust in Peace, which was released in late 1990. The singles "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Hangar 18" reached the top 30 in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Megadeth's most commercially successful album, Countdown to Extinction (1992), peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, and was the band's first record to be certified platinum at its release year by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Megadeth's biggest hit single is "Symphony of Destruction", which peaked at No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and in the top 15 in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Youthanasia (1994) peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, and like its predecessor, it was certified platinum by the RIAA. The singles "Train of Consequences" and "A Tout le Monde", reached the top 30 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. The following year Megadeth released Hidden Treasures, an EP that featured previously released non-album tracks, including soundtrack and compilation songs. Cryptic Writings (1997) peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, and became the group's sixth consecutive studio album to be certified platinum in the US. The release scored the band's highest-charting single to date, "Trust", which peaked at No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Later that year, Menza was fired from the band and was replaced by drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. The following year, Risk was released, and was a critical and commercial failure. In 2000, Friedman left Megadeth and was replaced by guitarist Al Pitrelli. After signing with Sanctuary Records, the group debuted their new lineup on The World Needs a Hero (2001). In early 2002, Mustaine suffered an arm injury, which led him to announce in a press release that Megadeth had disbanded.
In 2004, Megadeth released The System Has Failed. Although intended to be a solo album by Mustaine, outstanding contractual obligations with the band's European label EMI forced him to release one more album under the "Megadeth" name. Mustaine officially reformed Megadeth, recruiting guitarist Glen Drover and drummer Shawn Drover, along with bassist James MacDonough, who would be replaced by James LoMenzo before having the chance to play on a record. United Abominations was released in 2007, and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Endgame was released in 2009, and marked the debut of guitarist Chris Broderick, who replaced Drover the previous year. The record peaked at number 9 on the Billboard 200. In 2010, founding bassist David Ellefson rejoined the band; the new lineup would go on to release Thirteen in 2011, and Super Collider in 2013, which respectively peaked at No. 11 and No. 6 on the Billboard 200, making Super Collider the band's highest-charting album since 1994's Youthanasia.
In 2015, Drover and Broderick quit the band, and were respectively replaced by Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler and Angra guitarist Kiko Loureiro. Dystopia was released in 2016, and won "Best Metal Performance" at the 59th Grammy Awards, making this the band's first Grammy Award after 11 nominations. Adler was quickly replaced by drummer Dirk Verbeuren in July 2016.
Ellefson was dismissed on May 14, 2021, due to a sex scandal, and was replaced by former bassist James LoMenzo, first as a touring member, then as a permanent member. The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! was released in September 2022, with bass tracks recorded by Testament bassist Steve DiGiorgio.
As of 2023, the band sold more than 50 million copies of their albums worldwide.
The band's final record Megadeth was released on January 23, 2026, and became their first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200, along with reaching No. 1 in multiple other countries.
Albums Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSAUSPeak chart positions for Megadeth in Australia: Top 50 peaks: Top 100 peaks between January 1990 and December 2010: AUTCANPeak Positions for Megadeth's albums in Canada: For "So Far, So Good... So What!" For "Rust in Peace" For Countdown to Extinction: For Youthanasia: DENdanishcharts.dk - Discography MegadethFINFor albums released between 1988 and 1994: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin: levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Otava Publishing Company Ltd, 2003. . For albums released between 1997 and 2016: FRA GERJPNNLDSWESWIUKPeak chart positions for Megadeth in the United Kingdom:
Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! Released: Label: Combat Format: CD, CS, LP 169 84 — — — — — 35 35 — — — 149Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? Released: September 25, 1986 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS, LP 76 — — — — — — — 89 — — — — RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver MC: PlatinumSo Far, So Good... So What! Released: January 19, 1988 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS, LP 28 — — 40 — 5 — 27 57 51 37 28 18 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Silver MC: PlatinumRust in Peace Released: September 24, 1990 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS, LP 23 47 — 70 — 19 — 21 29 72 34 29 8 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Gold MC: Platinum RIAJ: GoldCountdown to Extinction Released: July 14, 1992 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS, LP 2 14 12 25 — 5 — 15 6 45 10 16 5 RIAA: 2× Platinum ARIA: Platinum BPI: Gold MC: 3× Platinum RIAJ: GoldYouthanasia Released: November 1, 1994 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS, LP 4 9 26 11 — 2 — 13 11 20 4 32 6 RIAA: Platinum BPI: Gold IFPI FIN: Gold MC: Platinum RIAJ: GoldCryptic Writings Released: June 17, 1997 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS, LP 10 43 30 17 — 2 14 22 7 48 15 45 38 RIAA: Gold MC: Gold RIAJ: GoldRisk Released: August 31, 1999 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS, LP 16 — 34 14 — 8 37 38 11 39 17 — 29 The World Needs a Hero Released: May 15, 2001 Label: Sanctuary Format: CD, CS, LP 16 72 59 20 — 23 28 36 17 80 38 94 45The System Has Failed Released: September 14, 2004 Label: Sanctuary Format: CD, LP 18 57 43 10 38 12 28 29 15 32 14 57 60United Abominations Released: May 15, 2007 Label: Roadrunner Format: CD, LP 8 23 17 5 22 2 40 28 9 49 15 38 23Endgame Released: September 15, 2009 Label: Roadrunner Format: CD, LP 9 11 22 4 19 7 28 21 16 22 17 32 24Thirteen Released: November 1, 2011 Label: Roadrunner Format: CD, LP 11 13 28 8 39 8 49 25 11 42 18 23 34Super Collider Released: June 4, 2013 Label: Universal Format: CD, LP 6 28 26 4 22 4 43 24 12 36 15 21 22Dystopia Released: January 22, 2016 Label: Universal Format: CD, LP 3 6 14 3 — 3 39 10 16 25 19 7 11The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! Released: September 2, 2022 Label: Universal Format: CD, CS, LP, digital 3 2 8 11 — 1 12 6 10 7 9 2 3 Megadeth Released: January 23, 2026 Label: Frontiers Format: CD, CS, LP, digital 1 1 1 4 29 2 6 3 11 4 2 1 3 ZPAV: Gold "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.
Live albums Title Album details Peak chart Certifications US BEL CAN FIN FRA MEX NLD SWI UKRude Awakening Released: March 19, 2002 Label: Sanctuary Format: CD, CS 115 — 100 — 93 — — — 129 RIAA: GoldThat One Night: Live in Buenos Aires Released: September 4, 2007 Label: Image Format: CD — — — — — — — — — RIAA: GoldRust in Peace Live Released: September 7, 2010 Label: Shout! Factory Format: CD 161 96 72 — — 83 — — —The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria (with Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax) Released: October 15, 2010 Label: Universal Format: CD — 73 1 31 — — 75 63 1 ARIA: 2× Platinum BVMI: GoldCountdown to Extinction: Live Released: September 24, 2013 Label: Tradecraft/Universal Format: CD — — — — — — — — —Unplugged in Boston Released: August 20, 2021 Label: Cleopatra Records Format: CD————————— "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.
Compilation albums Title Album details Peak chart Certifications US FIN FRA GER JPN NZSWI UK Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years Released: October 24, 2000 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CS 66 — — — 26 41 — 185BPI: Silver Still, Alive... and Well? Released: September 10, 2002 Label: Sanctuary Format: CD — — — — — — — — Greatest Hits: Back to the Start Released: June 28, 2005 Label: Capitol Format: CD, CD+DVD 65 21 — — — — — 47BPI: Gold MC: Gold Warchest Released: October 9, 2007 Label: EMI Format: CD+DVD — 36 — — 231 — — — Anthology: Set the World Afire Released: September 30, 2008 Label: Capitol Format: CD — — — — — — — — Icon Released: February 25, 2014 Label: Capitol Format: CD — — — — — — — — Warheads on Foreheads Released: March 22, 2019 Label: Capitol — — 143 40 84 — 96 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.
Video albums Title Album details Peak chart Certifications US AUS AUT FIN GER JPN NLD NZ UK Rude Awakening Released: April 9, 2002 Label: Sanctuary Format: DVD 2 — — 8 — — — — — RIAA: Gold MC: Gold Arsenal of Megadeth Released: March 21, 2006 Label: Capitol Format: DVD 6 5 — 1 — 98 — — — RIAA: Gold MC: Platinum That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires Released: March 6, 2007 Label: Image Format: DVD 12 6 — 1 — 109 — — — RIAA: Gold ARIA: Gold MC: Platinum Rust in Peace Live Released: October 15, 2010 Label: Universal Format: DVD, BD 2 3 — 4 — 86 — — — The Big 4 Live from Sofia, Bulgaria(with Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax) Released: October 29, 2010 Label: Universal Format: DVD, BD 1 1 3 — 4 6 7 1 1 RIAA: 2× Platinum ARIA: 2× Platinum PMB: Platinum BVMI: Gold RMNZ: Gold ZPAV: 3× Platinum Countdown to Extinction: Live Released: September 24, 2013 Label: Tradecraft/Universal Format: DVD, BD — — — 4 — 90 — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.
EPs Title EP details Peak chart Certifications US JPN UK Hidden Treasures Released: July 18, 1995 Label: Capitol Format: CD 90 13 28 MC: Gold Cryptic Sounds: No Voices in Your Head Released: 1998 Label: Capitol Format: CD - - -
Singles