The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!

The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!
Studio album by
Megadeth
ReleasedSeptember 2, 2022
RecordedMay 2019[1] – 2021
GenreThrash metal[2]
Length55:10
Label
Producer
Megadeth chronology
Dystopia
(2016) 		The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!
(2022)
Singles from The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!
  1. "We'll Be Back"
    Released: June 23, 2022
  2. "Night Stalkers"
    Released: July 22, 2022
  3. "Soldier On!"
    Released: August 12, 2022
  4. "The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!"
    Released: September 2, 2022
  5. "Life in Hell"
    Released: October 20, 2022
  6. "Killing Time"
    Released: December 16, 2022

The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! is the sixteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 2, 2022, on frontman Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft label via Universal.[2] It is the first Megadeth album to feature drummer Dirk Verbeuren, their last album with guitarist Kiko Loureiro, and their first studio album in six years since Dystopia (2016), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in the band's career. The album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw.[1]

Work on The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! began in 2019, but faced a number of delays due to Mustaine being diagnosed with throat cancer the same year along with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In 2021, longtime bassist David Ellefson was dismissed from Megadeth following allegations of sexual misconduct. His bass parts were removed from the album and were re-recorded by Testament bassist Steve Di Giorgio, while former bassist James LoMenzo rejoined the band following the album's completion.

The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! received generally positive reviews, with critics saying the album continued the trajectory set by Dystopia. It debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 with 48,000 units and is Megadeth's highest-charting album around the rest of the world, reaching No. 1 in Finland, No. 2 in Australia, Poland, Switzerland and Scotland, and No. 3 in the UK, among others.[3] It was ranked as the 4th best guitar album of 2022 by Guitar World readers.[4] The lead single "We'll Be Back" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.

  1. ^ a b "Megadeth Enters Studio For New Album Pre-Production". Blabbermouth.net. May 19, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Kory Grow (June 23, 2022). "Megadeth's Dave Mustaine Talks Upcoming Album, 'The Sick, the Dying … and the Dead!'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  3. ^ "Megadeth's Dirk Verbeuren: 'The Metal Scene Is Really In A Good Place'". Blabbermouth.net. July 16, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Horsley, Jonathan (December 21, 2022). "The best guitar albums of 2022". Guitar World. Future plc. Retrieved October 30, 2024.