MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine spoke EXCLUSIVELY to BW&BK recently regarding the band's as-yet-untitled new album, due out through Roadrunner later this year. They recently returned from SARM Recording Studios just outside of London, England. Mustaine is working co-producer Jeff Balding, who helmed 2004's The System Has Failed. Mustaine gives us a quick snapshot of the recording:

"We rented John Bonham's (LED ZEPPELIN drum legend) drum kit for Shawn (Drover - drums) and he was beside himself. He went to England as a young man and came back a seasoned veteran because the way he is playing, I didn't know he had that talent. I knew he had a gift. He even surpassed my wildest dreams for what drums should sound like on a Megadeth record. It's really rewarding to go through all the extent that we did and the difficulty to make everything happen because I believe sonically what we've got down right now is probably some of the heaviest bass (courtesy of James Lomenzo) and drum sounding tracks that we've had in a really long time. As far as the speed and the tempo or anything like that, that's up to other people to listen to and see if they like it or not. Tone-wise what we have right now is really cool."

And all the drums and bass are completed?
"Yes. Glenn (Drover - guitarist) has four songs done. I just started my overdubs on Monday (May 22nd) and I'm doubling my tracks so I'm about four songs into it. The record consists of twelve songs - 11 for an American release and 12 for Japan. Unless Roadrunner adds an additional track from something previously and puts out all 12 tracks around the world, which I think would be cool. I'd like to see all 12 tracks go around the world and give Japan a live track or something."

Any song titles yet?
"You know me, these song titles change everyday! And I won't know the record title until I've committed to the damn artwork."