Legendary Metal Band Launches Mysterious Countdown originally appeared on Parade.
It’s been a week of cryptic countdowns in the music world. Taylor Swift kicked off the craze when her website posted a countdown ending on August 12 at 12:12 a.m. Ultimately, it counted down to the beginning of pre-orders for the pop star’s 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl.
On the opposite end of the musical spectrum, metal legends Megadeth posted a similar countdown on their website. This countdown ends on August 15 at 11 a.m. E.T. Text under the countdown reads, “The end is near. It’s crystal clear. Part of the master plan.” These are lyrics from the band’s song “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” off their 1990 album Rust In Piece.
This has led to speculation that the countdown may be related to a commemoration—perhaps a special edition—of Rust In Piece, which is approaching the 35th anniversary of its release.
For several months, the band has also been teasing their upcoming new album, tentatively titled Album 17, as it’s their 17th album. So in Swift fashion, the countdown could also be part of the tease.
While fans seem to be excited about the news, others are fearing the worst. “Hopefully doesn’t mean a final tour is coming,” one concerned fan wrote on Reddit. “I don’t think they would set a countdown to announce a final tour,” one commenter tried to reassure them. “It’s like hyping people up to then just announce some ‘bad’ news.”
This won’t be the only announcement Megadeth has made this week. The band also has their own beer line, Megadeth Beer, and just launched three new varieties available exclusively in the U.K.: Rattlehead IPA, Rattlehead Pilsner, and Rattlehead IPA Zero.
Legendary Metal Band Launches Mysterious Countdown first appeared on Parade on Aug 13, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.