Megadeth Returns To Punk Roots With New Single ‘I Don’t Care’

Megadeth have shared an all-new music video for the punk-inspired track ‘I Don’t Care’ taken from their final self-titled album, releasing January 23rd.

The roll-out for Megadeth’s upcoming final album continues to march on, with the band returning to their roots with the recent punk-inspired track ‘I Don’t Care’.

Frontman Dave Mustaine would tap filmmaker Keith J. Leman to direct the accompanying music video, who has also worked alongside the Jonas Brothers and Kenny Chesney. Mustaine recounted working with Leman in an interview with Rolling Stone, “I said, ‘Man, I don’t want this to be some video that’s, like, an artsy-fartsy thing … this is a punk song.”

And say what you will, but there’s no denying the video captures a very early punk aesthetic. The video, which focuses on a group of rebellious kids, features the group riding their skateboards around a park (which eventually goes up in flames), attending house parties, and tagging buildings.

“I wanted it to be, ‘What it’s like to be a young Dave again, to hang out with my friends, drink beer, light fires, skate, do house parties and all that kind of stuff?’” Mustaine told the publication. “That is such a part of who I am, although I don’t do it anymore.”

Mustaine would go on to praise one actor who reminded him of a certain punk icon and would go on to have a bottle broken on his head: “He reminded me of Gary Oldman when he played Sid Vicious,” Mustaine noted

You can watch the video below:

Megadeth’s final album is only two months away and is expected to be released on January 23rd.

Not only is Mustaine feeling nostalgic by returning to his punk roots, but the guitarist revealed that the final album will include a cover of Metallica’s ‘Ride The Lightning‘. Mustaine would argue, however, that the track is not a cover, but rather a reclamation, as he shares writing credits on the track while honouring James Hetfield.

“Our intentions were pure,” Mustaine would say. “[Our version] was more about: This is my life going forward. I want to do things that are respectable.”

The tracklisting for Megadeth’s final self-titled album is as follows:

1. Tipping Point
2. I Don’t Care
3. Hey, God?!
4. Let There Be Shred
5. Puppet Parade
6. Another Bad Day
7. Made To Kill
8. Obey The Call
9. I Am War
10. The Last Note
11. Ride The Lightning (Bonus Track)