Two projects by Megadeth — Youthanasia and Countdown to Extinction — debut on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart together, upping the band’s total count to eight hits. LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Musicians David Ellefson, Dirk Verbeuren, Dave Mustaine, and Kiko Loureiro of musical group Megadeth attend The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
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It was only a few months ago that hard rock band Megadeth released what the group claims is its final full-length. The self-titled affair reached No. 1 on several Billboard charts, including the Billboard 200, where it became the outfit’s first leader on the ranking dated February 7.
That project has already disappeared from every roster published by Billboard, but Megadeth enjoys another huge frame on the charts in America. A pair of projects debut on the same list, significantly increasing the soon-to-be-defunct troupe’s career total.
Megadeth Debuts Two Albums on the Vinyl Chart
Two Megadeth titles land on the Vinyl Albums chart for the first time this week. Countdown to Extinction launches at No. 17, while Youthanasia gets off to a No. 22 start.
Megadeth Doubles Its 2026 Debuts
As both Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia debut, Megadeth increases its total number of wins on the Vinyl Albums chart from six to eight. Amazingly, half of all of the band’s placements on the 25-space rundown have popped up in 2026.
Back in February, the group’s self-titled farewell hit No. 1, becoming the troupe’s first leader on the Vinyl Albums register. A little more than a month ago, the Hidden Treasures EP spent one week at No. 20. Now, Megadeth doubles its total number of debuts on the Vinyl Albums rundown in 2026.
Megadeth Enjoys Its Busiest Year on the Vinyl Chart
2026 is the busiest year for Megadeth on the vinyl roster, and the only year in which the band has scored more than one arrival. Megadeth first appeared on the tally 15 years ago when Thirteen launched at No. 2, narrowly missing out on giving the group its first ruler. It was half a decade before Dystopia launched at No. 4, and then two years later, Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! — The Final Kill hit No. 12 in June 2018. In 2022, Megadeth was once again denied a No. 1 when The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! joined Th1rt3en by topping out in second place.
Megadeth’s Vinyl Bestsellers Usually Only Chart for One Week
Countdown to Extinction and Youthanasia, like almost every other Megadeth title that has landed on the Vinyl Albums chart, add to the list of bestsellers that have only spent one frame on the ranking. Based on where they start, it seems unlikely that either set will be present next week. Megadeth, the self-titled effort, is the only collection from the group to manage more than one stay on the tally, as it held on for three periods.
Megadeth Follows Paul McCartney, Shinedown and More
Nearly half of all the spaces on this week’s Vinyl Albums chart are occupied by debuts. 12 titles arrive on the list, and a number of them land in loftier positions than either of Megadeth’s new hits. The roster is dominated by Paul McCartney’s The Boys of Dungeon Lane, while new releases from Boards of Canada, Shinedown and Dogstar also enter inside the top 10.
Megadeth Matches Danzig’s Two Debuts
Megadeth is one of only three acts that claim more than one spot on the current edition of the Vinyl Albums chart. The metal favorites are currently tied with Danzig, which likewise earns a pair of debuts. Danzig’s self-titled is new at No. 18, while Danzig II: Lucifuge narrowly makes it to the tally as it begins its run at No. 25.
Glenn Danzig of Danzig performs with Metallica during night three of the band’s 30th Anniversary at The Fillmore on December 9, 2011 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
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Michael Jackson beats every other artist with four current bestsellers. Thriller drops from No. 1 to No. 3, his Number Ones compilation descends to No. 6, Off the Wall slips slightly to No. 8, while Bad declines to No. 16.
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