Megadeth Finishing New Album Before Tour

Megadeth are working on their 12th album, which is tentatively scheduled for an Aug. 4 release by Roadrunner Records.

The metal band have been posting frequent updates of their studio progress with producer Andy Sneap (Cradle Of Filth, Arch Enemy) on their MySpace blog, and they apparently only have three more songs to lay down.

"I think that [bassist] James [LoMenzo] and [guitarist] Chris [Broderick] are trying to make me look bad," singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine wrote on Wednesday. "I mean having to leave the studio over and over to participate in the lives of my wife, kids, and my own insane self is hard enough, let alone having two, nitro fueled, metal madmen, trying to record everything I lay down, as good and as fast as even I can.

"So much for being an old metal maverick, like myself! Sheeeesh!"

Mustaine isn't as much of a slouch as he's letting on. After all, he played a guitar solo on "Lunatic" from Static-X's forthcoming Cult Of Static.

If you want to hear more updates or leave a message for Mustaine, you can call 1-866-597-6342. LoMenzo and drummer Shawn Drover also have hot lines you can phone.

Megadeth are finishing the 12-song follow-up to 2007's United Abominations just in time, as they'll launch the European "Priest Feast" tour with Judas Priest and Testament next month. Here are the dates:

Feb. 10 Dublin, Ireland @ 02 Arena
Feb. 11 Belfast, Northern Ireland @ Odyssey Arena
Feb. 13 Sheffield, England @ Sheffield Arena
Feb. 14 Birmingham, England @ National Exhibition Centre
Feb. 16 Glasgow, Scotland @ Scottish Exhibition And Conference Centre (Hall 4)
Feb. 17 Manchester, England @ Manchester Apollo
Feb. 18 Newcastle, England @ O2 Academy Newcastle (no Judas Priest)
Feb. 20 Cardiff, Wales @ Cardiff International Arena
Feb. 21 London, England @ Wembley Arena
Feb. 24 Dortmund, Germany @ Westfalenhallen
Feb. 25 Bamberg, Germany @ Jako-Arena
Feb. 26 Berlin, Germany @ Max-Schmeling-Halle
Feb. 28 Stockholm, Sweden @ Globen Arena
March 1 Gothenburg, Sweden @ Scandinavium Arena
March 3 Horsens, Denmark @ Forum Horsens
March 4 Malmo, Sweden @ Malmo Arena
March 6 Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle Hamburg
March 7 Offenbach, Germany @ Stadthalle
March 8 Stuttgart, Germany @ Porsche-Arena
March 10 Milan, Italy @ Palasharp
March 11 Wettingen, Switzerland @ Sportzetrum Tagerhard
March 13 San Sebastian, Spain @ Velodromo Anoeta
March 14 Zaragoza, Spain @ Arena
March 15 Madrid, Spain @ La Cubierta
March 17 Lisbon, Portugal @ Atlantico Pavillion
March 19 Barcelona, Spain @ Badalona
March 21 Paris, France @ Zenith
March 22 Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National
March 23 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Heineken Music Hall