| The Threat Is Real | |
| Cover: | thethreatisreal.jpeg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Megadeth |
| Album: | Dystopia |
| Released: | November 25, 2015 |
| Recorded: | April–July 2015 |
| Studio: | Studio South, Leiper's Fork, Tennessee |
| Genre: | Thrash metal |
| Length: | 4:22 |
| Label: | Tradecraft/Universal |
| Producer: |
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| Prev Title: | Fatal Illusion |
| Prev Year: | 2015 |
| Next Title: | Dystopia |
| Next Year: | 2016 |
"The Threat Is Real" is a song by American thrash metal band Megadeth, written by Dave Mustaine. It is the opening track from their fifteenth studio album Dystopia, which was released on January 22, 2016. The song was released as the album's second single on streaming services on November 25, 2015,[1] and on vinyl on November 27, 2015.[2]
The music video features the band members trapped in a jail cell inside of a dilapidated city.[3] The story shown in the video continues with the album’s titular track’s music video,[4] It was released on December 11, 2015.[5]
The song debuted live in Denver, Colorado, on February 23, 2016.[6] It is the second most performed song from the album, being played nearly 230 times as of September 2022.[7] A live performance filmed at Hellfest 2016 was featured on the DVD of the Japanese Deluxe Edition of Dystopia.
The song was ranked the third greatest from the album by Return Of Rock.[8]
Credits adapted from Dystopia liner notes.[9]
Megadeth
Additional musicians
Production and design