Billboard has conducted a new Q&A; with MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine about the band's new album Th1rt3en, due out this week.

Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Billboard: Did you have any particular vision or creative mission for the album?

Mustaine: "Well, we had such a limited time to do this record. When we came home from touring, we had two months off and my manager [Mark Adelman] basically laid it out that it was in my best interests to consider doing a record in that two-month period, even though it was almost impossible. But what made it a little bit easier was [Roadrunner] was working with us on this. 'Sudden Death' was a song we did for "Guitar Hero" that they allowed to be on the record. Then we got an offer to do [the title song for the videogame] 'NeverDead'. So we went from needing 13 to having to come up with 11 new songs, which took some pressure off even though we still had to do it in about seven weeks."

Billboard: What did it mean to have Dave Ellefson back in the studio with you again?

Mustaine: "That was fun, too. Dave's a really great player. We had our differences and all that stuff, and went our separate ways. I'm the last person on Earth who would've thought he'd be back in Megadeth, and I think Dave was the second-to-last person. When we got back together again, he was a much better bass player and a better man, too. He had done a lot of growth. When the opportunity came to play again, it was not as far-fetched as one would think."

Billboard: What has the Big Four experience meant to you?

Mustaine: "It's been wonderful. It certainly makes me take a hard sideways look at what I missed out on because of the differences that we had in the past. When we were kids, we were like brothers together. We would share food. So I'm stoked we're all getting along again, and I think it's really good for the fans, too. It's a great time now, and I hope it keeps going."

Read the entire interview here.