On October 3rd, Megadeth released
Tipping Point
, the first single and video from the heavy metal band’s forthcoming self-titled final album, which is due out in 2026. Leonardo Liberti (www.leolibertifilms.com) directed the video for
Tipping Point, which finds the band trapped in an abandoned prison that appears to be haunted by ghoulish spirits.
“We all have different ‘tipping points,’ and they may vary from day to day,” says Megadeth founder Dave Mustaine. “I think we’re all being pushed to the edge right now, and it’s easy to lean into that feeling. But it’s important not to let things get you down.”
According to Liberti, the concept of the video was inspired by the prisons we create for ourselves and how, even with the doors wide open, we can find it hard to escape.
"We all have our own demons,” says the filmmaker. “And, honestly, we can be very creative when it comes to sabotaging ourselves. This video was meant to show exactly those demons we carry. They take different shapes in our minds. We create obstacles, each in our own way. If you look closely, the electric chair has no restraints. We feel haunted by so many things, but those things don’t really exist. In the end, the prison gate is open — it was never closed. We’re the ones who keep building gates and staying trapped in our thoughts and imagination."
The project was shot at an abandoned prison in Nashville, TN, in just a single day. In addition to directing, Liberti also served as cinematographer, handling all of the camera work.
"I basically used two 100w battery-powered lights," he shares of the setup. "I usually like to keep lighting very minimal in my projects. There are two artists I deeply admire: Caravaggio and William Blake. Caravaggio was the master of contrast, of light and shadow. I draw a lot of inspiration from that. And William Blake, through his art and philosophy, managed to unite all of that beautifully, which is why I bring this concept into my own work."
The video was captured with a Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, which was chosen for its compact form factor. Leica R lenses from the 1980s were used to create a vintage texture.
"Sometimes I used Red. Sometimes Blackmagic. But always with vintage lenses," states Liberti.
Liberti created the visual effects himself, with some assistance from AI.
"The effects were assisted by AI, but not generated through prompts," he shares. "It’s not so easy as it looks. What I mean is, most 3D and VFX software now have AI built into their engines. There’s no escaping it anymore. Tracking, background cleanup, motion creation, everything now involves AI, but as a support tool. I’m personally a strong defender of authorial art, that’s why my music videos and now my films always have their own unique style, which many people love and others dislike. The fact is, AI will be a major tool in everything."
In one scene, a large length of heavy chain consumes Mustaine, wrapping around his head and body. In another, bugs crawl out from beneath his skin.
"It was quite challenging," says Liberti of the chains sequence. "VFX work is expensive, and AI’s integration with software has made many things possible for independent creators. Just like when the Canon 5D came out, it democratized professional filmmaking.
In this case, Liberti used 3D to create the chains and place them around the performer, but to make things look dreamlike and surreal, he layered in some effects.
"And finally, to help with motion tracking, I used AI," he reveals. "It’s all part of the process to get the final look! It would be fantastic if I could just type a prompt saying, 'I want to put surreal chains around Dave and have him screaming. Done.' But that’s not how it works!"
In addition to Dave Mustaine, Megadeth is made up of guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, bass guitarist James LoMenzo and drummer Dirk Verbeuren.