MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren has uploaded a new Instagram photo of frontman Dave Mustaine working in pre-production on the band’s upcoming 16th studio album. The sessions for the disc are taking place in Franklin, Tennessee with co-producer Chris Rakestraw, who previously worked on 2016’s “Dystopia” album.

Dirk wrote in an accompanying caption: “@davemustaine doing what he does best: riff like a king! #davemustaine #megaalbum16 #megadeth”

The 57-year-old MEGADETH leader announced his cancer diagnosis on June 17 on social media. He said that he has already begun treatment as part of a plan that his doctors feel has a “90% success rate.”

Although most of MEGADETH’s previously announced 2019 tour dates have been canceled as Mustaine undergoes treatment, the MEGADETH-curated Megacruise — which is set to take place October 13-19 — will still depart as scheduled, and the band will be a part of it in some form.