Risk (Megadeth album)
Risk | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 31, 1999 | |||
Recorded | January–April 1999 | |||
Studio | The Tracking Room, Nashville[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 51:34 | |||
Label | Capitol | |||
Producer | ||||
Megadeth chronology | ||||
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Singles from Risk | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
Risk is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on August 31, 1999, by Capitol Records, the band's last album to be released by the label.[4] The first Megadeth album since 1990 to feature a lineup change, Risk marks the studio debut of drummer Jimmy DeGrasso with the band, as well as the final appearance of longtime guitarist Marty Friedman, who announced his departure a year later.[5] Meant to be a breakthrough on alternative rock radio, Risk received a mixed response because of the great deviation from the band's traditional sound. The backlash ultimately resulted with the band returning towards a heavier sound with their next album.
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine has blamed the record's lack of success on the fact that it was released under the "Megadeth" moniker: "if anybody else's name was on 'Risk', it would have sold".[6] The album debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart. As with the rest of Megadeth's studio records released by Capitol, the album was remixed and remastered in 2004, with several bonus tracks added. This reissue also featured a different cover.
Background and release
Risk followed the band's 1997 release
The title stems from a comment by Dave Mustaine's former Metallica bandmate Lars Ulrich, who suggested to Mustaine that he should take more "risks" with his music.[8] According to Mustaine, he was also encouraged to experiment by Marty Friedman’s desire to indulge in his pop sensibilities.[9] On the other hand, newcomer Jimmy DeGrasso wanted to do a "heavy record", unlike the rest of the band who wanted to try out something different.[10] As bassist David Ellefson recalls, the band's manager Bud Prager had told them that they needed "to do something that will make all of their contemporaries knock themselves on the head and say, 'Why didn't we think of that'?".[11] This decision resulted in mixed reviews for both the band and the album; a good portion did not favor the new sound and image, while others[12][13] were more receptive to the band's attempts at experimenting with their sound and trying something different.
Megadeth chose to produce the album once again with
Like the band's previous album Cryptic Writings, it is the second Megadeth album not to feature the band's classic logo on the front cover, but it appears on the album's remastered version.
Songs
Three singles were released in support of the album: "Crush 'Em", "Breadline", and "Insomnia".[16] All three received music videos. Additionally, "Crush 'Em" was featured in Jean-Claude Van Damme's 1999 movie Universal Soldier: The Return. Mustaine originally wrote the song hoping that it would be adopted at arenas nationwide as a new sports anthem. After its release as a single, the song has been broadcast during NHL games and pro wrestling events.[17]
Jeff Treppel spoke positively about the album's opener "Insomnia", naming it "one of the best Megadeth songs of the past 15 years". The song features swirling Middle Eastern strings, crunching guitar line and, according to Treppel, some of Mustaine’s most demented lyrics. Treppel further described "Ecstasy" as "grunge ballad" and noted that it sounds like a "reject from Cryptic Writings". He had mixed feelings about "Seven", and observed "The Doctor Is Calling" like a tune that "aims for creepy, but hits cheesy instead".[9] By contrast, DeGrasso felt that "The Doctor Is Calling" along with "Prince of Darkness" were "definitely heavy songs" with "really dark lyrics on them".[10] Ellefson described the tracks "Breadline" and "Wanderlust" as "melodic" with "very modern-sounding" grooves.[11] Neil Arnold from Metal Forces opined that "Breadline" is "as melodic and commercial as Megadeth gets", while noting that "Wanderlust" and "I'll Be There" are "probably two of the band's most underrated songs".[18]
All of the released singles charted on the Billboard's
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [13] |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 4/10[19] |
Entertainment Weekly | B−[20] |
Los Angeles Times | [21] |
Metal Forces | 6/10[18] |
NME | 0/10[22] |
Q | [23] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [24] |
Sputnikmusic | [12] |
The album received a mixed response from music critics.
In a retrospective review, Jeff Treppel from Decibel wrote that Risk was "definitely Megadeth’s most adventurous record" and characterized it as a "decent hard rock album that should have never been put out under the Megadeth name".[9] Dave Mustaine has since expressed that, although he believes that Risk is a great record, it "should not have had the name Megadeth on it, because if anybody else's name was on 'Risk,' it would have sold".[6] However, Mustaine has also stated that "Crush 'Em" was "probably the dumbest" song that the band has ever recorded and said that he was "not too fond of" it.[26]
When speaking to Eddie Trunk on his Trunk Nation LA Invasion: Live from the Rainbow Bar and Grill podcast in late November 2018, Mustaine said that the reason for Risk was him "capitulating to Marty's desires to be more of an alternative band, and we kept slowing down and slowing down and slowing down." He would again mention that if the album was released under a different name, it would've sold well, but that "People wanted a Megadeth record. They didn't wanna see Dave bending over backwards to keep Marty Friedman happy, 'cause Marty wanted us to sound like fucking Dishwalla." Mustaine says he doesn't regret making Risk or the song "Crush 'Em", and that he wanted Friedman and Nick Menza to be happy and remain in the band, "And after a while, I just figured, 'I don't need this shit.' And Marty went this way, Nick went that way, and we just all kind of broke up."[27] Additionally, Mustaine would later state that he believed "Wanderlust" to be one of the best songs he had ever written, noting the song's country rock influenced style.[28]
Friedman says that he has no regrets about Risk, and that "anything that needed to be said from me about that was probably said at the time. I haven't even thought about that since then, so I couldn't give you an intelligent answer. I'm barely thinking about what I did yesterday, much less back then." He would also say that everybody involved in the album "was doing the best that they possibly could" and assured that "anything was done with the best of intentions and the hardest work."[29]
Track listing
All music composed by
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Insomnia" | Mustaine | Mustaine | 4:34 |
2. | "Prince of Darkness" | Mustaine | 6:25 | |
3. | "Enter the Arena" | Mustaine, Bud Prager | Mustaine | 0:52 |
4. | "Crush 'Em" | Mustaine, Brian Howe,[30] Prager | 4:57 | |
5. | "Breadline" | Mustaine, Prager | 4:24 | |
6. | "The Doctor Is Calling" | Mustaine, Prager | 5:40 | |
7. | "I'll Be There" | Mustaine, Prager | 4:20 | |
8. | "Wanderlust" | Mustaine | 5:22 | |
9. | "Ecstasy" | Mustaine | 4:28 | |
10. | "Seven" | Mustaine, David Ellefson | Mustaine | 5:00 |
11. | "Time: The Beginning" | Mustaine, Ellefson | Mustaine | 3:04 |
12. | "Time: The End" | Mustaine | Mustaine | 2:28 |
Total length: | 51:34 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
13. | "Duke Nukem Theme" | (instrumental) | Lee Jackson | 3:54 |
Total length: | 55:28 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Insomnia" | Mustaine | Mustaine | 4:16 |
2. | "Prince of Darkness" | Mustaine | 6:27 | |
3. | "Enter the Arena" | Mustaine, Bud Prager | Mustaine | 0:44 |
4. | "Crush 'Em" | Mustaine, Prager | 4:54 | |
5. | "Breadline" | Mustaine, Prager | 4:32 | |
6. | "The Doctor Is Calling" | Mustaine, Prager | 5:44 | |
7. | "I'll Be There" | Mustaine, Prager | 5:13 | |
8. | "Wanderlust" | Mustaine | 5:48 | |
9. | "Ecstasy" | Mustaine | 4:31 | |
10. | "Seven" | Mustaine, David Ellefson | Mustaine | 4:46 |
11. | "Time: The Beginning" | Mustaine, Ellefson | Mustaine | 3:11 |
12. | "Time: The End" | Mustaine | Mustaine | 2:41 |
13. | "Insomnia (Jeff Balding Mix)" (bonus track) | 4:19 | ||
14. | "Breadline (Jack Joseph Puig Mix)" (bonus track) | Mustaine, Prager | Mustaine, Friedman | 4:28 |
15. | "Crush 'Em (Jock Mix)" (bonus track) | Mustaine, Prager | Mustaine, Friedman | 5:10 |
Total length: | 55:31 |
No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Peace Sells" | 4:04 | ||
2. | "In My Darkest Hour" | Mustaine, Ellefson | 6:20 | |
3. | "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" | 6:36 | ||
4. | "Symphony of Destruction" | 4:06 | ||
5. | "A Tout le Monde" | 4:31 | ||
6. | "Use the Man" | Mustaine, Friedman | 4:37 | |
Total length: | 30:14 |
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[1]
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Charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Portugal (AFP)[46] | Silver | 10,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b c Risk liner notes. Capitol Records. 1999. pp. 2–5, 9, 11, 13, 15.
- ^ "Dave Mustaine Says He Laughed at Nu-Metal Bands Megadeth Were "Forced" to Tour with". 28 September 2022.
- ^ "Megadeth - Crush 'Em". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ Megadeth - Risk Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-10-21
- ^ "Megadeth Swaps Guitarists In Mid-Tour". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
- ^ a b "Interview: Dave Mustaine of Megadeth". Soundspike. June 1, 2001. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
- ^ Reesman, Bryan (August 7, 1999). "Megadet's 'Risk' Set To Ride Metal's Revival". Billboard. Vol. 111. p. 15. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ "Dave Mustaine Biography". Metal Storm. August 4, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
- ^ a b c Treppel, Jeff (June 2011). "Justify Your Shitty Taste: Megadeth's "Risk"". Decibel. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ a b Syrjala, Marko (20 January 2010). "Jimmy DeGrasso – Alice Cooper, Hail!, F5, ex- Megadeth, Y&T, Suicidal Tendencies". Metal Rules. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Miller, Gerri. "Interview with David Ellefson". Rockmetal.art.pl. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c Stagno, Mike (September 19, 2006). "Megadeth - Risk". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
- ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "Risk (2004 Remix/Remaster) - Megadeth". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
- ^ a b "Megadeth Discography - Risk". Megadeth.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2013. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ^ "Megadeth's "Insomnia" Remixed And Remastered". Blabbermouth.net. June 21, 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
- ^ a b c "Megadeth - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Mancini, Robert. "Megadeth Try To Build On "Crush 'Em" Success With "Risk"". MTV. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Arnold, Neil. "Megadeth: Risk". Metal Forces. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
- ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
- ^ a b Morgan, Laura (October 1, 1999). "Risk Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
- ^ Masuo, Sandy (August 27, 1999). "Record Rack: *** Megadeth, "Risk," Capitol". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ a b Wells, Steven (September 6, 1999). "Megadeth - Risk". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- ^ "Megadeth - Risk CD Album". Q. CD Universe. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
rolling stone megadeth album guide.
- CMJ New Music Report. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
- ^ Ramirez, Carlos. "Dave Mustaine on the Megadeth Song He Isn't 'Too Fond' Of". Noisecreep. AOL Music. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ "DAVE MUSTAINE On MEGADETH's 'Risk': 'That Was Me Capitulating To MARTY FRIEDMAN's Desires To Be More Of An Alternative Band'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- MusicRadar.com. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ "MARTY FRIEDMAN On MEGADETH's 'Risk': 'Everybody Involved With It Was Doing The Best That They Possibly Could'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
- ^ Mustaine, Dave (8 July 2004). "MEGADETH - REVELATIONS". Brave Words. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Megadeth – Risk" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Megadeth Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Megadeth – Risk" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Megadeth – Risk". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- Musica e Dischi(in Italian). Retrieved November 8, 2023. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Megadeth".
- ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Megadeth – Risk". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Megadeth – Risk". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Megadeth – Risk". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Megadeth Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "Megadeth Risk Portuguese award disc (575125)".