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Risk
Megadeth
Risk
Genres: Pop, Rock, Metal
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Risk follows Megadeth's most commercially successful album to date, 1997's Cryptic Writings, which, with four radio hits, wasn't as obscure as the title suggests. Risk doesn't live up to its name, either. The band again te...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Megadeth
Title: Risk
Members Wishing: 4
Total Copies: 0
Label: EMI Europe Generic
Release Date: 8/11/1999
Album Type: Import
Genres: Pop, Rock, Metal
Styles: Progressive, Progressive Metal, Alternative Metal, Thrash & Speed Metal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 724357987820

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Risk follows Megadeth's most commercially successful album to date, 1997's Cryptic Writings, which, with four radio hits, wasn't as obscure as the title suggests. Risk doesn't live up to its name, either. The band again teams with producer Dan Huff for a dozen safe, melodic, vaguely metallic tunes. Risk may please Megadeth fans not familiar with the aggressive, progressive, heavier metal of the band's Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? Like Metallica (Megadeth singer-guitarist Dave Mustaine was a founding member), Megadeth has risen into the mainstream. Yet the majority of Risk's songs are not instantly memorable or accessible. "Insomnia," as befitting its title, utilizes unsettling, anxiety-provoking strings to create a powerfully frenetic mood, aided by Dave Ellefson's bass, which blazes throughout (he's especially histrionic on "Time: The End"). Despite the silly title, "Prince of Darkness" is catchy and forceful. "Breadline" is sinister and melodic, while "Crush 'Em," a deliberately executed fist-pumping sports anthem, is simply innocuous. Lacking the crucial rock & roll ingredients of danger and rebellion, Risk ultimately poses no threat. --Katherine Turman

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CD Reviews

1.5 Stars
Jason Walker | Chattanooga,Tn | 05/17/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is where Megadeth takes a turn for the worst, following in the footsteps of Metallica's Load and Re-Load. Gone are the fast thrash riffs and techinal playing I grew to love. This album is a musical turd, that really has not much to appeal to me. Don't get me wrong I love Megadeth, but hate this album!! The only good tracks on this album were Prince of Darkness the only really heavy track, and the Doctor is Calling. This album is for completists only, if nothing else avoid and get The System Has Failed or United Abominations."
11 years later, and I still hate it... but I like it... huh?
Brian A. Keaton | 02/25/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)

"There's not a word in the English language strong enough to express my distaste for this album when it first came out. I played this album once, then gave it to my roommate, who played it once and threw it away. Megadeth had disappointed me in a way I didn't think was even possible. I know, I should have had more of a life, but I didn't back then, okay. I decided at that point that it was over for me, I was done with Megadeth, and maybe it was just time to move on. Things just weren't the same.



So that's what I did, I moved on, expanded my musical tastes quite a bit, and ignored Megadeth every time I heard about a new album. And I mean completely ignored. As in, not even remotely interested in listening. Moto Psycho came on TV, and I changed the channel. For 11 years I did this, until just recently, feeling nostalgic, I decided to give Risk another shot. I still hated it. Why would I listen to this album when I could put on Rust in Peace, Peace Sells or the most recent release, Endgame? The answer is simple, if I want to hear Megadeth, I'll skip this one thank you very much. However, after really struggling to give it a chance, I think I've figured this album out, after all these years.



This album was panned by critics, because, quite frankly, it was marketed all wrong. It was marketed to Megadeth fans, and this is NOT a Megadeth album. I actually took the time to listen to each track, all the way through (probably for the first time ever) and the same theme kept coming up, as a Megadeth album, this is garbage. But as a straight up rock album, it kicks ass! (The only real stinker on here is Crush `em, a gimmick song that does absolutely nothing to pump me up to crush anyone or anything.)



Really. Give it a another chance, and just try to pretend that you're not listening to Megadeth. It's not easy, I understand. If you are a fan of lighter (bordering on pop) rock music, you might find some things to like here. Particularly Ecstasy and Wanderlust. Granted, those are some sorry excuses for Megadeth tunes, but they are GREAT SONGS!!!!!



So it's really difficult to rate this one. As a Megadeth fan from way back, and taking this as a Megadeth album, it's hard to even give this 1 star out of 5. But as a rock music fan, and taking this as a straight up rock album, it's pretty solid, certainly worthy of 3/5, if not 4/5.

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