Customer Reviews

Risk

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The "Risk" recording session went terribly wrong (nothing to do with the songs, they're great). The original producer went on to do things his own way and used all the wrong parts and the album came out nothing like what the band had intended. I suppose that's why it had such a negative impact, it sounded nothing like what Megadeth had done in the past. It had loads of interesting effects, instruments and even some electronic sequences. These ingredients made "Risk" a diverse, very rich album.
This re-release was Mustaine's chance to finally get it the way he wanted it. He got rid of all the bogus parts and reinstated the "proper" ones. But when you press play on the new version of the album and hear all the stuff that made this album interesting deleted... No more fiddles, no more tabla drums, very minimal electronic sequences, and so on... it is no longer a great album.
But did Mustaine forget that the fact that he replaced some of Marty Friedman's parts his own was one of the reasons why he quit the band? In this new mix he removed even more of Friedman's parts like the intro to "Insomnia" which he was especially fond of...
Conclusion: This was remixed to sound more Metal so it would appeal to all those who hated the original album... As a fan of the later, I don't believe that an album, that was perfect to begin with, should have been altered just to suit all those music fachists who can't accept changes. I love the original as it is, and not because it's by Megadeth like most people would say. I hope you enjoy this "improved" version.

Hi, this is my first review ever, and ironically the first for this title. When Dave Mustaine finished production on the album RISK, He would find that many of his original guitar parts had been replaced by producer Bud Prager from Bad Company. This upset Dave and many of the fans(including me). It was also lead guitarist Marty Friedman who wanted to take an alternative approach with the band.

Most of the Techno/Disco effects from the tracks were taken out. This is evident when you hear the first track, Insomnia.

Imsomnia- I never liked this song until I heard the remaster. I used to hate the techno effects. But some of its still there.

8.5/10

Prince of Darkness- Another track i never particulary cared for. But much better now for some reason. I still cant put my finger on it.

8/10

Enter The Arena- Nothing to review here. Just fans chanting "Crush, Crush!" An Intro to the next song.

Crush Em- I always liked this better than that stupid Gary Glitter song. A great song for when your home team scores!

9/10

Breadline- The catchy chorus, the catchy solo by Dave. Plus a new cool intro. My Favorite On the Album!

10/10

The Doctor Is Calling- Probaly the heaviest track on the cd. Very Dark Riff just brings you in to this Metal Masterpeice.

10/10

Ill be There- Decent song. I never cared for the chorus. But cool nonetheless

8/10

Wanderlust- I like the mid eastern + wierd feel the album has. The Chorus is especially Catchy. I love it, always have.

Ecstacy-Very cool acoustic guitar during the verses. Nothing like any of their other songs.

9/10

Seven- A pretty wierd riff in a very wierd song. I never listened to it much but its not bad.

8/10

Time: The beginning- An honest song here. Time catches up to all of us. Dave can't be a 28 year old playing RIP Songs forever.

10/10

Time:The End- Very different to the beginning but its about the same thing, accept here the Reaper confronts him.

9/10

Overall the bonus tracks are pretty cool to. This is definatly different from the original. A must have!

Most metal fans will say that "Risk" was Megadeth's worst album. Personally I disagree. I consider myself first and foremost a Megadeth fan, THEN a metal fan.

Perhaps if you're looking for the old fashioned Megadeth thrash music then Risk isn't for you, but I have to say that this is one of Megadeth's best albums.

Most people will just say that the only good song on the album is "Crush 'em." That'sa great song, but not the only one.

"Insomnia" is a perfect song to start off the album with, it may not be the same as "Loved to Deth" but it gets the job done. I've always considered "Prince of Darkness" to be kind of cheesy, but it's a good song nonetheless.

"Enter the Arena" in simply an intro to "Crush 'em" which I won't comment on b/c everyone else has.

"Breadline" might be one of my favorite songs on the album. The haunting tones just struck a cord with me. "The Doctor's Calling" is another great song, even for you metal-elitists out there. "Wanderlust" and "I'll be There" are two hugely underrated songs (especially the former).

"Ecstasy" is perhaps my second favorite song on the album, and "Seven" is awesome. Both "Time" songs are good, though I consider them to be some of the weaker songs on the album.

I can understand how some people may not like this album, but it will always be one of my favorites.

I bought this as soon as it came out because I love Megadeth but it was a waste of $. It has no memorable songs & none of the feeling of some of their other work. I gave it to a friend..who thought the same thing.

Megadeth's final album on Capitol Records, 1999's "Risk" is by far Megadeth's worst album, and the last to feature guitarist Marty Friedman, and the first album without drummer Nick Menza. It starts out catchy though with "Insomnia" and what appears to be the surprisingly solid "Prince of Darkness" which ends up becoming cheesy. The first single from the album, "Crush 'Em" is plain 'ol ridiculous, while "Breadline" just sounds way too made for radio. "The Doctor is Calling" and "Wanderlust" are solid tracks that find the band's experimental turn beginning to pay off, but the rest of "Risk" from there on is severely lacking. This new remixed and remastered edition includes some remixes of "Insomnia", "Crush 'Em", and "Breadline", but what makes it worth checking out are Dave Mustaine's linear notes on the inside of the booklet as he reveals just how the album took shape. This was followed by 2001's "The World Needs a Hero" and the recently released "System Has Failed"; both of which thankfully find Dave and co. reverting back to their old ways and ditching (more or less) their mainstream angle.

Not too good, but no Megadeth album deserves 1 star.You people can say they pulled a Metallica all you want, fact is Load & ReLoad aren't nearly as bad Risk is. Listen to Bleeding Me, Fuel, The Outlaw Torn, Devil's Dance, etc. This album is mediocre at best. It makes a nice coaster though. Songs I find listenable at times. Crush Em, Wanderlust, Time:The Beginning, Ecstasy, and Insomnia. Over produced lame pop rock. 2.5/5

This album has been well reviewed and it should be understood that this is Megadeth's most publicly accessable record (it was a risk, hense the title)... simply put, in my opinon: Megadeth is the greatest band to walk the planet, but RISK is their worst album! Now it might not be as good as the rest of the Megadeth catalogue BUT it's still an amazing album by any standards and I dare say if you hand't heard the rest of Megadeth's work prior to hearing risk you'd think you'd just struck pure gold!

My advice on buying this album however is to seek the original recording. The remastered version destroys the intro's to some songs and some annoying backing vocals have been added in places. Plus the 'bonus' tracks ain't no bonus if you ask me, absolute terrible versions of the originals. There is a Enhanced recording of RISK which has the tracks in their original form but also includes a short video of the making of the album... PLEASE try get your hands on this one before opting for the remaster.
RATTLE YER GODDAMN HEADS!

A major problem with this album, imo, is expectations. Megadeth has set a precedent for what kind of music they put out and, even though they have deviated from one album to the next at times (Cryptic Writings is not Rust in Peace, for example) in terms of sound, they have always put out a style of music that fans expect and that the name of the band, MEGADETH, suggests. Until this one. Yes, I understand that the album is called "Risk" for a reason...the band took a Risk. However, there is a difference between taking a 'risk' and completely changing your musical style.

While I have thoroughly enjoyed every single album Megadeth had put out prior to this one, I will admit something here. When I like to jam, I listen to Megadeth, Ozzy, etc. When I want to relax, though, I sometimes listen to Enya or similar type music. Imagine my surprise if I purchased an Enya CD and she was cranking heavy metal and screaming! I would be shocked because she had not met my expectations that she herself had set, and I probably would not like the album. Well, the same thing applies with Risk.

You buy Megadeth, and you expect MEGADETH. It's fine if this is what Dave wanted to do, it's his band and his career, after all. Perhaps if he had simply called it the "Dave Mustaine Experiment" or "A Night out with Dave" we might not have expected MEGADETH (the name alone implies HEAVY). So, whether the songs are actually decent or not, once that first impression failed miserably, it's hard to recover from. I myself have actually tried to listen to it a few times and just have not gotten into it at all. Again, I think it's due to failed expectations. That may not be Dave's problem, perhaps it's mine. But I no more want to hear Megadeth playing Enya than I want to hear Enya playing Megadeth.

Megadeth rocks, just not here.

I've got the 2004 release of this album with the bonus tracks, but the cover on my cd is the orange one, featuring the weird cat and mouse. This is the second time I've taken this album out for a couple of spins...took it out again so I could write this review. Generally I thought of this as an 8/10 kind of album, but this latest time I've listened to it, I found myself getting more out of some songs on second listen. It's my impression that this album gets bad comments from Megadeth's thrash metal fans. From my point of view, if this was an album by a hard rock band (instead of one from pioneers of thrash metal), this album would be better regarded. Which is a pity.

I'd describe the album as having some old school metal type of songs but with a more modern sound to it and with a mainstream bent. There is some heavy metal on this album but there is experimentation in arrangement too. E.g. you can hear violins, keyboards and acoustic guitar on some tracks. Every song on this album is at least interesting. There is really good drumming throughout. If you like metal albums with variety and don't mind it melodic, smooth and mid-tempo, this album will suit. With the bonus songs the album runs to 66:47 minutes long. The four bonus tracks make up 13:57 of that time. I wouldn't call the bonus tracks interesting enough to seek out this particular version of the album.

Lead singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine seems apologetic about this album in the sleeve notes. He calls "Crush 'em" "a disco song"! Way to go Dave! Perhaps this attitude can be explained by the stick he had to take over this album...on the sleeve notes he says that:

"I could have put this out under a different name and many people would have loved it. People who bought it because they expected a Megadeth record of metal songs and didn't get it wouldn't be upset with me. People who loved loved those type of songs wouldn't be scared off by the name Megadeth. Oh well, live and learn...

This record consists of many great pop songs that may or may not ever receive the recognition that they deserve, but I know that I gave it my very best. And that is good enough for me.

Love and bruises, Dave Mustaine."

Mustaine also mentions KISS' "I was made for loving you" disparagingly. That's one of my favourite KISS songs! As if to compensate for having a song called "Prince of Darkness" on this album, Dave thanks God...twice...on the end credits of the sleeve notes.


The Classic song "//":


Prince of Darkness - a bona fide classic...the only Megadeth song I would put in the same league as the very best songs by their arch rival Metallica. Musically and lyrically, this song is a brilliant piece of theatre. It has a cool drum tone and beats as well as bass. Features violins, I think. Has a pounding guitar riff at times and eerie, xylophone type sounds...like a child's musical instrumental. The outro is smashing too.


The terrific songs "/":


Crush 'em - for me, this isn't a disco song! It's a 1980s style stadium anthem rocker. It has a short organ solo intro. The bass has a really boogie vibe to it, which I like (and which may explain why Dave thinks of this as a 'disco' song!). The chorus is of the sing-along kind and it has anthemic backing vocals too. A catchy, fist pumping stadium rocker. The guitar has a "Turn me loose" vibe to it too.

Enter the arena - this song gets a small tick from me...you can consider it the prelude to "Crush 'em". It runs 43 seconds long. Has a cool, open riff, in the "Turn me loose" mould. An anthemic/motivational type song...it sounds like there is a crowd in an arena singing along to this. Has handclaps.

Wanderlust - I gave this song a reasonable sized tick on my second listen...unmarked first time around (actually, I gave this song a small tick or something the first time I made notes on this album...very many months before I did it again this time). Has a deep drum beat and features perhaps Dave's best singing voice. Interesting guitar notes at the start and nice guitar notes later...perhaps on a steel string acoustic guitar. Bass guitar also sounds interesting. I like the eerie sounding parts of this song. Bit of a Bon Jovi vibe to the song (maybe sorta like "Wanted dead or alive"). I'm over Bon Jovi now, so the preceding comment is meant as a compliment...i.e. the kind of Bon Jovi I might actually like.


Next best "(.)":

Breadline - has an electronic noise intro and Dave works on lead. Sort of an an indie rock vibe to this song, but with mainstream appeal. It's catchy in other words...you can sing along to the chorus. Has synthesiser, smooth vocals and riffing.

The doctor is calling - "[.]". A theatrical, melodic, mid-tempo track with interesting guitar notes at the start. Has a Black Sabbath type riff. You get to hear the doctor of the title in this song. SImilar theme to Metallica's classic "Welcome home (sanitarium)".


Next best, on second listen ">[.]":

Insomnia - grating, synthy guitar rhythm. Good riffing and backing vocals. Violins? There is a "I love the way you move" vibe re the rhythm and dampened riff at times.

I'll be there - jarring/clangy guitar at the start, then synth, pretty lead guitar, before the rock riffing starts. Before then you have a dance music feel, re the beat and rhythm. Has a sort of Christian rock which doesn't suck vibe to it...the lyrics have a positive aspect to them. Backing vocals a bit in the U2 vein, as well as SImple Minds, for their song "Alive and kicking".

Ecstasy - pretty/poppy lead guitar notes...acoustic guitar, I think. A European flavour to this. Features keyboard, bass, rock riffing parts, lead guitar and a catchy chorus. My first lot of notes for this album questions whether a part of this song is similar to "Train of consequences". It's been a while since I've listened to Megadeth's atomic mushroom compilation, so I'm not sure if this impression still holds.

Time: the beginning - slower song. Acoustic guitar strumming...like a mellower "Wonderwall" (Oasis). Steel string acoustic guitar. Pink Floydy soulful, bluesy lead guitar solo. Violins appear later.

Time: the end - heavy metal track, rock riff and a nice big drum sound. Some sounds reference "Prince of Darkness". Has a lead guitar solo...maybe good enough to include in a list of mine on this topic. Has some nice melodies at the end, including a pretty, subtle one.


The rest and bonus tracks:

Seven - Pearl Jammy intro then classic old school riffing...Deep Purple style. My first lot of notes state that the intro vocals remind me of Pearl Jam's "Even flow" and that this is a good groove rock song. Tough and interesting drumming. Cool drumming from 2:30 minutes plus. Cool bass playing at 2:38. Heavy metal/bluesy lead guitar solo features. Guitar sounds staticky at the end? A candidate for a list of mine on the songs with the best drumming elelments. When I first made notes on this album I gave this song a big dot...putting it on a par with "Crush 'em". So, it seems the songs I like/don't like on this album ebb and flow...I liked more song after pulling this album out more than a year later, perhaps.

Insomnia - (bonus track) Oriental and Latin touches in the intro? My original notes for this song states that the intro is Beatle-esque/George Harrison-y...that impression must have slipped between listens! Gets heavy later but does feature violins. The sound is more intense sometimes than for the original version.

Breadline - (bonus track) Nice guitar work...lead guitar etc. Synthesiser has a touch of UFOs about them...as does the original version.

Crush 'em - (bonus track) intro sort of references or is redolent of songs such as "Creep" (Radiohead), "Numb" (U2) and "Owner of a lonely heart" (Yes). Not very interesting for the most part but does get into a groove later. Develops a bit of a "Buffalo gals" (Malcolm McLaren) beat later and other hip-hop beats at times. Personally these bonus tracks aren't essential for me...I can leave them.


Recommendations:

Metallica - ReLoad. My favourite Metallica track. If you listened to 'real' heavy metal fans you wouldn't have thought about buying "Risk"...the same goes for "ReLoad". Both are great albums...just not thrash metal.

Black Sabbath - Master of reality; Paranoid; Never say die! Sabotage.

This is a change of pace. Wouldn't want every album like this. Gotta love MegaDave. I don't know if any of these songs hit the airwaves. Breadline, Crush em and I'll Be There, certainly could be good candidates for radio play. This is not Metal. Hard Rock? Pop Rock I guess. Unique album non the less. Kinda tough to describe what it sounds like, that's why there's You Tube. Mild techno, blues, electric, synthesizer, industrial, mainstream. Can't really recommend buying, but if you're a Megadeth fan you might be interested.