Why Megadeth's RISK Was Such a FAILURE

The history of Megadeth's album Risk

Have a video request or a topic you'd like to see us cover? Fill out our google form!
https://bit.ly/3stnXlN

-----CONNECT ON SOCIAL-----
TIKOK:https://www.tiktok.com/@rocknrolltruestory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocknrolltruestories
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RNRTrueStories
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rocktruestories
Blog: www.rockandrolltruestories.com

#megadeth #martyfriedman #davemustaine

I cite my sources and they may differ than other people's accounts, so I don't guarantee the actual accuracy of my videos.

These videos are for entertainment purposes only. READ OUR DISCLAIMER https://rockandrolltruestories.....com/youtube-disclai

Throughout the 90’s Megadeth inched further and further away from it’s trash metal roots with each subsequent release. None was a bigger shock to longtime fans than 1999’s Risk, which as the name suggested was a huge gamble for the band. In today’s video, let’s talk about the album, the fan reaction and how it also proved to be a sonic farewell to one of the band’s most beloved members.

Megadeth was formed in 1983 by guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine after he was famously fired from Metallica. Fueled by a desire to outdo his former bandmates, Mustaine teamed up with bassist David Ellefson, and together they set out to create some of the most intense and technically proficient thrash metal the world had ever heard."

"Their debut album, 'Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!' was released in 1985 and quickly established Megadeth as a force to be reckoned with in the metal scene. Subsequent albums like 'Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?' and 'Rust in Peace' cemented their status as thrash metal legends." Dave remarked about his mission with his new band

"After getting fired from Metallica, all I remember is that I wanted blood. Theirs. I wanted to be faster and heavier than them."

"As the 1990s progressed, Megadeth began to experiment with their sound. Albums like 'Countdown to Extinction' and 'Youthanasia' and Cyrptic Writings saw the band incorporating more melody and mainstream appeal into their music. This shift in direction helped them achieve greater commercial success and reach a broader audience." I will say, despite all the changing musical trends in the 80’s and 90’s, megadeth seemed to come out largely unscathed. At the height of grunge, countdown to extinction proved to be there most successful record, peaking at number 2. It’s follow up youthensia went platinum and cryptic writings got close to that mark. Even bassist David Ellefson acknowledged “i think we were a band that never really got behind the trends.’

In fact, Cryptic Writings was the most embraced album by radio to date thanks to songs like Trust - love that drum intro, which topped the rock charts and three other songs from the record made it into the top twenty. Trust even earned the band a grammy nomination. For that album, band also teamed up with Chaos Comics to produce a comic book series that was called the cryptic writings of Megadeth -which adapted lyrics from the album into the comics. IT was a weird time if you were a megadeth fan because there mixed messages in terms of what to expect on their next album.

While touring after Cryptic Writings, Mustaine told interviewers that Cryptic writings songs like like "She-Wolf" and "Vortex" had reinvigorated his love of Iron Maiden and Motörhead. He signalledi n those interviews he wanted to take megadeth’s next album in a heavier direction - claiming the next album would be ½ peace sells and ½ cryptic writings.



But as the promo cycle for their follow up to Cryptic Writings started ramping up, It became apparent that their follow up album was about writing songs that were going to appeal to the masses. The VP of marketing at capitol records rob gordan remarked to billboard before Risk’s release “before the last record, we’d maybe had one track at rock radio and it would be over. With this record (Risk) like the last one I think we’ll have four plus again.” Even in the making of risk video on megadeth’s youtube channel the band admitted to listening to a lot of 70’s disco and fleetwood mac for inspiration. Couple this with the fact that by the late 90’s the musical landscape was changing, and Megadeth faced pressure to adapt to the evolving tastes of rock and metal fans."

"In 1999, Megadeth released their eighth studio album, 'Risk.' The album marked a significant departure, embracing an even more radio-friendly, hard rock sound while also featuring elements of electronica. . The title 'Risk' was a nod to the band's willingness to take a gamble with their musical direction."

"Interestingly, the idea to take more chances with their songwriting came from several unexpected places. Mustaine revealed in an interview with uDiscover Music, it was actually Metallica's Lars Ulrich who suggested the approach.