Risk (Megadeth album)

Risk
Studio album by
Megadeth
ReleasedAugust 31, 1999 (1999-08-31)
RecordedJanuary–April 1999
StudioThe Tracking Room, Nashville[1]
Genre
Length51:34
LabelCapitol
Producer
Megadeth chronology
Cryptic Writings
(1997) 		Risk
(1999) 		The World Needs a Hero
(2001)
Singles from Risk
  1. "Crush 'Em"
    Released: May 26, 1999[3]
  2. "Breadline"
    Released: February 16, 2000
  3. "Insomnia"
    Released: 2000
Alternative cover
2004 remastered edition

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.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference RiskAlbumNotes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Dave Mustaine Says He Laughed at Nu-Metal Bands Megadeth Were "Forced" to Tour with". 28 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Megadeth - Crush 'Em". Discogs. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  4. ^ Megadeth - Risk Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved 2023-10-21
  5. ^ "Megadeth Swaps Guitarists In Mid-Tour". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  6. ^ "Interview: Dave Mustaine of Megadeth". Soundspike. June 1, 2001. Archived from the original on February 21, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2021.