Artist: Megadeth
Label: EMD/Capitol
Release Date: 8/31/99
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Title: Risk Artist: Megadeth Label: EMD/Capitol Release Date: 8/31/99 |
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Abyss's Review:
O.K., there are two types of Megadeth fans in this world. The kind that will love them no matter what they do, and the type that consider them one of the best bands to walk the Earth, and are only a shadow of their former self. This review is for the latter, because the former refuse to be honest with themselves. Don't get me wrong, I used to be one of you. After Cryptic Writings I found myself saying things like, "Sure it's not Peace Sells or Rust in Peace, but it's still pretty good." Well since then I've realized that their last album was nothing more than disappointing. And if that was disappointing, Risk is just a waste of time. Dave likes to express his love of old days metal, including influences in the NWOBHM made famous by his former bandmates. Unfortunatly, the major influences I hear in Risk tend to be Bon Jovi and Poison (yes Poison). The former influence more but evident on "Wanderlust" (Hell, you can sign along if you want!), and the latter, while harder to pinpoint, is just an impression I got. It seems that Mr. Mustaine has tried to follow in the exact footsteps of his former band throughout his career, and he did it quite effectively in the years that they were both putting out amazing albums. But after The Great Sell-Out, he seemed determined to follow suit and prove he could achieve the same commercial success instead of stepping in the niche left open and becoming the world's best thrash band. This is unfortunate because I believe he had so much more to offer. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of listening to the album for yourself, and have only heard the lead single "Crush 'Em", that is (I'm very sorry to say) one of the better songs on the album. Now I have to put a numerical rating on this album, all of you who already own it can review it to your friends in two words…"it sucks".
"Unfortunately, the major influences I hear in Risk tend to be Bon Jovi and Poison (yes Poison)."
Death's Review:
I like Megadeth. Always have. I even like Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings. Somehow, Dave has always won me over to some degree or another with every subtle stylistic move toward the center he's made. And he's made one with each successive release.
But I do not really like Risk, at least not all that much. One listen to this record makes clear that Dave has either lost all touch with, or respect for, what his fans want to hear. Go ahead, I dare you. You've been on the fence about this one, I know. Go ahead and put Risk in the CD player and listen to track #1, "Insomnia." OK, done? Good. Now sit down and abosorb the bad news that "Insomnia" is one of the album's better tracks. Not good.
"Is Dave back on drugs? Whichever you were when you wrote that one, Dave, straight or sober, could you in the future please reverse that mental state." "Prince of Darkness" has its moments, but we're all best to just pretend that "Enter the Arena,", essentially a "Crush 'Em" intro, and the song it precedes never really happened. "Breadline" is similarly useless, and way off base. Is Dave back on drugs? Whichever you were when you wrote that one, Dave, straight or sober, could you in the future please reverse that mental state when you endeavor to further exploit the Megadeth name? Please?
Never has a band in recent years been so poised to strike with sheer brutallity, never would it have been wiser for an act to return to former glory in an all-out metallic assault. But instead, we get Risk. It's disappointments like these that almost killed metal a decade ago. And the worst part, you know very well that Dave knows exactly what he is doing. This one hurts.
That said, Risk still gets a two out of five. It's a Megadeth album, and there are still enough traces of that memory to interest me on a nostaliga/curiosity level. Guitar solos abound, and Mustaine/Friedman remain one of the most talented guitar tandems in rock. And Dave does sing on occassion with his trademarked snarl. In some ways, that will always sound metal to me.
Sure, "Wanderlust" sounds like Bon Jovi. But at least Megadeth has only stooped to stealing Jon's better songs. Seriously Dave, what were you thinking? If this entire album had built on the glory hinted at in the two-part "Time: The Beginning" and "Time: The End," maybe this could have ben a different review. But on this record, it's too little too late. A major diappointment.
Hel's Review:
This album has forced me to come to a firm conclusion. I've decided that Dave's obsession with Metallica's commercial success has finally caused him to snap. He just put out an album that has shockingly evolved far in the wrong direction - the same direction in which Metallica has been plummeting downward. It would be easy to point out a million parallels - it's wisest not to go there. At least Dave didn't decide to call it "Pile of Crap".I really want to like this album. I continually find myself in a cycle of denial. I listen to it. I can't accept it. While I'm walking around during the day, I hear snippits in my head and, yeah, they're annoying, but if it sticks in my head, then maybe it's not as bad as I thought. Then I get home and I put it on. The first few moments, I'm still in denial. "Maybe it's growing on me", I think. The longer I listen though, the more I start to remember. I'm now ten songs into it - I held out 'til over 1/2 way through the CD so I'd have a clear head when I started writing - and, MAN, does this SUCK! I made it to song two before I could no longer deny the fact that this is a bad album.
Do we start calling him "Disco Dave"? Several of the songs have that cheesey 70's Porn/Disco groove. And it makes my gut churn. A story may help explain my total disgust with this record. A lot of it stems from the way I first heard some of the new material. I went to see Megadeth play before the album came out at a Concert Marketing charity benefit in New York. And there, presented to me live, "Prince of Darkness" and "Crush 'Em". Played side by side with some of their greatest songs ever. It was a rude awakening. I might have been able to suck it up a bit more and put a better spin on my opinion if I hadn't first heard this tunes in that environment. After all, it is a reasonable next step in the direction they've been going in for the last couple of albums. But, COME ON! How the hell am I supposed to swallow it when you hold it up next to "Holy Wars . . . The Punishement Due"?
"I can't go on. (sniff)" "Crush 'Em" may just be the worst song ever. I'll admit, it touchs a sore spot. I'm not enthralled by audience participation in a concert. I recognize its importance to both bands and fans. But I only enjoy it if it's spontaneous, otherwise, I'm not going to jump and scream to scripted drivel just because some asshole with a mike says to. The WORST offense is a transparently planned, inanely long shoutfest. "Crush 'Em" is that - an entire song of that!
I could keep going. But it's breaking my heart that yet another of my favorite bands has seen fit to desert myself and their other loyal long-time fans for children with ages equal to the number of years we've been fans. I can't go on. (sniff)
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