Megadeth ‎– Risk

"This is Megadeth's St Anger!" or "This is when Megadeth sold out!" are two very common phrases that are stuck to this album. Is it as bad as everyone says? Is it truly the weakest point in Megadeth's career?

Of course it is. Compared to giants like Killing Is My Business or Rust in Peace, this album is a pile of pure shit. If you only like that type of music and refuse to expand on your variety, then yes, you'll despise this album. You'll hate the mellowness, you'll hate the softness, you'll hate the stadium rock, alternative, electronic, and basically any aspect that isn't thrash that "plagues" this album.

If you aren't stuck in the mentality that anything besides heavy metal is pure garbage, then you'd be surprised that this excellent rock album comes from one of the Big 4 of thrash metal.

The only really shitty song is Insomnia, that song is ridden with garbage vocals. Sure, Mustaine may not be Halford or anyone of that level per se, but jeepers fucking creepers. He sounds absolutely terrible here. He sounds like someone taking a strap on in the ass while having a choke hold performed on him.

So, what else is shitty about this album? It's a major downgrade. Oh, and I mean MAJOR. Just a few years before, they brought us the classic Youthanasia, couple years before that was Countdown to Extinction, then the thrash masterpiece Rust in Peace a couple years before that. I mean, it wasn't Rust in Peace to Risk in a year, you saw the progression happen over the course of nine years. However, from having nothing but songs and albums that hit the mark to having this? It was a major disappointment.

Even though it was a major disappointment, it is something very new and refreshing. There comes a point (for me at least) where hearing seventy renditions of Holy Wars... The Punishment Due becomes just totally dull and you crave something new. This album hits the spot for that occasion.

However, if you take away the frustration and the betrayal of them releasing this album, it still is fucking good. The positives? This has some INCREDIBLY strong songs. Wanderlust has a country feel to it, but it's probably the best song in the style of country I've ever heard. Crush Em is the shit, good stadium rock to get you pumped. Excellent sports arena anthem. Breadline is also a great song, I mean this album is just filled with really good songs. They're definitely strong releases under the Megadeth name. I mean, I'd listen to Wanderlust a hundred times opposed to the filler on Killing is my Business... And Business is Good! (looking at you Chosen Ones, you asshole) once.

Obvious by the previous paragraph, the album is really a total mixed bag. Everything from electronic and country to stadium rock, as well as everything in between. Of the twelve songs, only one of them is truly offensive to the ears. Open minded or not, Insomnia is pretty much worthless. The rest? Excellent for the most part.

Rumor even has it that Dave Mustaine hates this album. Untrue, he still regards it as a strong release, but just very unexpected for fans to hear. Unexpected it was, but satisfying it is.