With albums like Rust In Peace et Peace SellsMegadeth marked the history of Metal. But Riskreleased in 1999, is often seen as one of the band's biggest missteps. Despite a more accessible, radio-oriented sound that disconcerted many fans, David Ellefson, former bassist for Megadeth, considers this album one of the band's “great albums”, despite a mixed reception.
A rushed creation and stylistic compromises
David Ellefson recently shared his thoughts on Risk during an interview for Overdrive.ieexplaining that the process of creating this album influenced its outcome. “We mainly wrote this album in rehearsal, then went to Nashville to finish it in the studio, without really letting the songs 'infuse' into us,” he confided. This accelerated approach, according to him, limited the connection with the songs: “If you're not a fan of your own music, it's hard to convince someone else to be a fan.”
Ellefson also highlights the pressure to capture a wider audience. After the success of Cryptic Writings by 1997, Megadeth had managed to balance metal with more accessible songs. On Riskhowever, this approach was taken to the extreme, to the detriment of the group's sonic identity. “Our manager at the time encouraged us to dig deeper into this radio-oriented approach,” explains Ellefson.
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The desire to please, to the detriment of identity
The former bassist admits that Risk suffered from the absence of heavier metal tracks, which did not have time to be developed: “We thought we could write these metal songs once we got to Nashville, but working on the more 'radio' tracks took so long that we didn't have the energy or inspiration left.”
For Ellefson, the experience was a valuable lesson: staying true to yourself is essential to creating heartfelt music that resonates with fans. “We have learned that it is better to focus on our own audience, because remaining authentic is how we have built our success.”
A look back at the view of the group and the fans
If the most loyal fans welcomed Risk Skeptically, Ellefson maintains that this album remains significant in the evolution of Megadeth. “This album doesn't sound like a classic Megadeth record, but it's still special,” he says. Marty Friedman, former guitarist of the group, agrees, emphasizing that Risk reflected the state of mind of the group at that time.
Despite the criticism, Ellefson says he wouldn't change a thing: “Risk is part of our history, with its errors and its qualities. We gave our best in that moment, and that’s what counts.”
