Formerly one of the 'Big Four' of 80's thrash metal, Megadeth realize that in order to win and survive in todays calamitous state of heavy music, they must build not bigger bombs, but smarter ones.

OVERVIEW:

Okay, so it's true, metal music is in a renaissance currently, which means that it's not your big brother's heavy metal anymore, and it's not quite the stuff I grew up with in the 80's and early 90's. But in some ways that is a good thing.

When I was first turned on to what was called 'speed metal' or most affectionately, 'thrash metal', the year was 1988, I was nearly fifteen, just starting to play guitar, and Metallica was my god. At that time this genre had four reigning kings [non-European]: pioneers Metallica, the sinister Slayer, the eccentric Anthrax, and the meticulous Megadeth. Formerly of Metallica, founder Dave Mustaine (guitar/vox) formed Megadeth in 1983 with bassist David Ellefson, not long after his unceramonious jettison from the band, who immediately replaced him with fret man Kirk Hammett and then recorded their first LP [long history, wish I had the time].

Megadeth released a debut album in 1985 (KILLING IS MY BUSINESS), a better one in 1986 (PEACE SELLS), had personnel changes, released a better album in 1988 (SO FAR, SO GOOD, SO WHAT), more changes in personnel, their best album followed in 1990 (RUST IN PEACE), kept their ante high for the next two: 92's COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION and 95's YOUTHANASIA, got lost on 97's CRYPTIC WRITINGS, and now return this year with a renovated sound and a decent album.

RISK is their eighth studio release and as far as I'm concerned it's their life saver. CRYPTIC WRITINGS in my opinion was terribly spotty, I didn't believe it broke any new ground for them. RISK does, however. Why? Because, like any old band, you don't get to keep selling records rehashing and recycling the same old material, catering to the same niche of listeners, afraid of alienating them. Die hard fans will follow a band wherever they may roam. Just ask the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith how they manage to still be (barely) relevant after three decades. Well, okay, so maybe not Aerosmith.

THE SONGS:

Opener INSOMNIA strikes with a Middle East flavored viola and sitar, as if to say "Hey, we've go something new for you" right away. Following that is arguably the album's finest track PRINCE OF DARKNESS, which should easily please old-time purists, unconditional loyalists, and recently assimilated fans. The revolutionary anthem CRUSH'EM is perhaps Megadeth's most original and unique song to date.

Aside from those three, my personal favorites are probably the venturesome WANDERLUST, the heartfelt I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU, and beautiful and gray TIME: THE BEGINNING -- for the very fact that they are challenging not only for the band, but those of us who are long time fans and wish to not see these guys grow old and redundant, employing the same old tired standards. Mustaine himself even declares this in a line in which he sings: "Time waits for no one."

Being smart is not simply realizing the truth of that sentiment, but abiding by it and making proper changes to survive is.

Grade: B



Recommended: Yes