Album
Risk
Risk is Megadeth's eighth studio album, released through Capitol Records in August 1999. It was the band's last record for the label and the first since 1990 to bring a change in personnel, with Jimmy DeGrasso making his studio debut on drums. It also marked the final appearance of guitarist Marty Friedman, who announced his departure a year later.
The band aimed for a breakthrough on alternative rock radio, and the result strayed a long way from their usual sound. Reaction was mixed, and the backlash sent them back to a heavier approach on The World Needs a Hero. It opened at number 16 on the Billboard 200 with 74,000 copies sold in its first week. Dave Mustaine has argued it would have sold better under another name. For anyone curious about Megadeth's most divisive turn, this is the record to hear.
Risk: tracklist, credits and charts
12 tracks · 51:36Tracklist
- 1InsomniaDave Mustaine4:34
- 2Prince of DarknessMarty Friedman and Dave Mustaine6:26
- 3Enter the ArenaDave Mustaine and Bud Prager0:52
- 4Crush ’EmFriedman, Mustaine, Prager4:58
- 5BreadlineFriedman, Mustaine, Prager4:24
- 6The Doctor Is CallingFriedman, Mustaine, Prager5:40
- 7I'll Be ThereFriedman, Mustaine, Prager4:20
- 8WanderlustMarty Friedman and Dave Mustaine5:22
- 9EcstasyMarty Friedman and Dave Mustaine4:28
- 10SevenDave Mustaine and David Ellefson5:01
- 11Time: The BeginningMarty Friedman and Dave Mustaine3:05
- 12Time: The EndDave Mustaine2:26
- Produced by
- Dann Huff, Dave Mustaine, Dave Mustaine
- Recorded at
- Masterfonics, The Tracking Room, The Tracking Room, Nashville
- Recorded
- 4 January 1999–22 April 1999
- Mixed by
- Jeff Balding
- Engineered by
- Jeff Balding
- Mastered by
- Bob Ludwig
- Label
- Capitol Records
- Length
- 51:36
Singles
- “Crush 'Em” · 26 May 1999
- “Breadline” · 16 February 2000
- “Insomnia” · 2000
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 · 1999 | 16 |
| UK Albums Chart · 1999 | 29 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums · 1999 | 2 |
| Greek Albums (IFPI Greece) · 1999 | 3 |
| Finnish Albums · 1999 | 8 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) · 1999 | 11 |
| Canadian Albums (Billboard) · 1999 | 14 |
| Swedish Albums · 1999 | 17 |
| New Zealand Albums · 1999 | 27 |
| Norwegian Albums · 1999 | 31 |
All 17 charts
| Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi) · 1999 | 33 |
| Austrian Albums · 1999 | 34 |
| Scottish Albums · 1999 | 34 |
| French Albums · 1999 | 37 |
| German Albums · 1999 | 38 |
| Dutch Albums · 1999 | 39 |
| European Albums (European Top 100 Albums) · 1999 | 44 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Portugal | Silver |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
58.0
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
1.9k
ListenBrainz listeners
100k
Wikipedia views, last 12 months
11k
Deezer fans (all editions)
Released the same week
Also released on 31 August
Every year →
More from Megadeth
Full discography →
Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!
1985
Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?
1986
So Far, So Good… So What!
1988
Rust in Peace
1990
Countdown to Extinction
1992
Youthanasia
1994
Hidden Treasures
1995
Cryptic Writings
1997
Cryptic Sounds: No Voices in Your Head
1998
Breadline
2000
Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years
2000
The World Needs a Hero
2001
Rude Awakening
2002
Still, Alive… and Well?
2002
The System Has Failed
2004
Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
2005
United Abominations
2007
That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires
2007
Warchest
2007
Anthology: Set the World Afire
2008
Endgame
2009
Rust in Peace: Live
2010
Th1rt3en
2011
Super Collider
2013
Countdown to Extinction: Live
2013
Icon
2014
Dystopia
2016
Warheads on Foreheads
2019
Unplugged in Boston
2021
The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!
2022
Megadeth
2026
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More on Capitol Records
The label →
Kid A
Radiohead · 2000
The Colour and the Shape
Foo Fighters · 1997
Hail to the Thief
Radiohead · 2003
Rust in Peace
Megadeth · 1990
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden · 1980
Countdown to Extinction
Megadeth · 1992
Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?
Megadeth · 1986
![[Rammstein] by Rammstein, album cover](/img/e4d39d2e-9420-4007-881a-9b5bc23944e0/300)
[Rammstein]
Rammstein · 2019
Youthanasia
Megadeth · 1994
No Prayer for the Dying
Iron Maiden · 1990
So Far, So Good… So What!
Megadeth · 1988
Cryptic Writings
Megadeth · 1997
Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia 1999-08-31 vs 1999-08-18 (musicbrainz)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 18 August 1999 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 31 August 1999 | |
| Wikidata | 1999 | |
| US release | 31 August 1999 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 30 August 1999 | earliest UK or European date |
11 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | XW | Capitol Records | 724359862255 | remaster |
| 1999 | US | Capitol Records | other | |
| 18 August 1999 | JP | Capitol Records | 4988006773592 | original |
| 30 August 1999 | XE | Capitol Records | 724352233601 | other |
| 31 August 1999 | CA | Capitol Records | 724349913400 | other |
| 31 August 1999 | US | Capitol Records | 724349913400 | other |
| 2004 | XE | Capitol Records | 724359862224 | other |
| 27 July 2004 | US | Capitol Records | 724359862224 | remaster |
| 9 August 2004 | XE | Capitol Records | 724357987820 | other |
| 25 August 2004 | JP | 東芝EMI 株式会社 | 4988006822818 | other |
| 12 June 2013 | JP | Capitol Records | 4988006554993 | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · cropped: cropped from 2797x2795 to 2795x2795
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 2797×2795 | cropped: cropped from 2797x2795 to 2795x2795 |
| itunes | 1404×1404 | upscaled |
| deezer | 1200×1200 | upscaled |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |