•
Rating: The album that marks Megadeth's definitive change of direction.
If since "Countdown to Extinction" the group had already softened their sound, moving from the thrash of the early albums to a more classic and catchy heavy metal, with this release, dated 1999, there is a further softening and denaturing of the overall sound, despite the lineup being the same that produced the thrash metal masterpiece "Rust in Peace" nine years earlier (with the sole exception of Nick Menza, replaced on drums by Jimmy DeGrasso).
In this "Risk", in fact, there is no longer a single note that hints at the metal, however rather tight and heavy of "Countdown...", much less the thrash that had brought so much praise and acclaim to the 'Deth in the times of "Rust in Peace": here we are faced with nothing more nor less than a radio-friendly pop-rock (not by chance it was defined by the 'Deth themselves as "radio-rock"); an attempt to draw closer to the masses and gain a larger audience, which, however, did not happen at all, given that the album in question turned out to be a half-flop, with very few sales especially in the Old Continent.
Turning to the analysis of the present music, the opener "Insomnia" already makes clear the coordinates of the entire CD: very simple and direct riffs that accompany Mustaine's voice, which has long since lost the rage of the early days in favor of a certain pursuit of melody and interpretation; the presence of synthesizers and electronic effects is important and represents a novelty that will also return in other songs, such as in the psychedelic "The Doctor is Calling". The following "Prince of Darkness" is one of the best tracks: a fairly original intro that then opens into a song with very catchy riffs and easily memorable melodies: it is the only one that somehow seems to recall the MegadetH of the 'heavy' period.
Another noteworthy track is the final mini-suite in two parts: "Time: the Beginning" and "Time: the End", the first a sweet acoustic ballad well-interpreted by MegaDave, the second a short, very 'heavy-oriented' piece supported by the granite guitar riffs and the central solo: it is the "heaviest" track of the entire album. In between, the clear demonstration that the band's intent was to attract more and more MTV-dependent audiences: the CD is indeed full of catchy songs, which had good success precisely as singles ("Crush 'em" is one of these and is one of the generally better episodes), but especially many Aerosmith-style ballads: three in fact, "Breadline", "I'll be there" and "Wanderlust".
Of the three, the best is certainly the first, if only for the damn catchy chorus; the second is striking for the fact that MegaDave sings "I'll be there for you" like a slightly rougher and angrier Bon Jovi; the third is a song that starts very well with a calm verse and a slightly more sustained chorus, but from the middle on it loses itself until it becomes chaotic and confusing in the finale. Left are "Ecstasy" and "Seven", fairly banal pieces that add absolutely nothing: everything is also very catchy and easily memorable here, especially the first, a perfect song for a night on the beach with friends and an acoustic guitar...
In short, it's not a completely throwaway album: certainly, the 'Deth are no longer what they used to be, the years go by and the desire to further enrich themselves has played its part... but personally, I consider this CD better than its successor and its much-touted return to the glories of the thrash era or even that colossal blunder of the recent remake of "A tout le Monde" with Cristina Scabbia.
In short, an album that earns a passing grade (also because Mustaine and Friedman are not exactly the least experienced in the guitar field): if listened to comparing it to "Rust in Peace," it is obvious that it will be shelved on first listen and labeled as garbage, but if approached without prejudice, one encounters an honest CD, without peaks but also without heavy falls of style.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Insomnia (04:34)
I'm running in quicksand
something's haunting me
the guilty past I've buried
my mind won't let me sleep
I'll do anything for peace - I keep waking up
a solemn oath I make
cross my heart please let me sleep - I keep waking up
how much more do I take
My head is talking to me
I don't know what it needs
but the loudest voice
is the one I heed
Insomnia, my swollen bloodshot eyes
Insomnia, awake till morning light
Insomnia, stirring deep inside
Insomnia, somebody turn out the lights
I can't sleep - insomnia
I'm twisting and turning - I keep waking up
the madness I must tame
my candle is burning - I keep waking up
both ends again today
The whole house is creaking
I know they're out there
the things kept from sight
I beg to the shadows
I can't sleep
Insomnia, footsteps on the walk
Insomnia, I hear someone knock
Insomnia, I wish it was a dream
Insomnia, can you hear me scream
02 Prince of Darkness (06:25)
My victims are rich or poor, young or old, strong or weak
I cause millions of accidents, I am cancer in your bones
I fathered the lie, twist what you say, speak not the truth
I am insidious, impartial, deep inside your chromosomes
I take what you love, and leave you in tears
I imprison your soul, your hopes are my games
I strip you of pride, my promise is in vain
While you burn at the stake I dance with the flames
I bring poverty, sickness and death
A worthless handshake, the slickest thief, I steal your wealth
I answer your prayers for greed and lust
More than evil, I laugh at your trust
I am more powerful than all the armies of the world
I am more violent than violence, more deadly than death
I have destroyed more men than all the nation's wars
I am relentless, unpredictable, waiting for your last breath
Evil, more evil than violence
Violent, more violent than death
Deadly, more deadly than man
I am yeah, yeah, I'm evil I am
My kingdom corrupt with dissent
Your sins erupt by my intent
I loathe your prayer, I wallow in sin
Let the nightmare begin
Prince of darkness, your satanic highness
Prince of darkness, the devilish serpent, the dreaded Lucifer
Prince of darkness
I take what you love, and leave you in tears
Imprison your soul, your hopes are my games
I strip you of pride, my promise is in vain
While you burn at the stake I dance with the flames
Prince of darkness, your satanic highness
Prince of darkness, the most beautiful angel
Prince of darkness, the devilish serpent, the dreaded Lucifer
Prince of darkness, unpredictable, the prince of darkness
Prince of darkness
03 Enter the Arena (00:52)
Dave Mustaine/Bud Prager
"Here we go... crush, crush, crush 'em..."
05 Breadline (04:24)
Ain't got no job
Ain't got no smoke
Ain't got a car
His life's a joke
Living on the skids
Thinks the world's just fine
Forgot what he did
Dancing on the breadline
No one there to bind him
Nothing to remind him
Nowhere left to find him
About to lose his lifeline
He's dancing on the breadline
Forgot who he is
Forgot who he was
Used to call the shots
Now he can't connect the dots
A mover and shaker
Getting closer to his maker
Lower than a hemline
Dancing on the breadline
No one there to bind him
Nothing to remind him
Nowhere left to find him
About to lose his lifeline
He's looking for a headline
Sniffing up the white lines
He's dancing on the breadline
Watch him dance
About to lose his lifeline
He's looking for a headline
Sniffing up the white lines
He's dancing on the breadline
About to lose his lifeline
He's dancing on the breadline
No one, nothing, nowhere
Dancing on the breadline
He forgot and he ain't got nothing
06 The Doctor Is Calling (05:40)
The doctor is calling
Something's gone wrong
Nowhere do I belong
I listen to the voices in the dark room
Something's going down
But I can't make a sound
Looking past the bars of my mind
The coat of arms falling
I hear the doctor calling
The family crest is falling
I hear the doctor calling
Always sharing trips
Remove me from your lips
Sight and mind still and never go away
One too many tantrums
Deviated symptoms
Better lock the phantom away
The coat of arms falling
I hear the doctor calling
The family crest is falling
I hear the doctor calling
I see the chalkline crawling
I hear the doctor calling me away
This place is my home
My mind still runs free
The doctor's prescription
Less for you and more for me
The coat of arms falling
I hear the doctor calling
The family crest is falling
I hear the doctor calling
I see the chalkline crawling
I hear the doctor calling me away
A merciful embalming
I hear the doctor calling me away
08 Wanderlust (05:22)
As sure as the sun rises in the east
Another gunman will come seeking my defeat
Will he be as fast as me, are his nerves quiet and still
Will he fall like all the rest
Ending his days upon boothill
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got wanderlust branded deeper than the bone
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got a lust for wandering branded deeper than the bone
As I ride into the sunset to take another town
Thank you for the invite, but i just can't settle down
The dust that coats my hat is from a dozen towns
Dust from shooting down another dozen clowns
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got wanderlust branded deeper than the bone
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got a lust for wandering branded deeper than the bone
A drum beats for me, it's louder every day
The cadence tells me thatsoon I'll meet my judgement day
Life�s an endless showdown
Never knowing when they'll come
I sleep with one eye open lying with my smoking gun
The game I play has caused a lot of grief
They were dying for fame, so I obliged them some relief
I'm an outcast riding into town alone
I got wanderlust branded deeper than the bone
I'm an outcast with lightning in my hand
I got wanderlust lost in no man's land
I got a lust for wandering lost in no man's land
I got wanderlust
09 Ecstasy (04:28)
You live in a world of fantasy
You live in a web of deceit
You want it all including me
You like it all to be neat
I come to you when shadows fall
I leave as the dawn arrives
Hide the truth to deceive them all
How my good intention lies
Try to silence the suspicions
Feeding the dark inhibitions
We can never let anyone see
The sin I bring called ecstasy
The sin I bring ecstasy
Secret meetings that we hide
Deeds of iniquity
The price of foolish pride
The cost of immorality
And we hide the truth to deceive them all
And the pain of what will never be
Try to silence the suspicions
Feeding the dark inhibitions
We can never let anyone see
The sin I bring called ecstasy
The sin I bring ...
Ecstasy
10 Seven (05:00)
Full of greed you sell your soul
Full of pride a heavy load
You eat yourself gluttony
Resent yourself you envy me
Everything turns into wrath
You lust yourself to death
Deep fears that drive us
Hid beneath disguises
Judge the world within
Forgive my deadly sins
Procrastination always giving up
Something better comes to interrupt
Cast your verdict down to me
Spare me your bleeding sympathy
Only care how you appear
Clearly see you can't see clear
Deep fears that drive us
Hid beneath disguises
Judge the world within
Forgive my deadly sins
Greed, gluttony, pride, envy, wrath, sloth, death, deadly seven
Seven deadly sins of mine
On every street
And corner lie
These seven deadly sins of mine
12 Time: The End (02:28)
I see Chronos
His eyes are on fire
He holds my life
And I see my time expire
Beat the clock,beat the clock
My head starts to spin,my head starts to spin
Tick, tock,yeah yeah tick tock
I can't let time win
No I can't let time win
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By chuck
Despite the lineup being almost the classic one, the group churns out pieces that have no identity and above all don’t even possess a gene of past productions.
Stay away otherwise you’ll risk it.
By annalyza
"This, for me, is a masterpiece, an album played very, very well."
"Every single track is an emotion, every single track is an endless journey."
