Since then, the band has amassed a diehard following, played to sold-out audiences around the world and generated over 20 million in record sales. Indeed, the band has become an institution amongst fans of hard guitar rock. With the release of the band's platinum 1997 album Cryptic Writings, Megadeth had four chart topping rock radio hits, co-headlined OZZfest, was nominated for their seventh Grammy, performed for Howard Stern's Birthday Bash, recorded the ESPN X-Games theme song, and was featured on the critically acclaimed soundtracks, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Strangeland, ESPN XGames Vol.1 and Songs of the WitchBlade.
Megadeth is not a call for Armageddon. It's a name that was built 16 years ago upon a foundation of cold war politics, economic upheaval and cutthroat capitalism. "When I left my previous band, I was looking for paper to write lyrics on because I was trying to keep myself from going insane on a four-day bus ride," explains Megadeth vocalist, lyricist and bandleader Dave Mustaine. "I found a handbill from Senator Allan Cranston that was talking about the danger of nuclear armament. It said, 'The power of megadeath can't be rid,' and I thought, 'What a fantastic name.' It represents extreme power which is how I view my music."
Fans have flocked to Megadeth in growing numbers, inspired and excited by the band's constant desire to evolve and mature without straying too far from their signature sound. The group's ninth and latest album, appropriately titled Risk, is its greatest creative stride since Countdown to Extinction in 1992, on which Megadeth broke from their pure thrash metal roots and delved into the art of heavy, melodic songwriting. In an era where established hard rock and heavy metal acts are either being swallowed up by the new breed of cutting edge noise bands (Korn, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine), or are struggling to conform to what's hip, Megadeth continue to blaze bold, new trails. The first song on Risk, "Insomnia," opens with a tweaked wave of feedback that segues into emotive cello line. From there, the tune shifts into a futuristic guitar-blaring metal anthem embellished with strings, Middle Eastern melodies and a throbbing electronic beat.
"I think the song is something that people aren't going to expect," says Mustaine. "It was inspired by a lot of the English rave bands like Prodigy and Republica, but at the same time, it's pretty heavy. It's really a tongue in cheek song about the narcoleptic haze I spent my life in during the '80s. It's talking about insomnia, but it's not something that's necessarily psychologically induced. It could be chemically induced, as well. Especially the part that goes, 'I know they're out there.' That's a little psychotic, and it's something that anyone who has ever been into staying up all night partying can relate to. They'll know the exact feeling I'm talking about."
The tune sets the scene for the rest of Risk to unfold. In truth, Megadeth could easily have shifted into autopilot and cranked out a dozen or so dynamic numbers in the vein of their hugely successful last album Cryptic Writings, but that wouldn't have been creatively fulfilling, and it wouldn't have proven challenging enough for their demanding fans, who have grown to expect sonic evolution and unpredictable musical twists. Instead, they decided to push the envelope and dive headlong into a number of textures and styles previously unexplored. As a result, Risk is a compelling, contemporary disc -- an explosive melange that runs the gamut from instantly infectious to wonderfully experimental. And in between, there's plenty of crunchy, distorted riffs and sneering vocals on songs like "Prince of Darkness," "Seven" and "The Doctor's Calling" that will prove immediately familiar to longtime fans and casual listeners alike.
"Last album, Lars Ulrich from Metallica said something sideways to me through the press," explains Mustaine of the album's title. "He said he wished that I would take more risks, and I said sarcastically, 'If he meant kissing my guitar player, no thanks.' Then I thought about it, and it seemed pretty appropriate to call the album Risk, since after all, the band is called Megadeth - and we aren't afraid to take chances.
We are heading in a much more melodic direction with this record," says Mustaine. "We've played fast and heavy for so long that I think that we would be painting ourselves into a corner if we continued to do that. We can't make 'Rust In Peace' for the rest of our lives and I think our fans will understand that. We've been able to constantly grow, and at the same time, all of our records have gone either gold or platinum, and I'm extremely proud of that."
Another breakthrough track for Megadeth is the first single, "Crush 'Em," a celebratory hard rock anthem featured in the film and soundtrack of Universal Soldier: The Return starring superstar WCW wrestler Goldberg and martial arts actor Jean Claude Van Damme. "I made that song out of a love for hockey," says Mustaine. "I go to a lot of Phoenix Coyotes games, and whenever they score a goal, they play 'Rock and Roll part II' by Gary Glitter, and I'm just tired of that song. I thought, 'maybe we can do something that is celebratory and inspiring and so we did 'Crush 'Em' which we felt would be good for any sport."
Once again Megadeth worked with producer Dan Huff, who has had a major impact on the band's growth since Cryptic Writings. Huff's experience has taught him that impulse and improvisation are as vital to creativity as premeditated songwriting. The process helped Megadeth turn Risk into their boldest, most personally expressive album to date.
One of the areas Huff helped Mustaine out most with, was the singer's vocal delivery. This time, he exhibits a dynamic display of style and technique that ranges in tone from soft and sentimental to raw and ravaging. "Sometimes it was something as simple as changing the position of the vocal mike in the studio so I wasn't straining my vocal chords," Mustaine says. "But also, I took vocal lessons before I went into the studio, which helped me to improve my posture and technique."
Also providing Megadeth with fresh blood was new bandmember, drummer Jimmy DeGrasso. DeGrasso had previously worked with Alice Cooper and Suicidal Tendencies, and he first worked with Mustaine four years ago, when the two played together in the side project MD45. DeGrasso was raised on sheer, unadulterated rock 'n' roll, providing Megadeth with a granite-solid rhythmic foundation to build upon. "Jimmy is a very professional drummer, and he fits in really well." says Mustaine. "And he's also a huge sports fan. We bet a lot of money against each other's sports teams. Unfortunately for him, he lost's more to me than he's made."
There's an old cliche that goes nothing ventured, nothing gained. On Risk, Megadeth have ventured to the outermost reaches of the hard rock universe, and returned with their most ambitious record to date. Whether tinkering with drum machines, experimenting with soaring melody, or grinding away on eerie, minor-key rhythms, Megadeth demonstrate a hunger for progress and a knack for quality songwriting. And as catchy as it is, the album contains many levels both musically and lyrically that will drive the band well beyond the new Millennium. "It's one of those records that you can listen to on the first spin and sort of get it, but you have to listen to it a few times to hear everything," says Mustaine. "That's what worked so great for us. Risk was one of the records we had the most fun making and I think it comes across - it continues to come alive every time you play it." Early on, Mustaine began to acquire a reputation for his outspoken and provocative manner. Peace Sells ... But Who's Buying? was a marked improvement over their debut, both technically and musically. It was characterized by incessant, heavy-duty riffing, bursts of screaming guitar and lyrics that reflected Mustaine's outspoken perception of contemporary social and political issues. In 1988 Mustaine fired Poland and Samuelson (who then formed Fatal Opera), bringing in Jeff Young and Chuck Behler as replacements before the recording of So Far, So Good ... So What! This built on their aggressive and vitriolic style, and included a cover version of "Anarchy In The UK", with the Sex Pistols' guitarist Steve Jones making a guest appearance. Following two years of heroin-related problems, and the enforced departure of Poland and Behler, Mustaine reappeared in 1990 with guitar virtuoso Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. Rust In Peace was released to widespread critical acclaim, combining an anti-nuclear message with the explosive guitar pyrotechnics of Friedman. Countdown To Extinction, meanwhile, was a bruising encounter that entertained more melody in the execution of its theme -- that of impending ecological disaster. Reports of Mustaine's drug problems again overshadowed sessions for their sixth album, Youthanasia, recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, where three-quarters of the band now live. It was produced by Max Norman (who co-produced Countdown To Extinction and mixed Rust In Peace). Along with Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax, Megadeth remain at the forefront of the thrash metal genre, despite the vulnerability of their central creative force. In 1998 drummer Nick Menza left the band due to "health problems", he was replaced by Jimmy Degrasso.
