David Ellefson recently reflected on Megadeth’s musical direction during the 1990s. He addressed how the band’s approach shifted during the grunge era in an interview featured on 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal.
Ellefson explained the context behind the band’s evolution. He noted that grunge fundamentally changed the landscape for metal bands. He acknowledged that despite grunge’s rise, the musicians behind those movements were actually fans of thrash metal.
“I had [journalist and book author] Greg Prato on my podcast, and he had written this Megadeth book, and he pointed out too that, as you said, grunge kind of killed hair metal,” Ellefson said. “Those guys in all those bands were fans of what we were doing. They were Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth fans. They were not against what thrash metal was. So I’ve always stood up for grunge, ’cause I liked a lot of it. A lot of the Nirvana stuff, it’s punky and I think it’s cool, man.”
According to Ellefson, the turning point for Megadeth came with their 1999 album “Risk.” The band attempted to pursue a more radio-friendly, melodic rock direction. He acknowledged this was a misstep in the band’s trajectory.
“The popularity of grunge during the 1990s was the turning point,” Ellefson explained. “That’s why I think for us, by the time we got to the ‘Risk’ album in 1999, we had different management at that point and we lost the plot. We took it as far as we could go as far as being sort of a melodic radio rock band.”
Ellefson contrasted this with their 1997 album “Cryptic Writings,” which he felt struck the right balance between evolution and authenticity. “I think ‘Cryptic Writings’ completely hit the mark. That was a very successful record. Musically you can hear there’s a great spirit in it. You can hear it’s authentic. You can hear it’s really still us, just kind of moving the goalposts a little bit so we could explore some stuff.”
The bassist reflected on the broader industry shift. While Megadeth went lighter, the rest of metal went harder and heavier. “We went lighter and the rest of sort of the modern rock, modern metal regime went harder and heavier. It took a few years to correct the ship and right the course from that one.”
Ellefson’s candid assessment of “Risk” aligns with the album’s commercial performance at the time. The album debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, marking a significant departure from the band’s traditional thrash metal sound. While the album achieved moderate chart success internationally, it reached the top 10 in Finland at number 8. However, it ultimately failed to match the commercial heights of its predecessor.
The contrast between “Risk” and “Cryptic Writings” was stark. According to industry reports, “Cryptic Writings” had sold approximately 850,000 copies in the US. This established it as one of Megadeth’s most successful releases. “Risk,” by comparison, was considered a commercial letdown. Exact sales figures remained unpublished, but both the band and their label widely acknowledged the disappointment.
The album’s underperformance extended beyond the United States. Chart data showed that “Risk” peaked at number 14 in Canada and number 39 in the Netherlands. This demonstrated that the band’s stylistic shift failed to resonate with international audiences as well. The album’s controversial direction combined heavy metal with pop-influenced production, alienating longtime fans while failing to attract the mainstream radio audience the band had targeted.
Frontman Dave Mustaine later reflected on the album’s struggles. He suggested that the Megadeth name itself may have hindered its commercial potential. According to music critics, Mustaine speculated that if “Risk” had been released under a different band name, it might have performed better commercially. This candid admission underscores the fundamental disconnect between the album’s artistic direction and the expectations of Megadeth’s established fanbase.
Today, “Risk” remains a controversial entry in Megadeth’s discography. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of abandoning a band’s core identity in pursuit of mainstream success. Ellefson’s recent reflections suggest that the band has come to terms with this chapter of their history. They view it not as a failure but as a necessary learning experience that ultimately strengthened their resolve to return to their thrash metal roots.
