So I'm curious: everyone seems to hate Metallica for Load and Reload (a couple of albums I rather like) because they "abandoned their roots" or some such. But what about Megadeth? Risk, which came out a year or two later, is similar in the root-abandoning territory. It's a pretty crummy album, includes what seems to be a found-Jesus type song (!), and a bunch of not quite metal. But Mustaine's not vilified to the same extent as Metallica. Leaving aside the Napster argument, anyone know why? Anyone actually agree with me about Risk? Anyone even heard of the album?

Because I think Metallica made a specific attempt to get into the mainstream music scene, which arguably began with the black album. I think that put off many of their hard-core fans. I haven't heard that particular Megadeth album, but I'll guess it didn't specifically try mainstream, just failed as a proper Megadeth album?

It was pretty darn mainstream. That and weird.

Yes, Risk was horrible. (And so is United Abominations)

I'd say cause Metallica is a bigger and better known band among the general public. They are more mainstream. I hear Metallica on local radio all the time, but rarely/never hear Megadeth. Other than Peace Sells and Symphony of Destruction (which I like both of, btw), I don't know that I can think of any Megadeth songs off the top of my head, but I could write you a whole list of Metallica songs.

Hey, wasn't the lead singer of Megadeth a former member of Metallica? I watched a Megadeth concert on HDNET over the weekend and I have to say it was pretty good.

Waaaay back when, yeah. They kicked him out because he was too much of a junkie. This was before their first album. Don't know if he ever really forgave them, until maybe recently.

I didn't realize until I saw the concert but he is actually a decent guitar player. I noticed the lead guitarist was playing what looked like a very nice 7 string Ibanez guitar.

Dave Mustaine is a very, very good guitarist--much better playing than singing!

Indeed! I came away impressed. It was enough for me to watch the entire concert which usually I do not do on HDNET. I was not familiar with most of the songs besides the really popular stuff.

Agreed, Mustaine is an awesome guitarist. His lyrics sometimes give me pause, but I do love the way the guy plays.

Was Mustaine the original lead guitarist for Metallica? Who was in the band at the time when he was around.

Yup. Hetfield, Ulrich, and Burton were the other members.

If you have HDNET they will be showing the concert again on March 22nd and 23rd. The concert series is called Megadeth Blood in the Water: Live in San Diego.

I remember when Risk came out and I remember me and my friends abandoning it even before it was cool to talk about bands that were uncool because they were blatantly trying to go mainstream.

With very few exceptions, I generally cringe every time I hear an artist saying that they have 'matured'. To me that equates to that they have run out of originality and have become just another boring radio band.

I'm not familiar with the Risk album, did it come out in the late 90s, early 2000's when Metal was nearly unheard of? Even I hardly listened to metal at the time, as I was getting married and having kids.

Find a copy of Count down to Extinction remastered by Mobile Fidelity, it's really good!

Yup, it was exactly that time period.

Then I think that is the best answer. At that time no one cared about Metal. These days its coming back. The hip-hop days are getting old and Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games have the kids listening to rock / metal again.

I'd quit caring about Megadeth after Peace Sells... I vaguely have a notion that Rust in Peace and the one with Symphony of Destruction on it existed. But I never really liked much Megadeth. Mustaine always came off as whiny to me, and after butchering Anarchy in the UK (after I'd forgiven them for doing the same to Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots" years earlier) I just really never cared about them. Same with Metallica's Kill 'Em All, even as a teen I thought they were immature acts/albums.

Bren R.

Agreed, I liked Peace sells but had trouble dealing Mustaine's voice. He was karaoke talent at best.

Listen Dawg. For me.... it was just aw - ight.....man....just aw - ight.

Mark, didn't we convince you to stop watching your new hero on Trailer Park Boys last year ???

EDIT: removed picture of J-Rock, noticed some profane sign language

EDIT: added less recognizable, less funny, but less offensive J-Rock picture.

Dude, you must not watch Idol! This is the guy I was riffing on.....

Aw...ight, dawg. We git it know.

Sorry, no Idol for me. I PVR about 5-6 shows a week and the rest is random flipping through the guide for a half hour tops before I get sick of commercials and do something else. The odd time something will catch my attention but it's almost never reality shows as TV is about escaping reality for me.

Last time I watched more than 5 min of "Idol" was about 3 yrs ago. The only show I will not miss is "24" and the rest of TV time is basically 'hit-and-miss' whatever looks aw-ight at the moment...maybe "King of Queens" or "Two and a Half Men" or a game.