C O L U M N S

Where Are You?

Risk
Mid-tempo German thrash with power elements

By: Rod Throwen
Published: Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Members
Heinrich Mikus - Vocals
Roman Keymer - Guitars
Christian Sumser - Guitars
Thilo Herrmann - Guitars
Peter Dell - Bass
Jürgen Düsterloh - Drums


Discography
The Daily Horror News 1988
Hell's Animals 1989
Ratman EP 1989
Dirty Surfaces 1990
The Reborn 1992
Turpitude 1993


Bio
Risk was actually formed from the ashes of Faithful Breath, an established German rock act that started out in the mid-60s, and released their first album in 1974. The band went on to record five critically acclaimed records in the 80s, of which "Gold 'N Glory" is their biggest success, conjuring up moments of Scorpions and Accept. After the long distance run as Faithful Breath, Mikus decided to change gears and form Risk, a new sound that strayed a few paces from his previous band. With Risk, Mikus entered the world of tight-knit German thrash, not a far cry from the mid-tempo speed of bands like Reactor and Rage.

With Risk, Mikus designed a well thought out plan of attack, keeping everything top notch and heavy, but relaxing a bit to allow the music plenty of body space. Risk never traveled the same roads as other German thrashers such as Sodom, Kreator, or Destruction, instead the band concentrated on mid-tempo thrash, with plenty of sing along chorus parts that are on par with groups like Helloween and Heaven's Gate. With the group's "The Reborn" in '92, Risk played the part of power metal enthusiast, keeping that album solid with plenty of fast twin guitar melody and the German way of writing the epics. With the group's last record, "Turpitude", the band concentrated on a slower delivery, almost doomy in their approach.


Sightings
Guitarist Thilo Herrmann spent time in Running Wild from 1994-2000. He was also seen in the Holy Moses lineup circa '89. All other members are missing in action.


The Question
Where are you Risk? With a majority of it's members playing metal for almost twenty years, why did the group stop recording records in 1993? What is the reasoning behind it, and why aren't the musicians active today? If you have any answers to these questions, please drop us a line.

If you have any news or info leading to the whereabouts of this band or band members, please send an email... news@maximummetal.com




[Other Maximum Metal Columns]

<< back >>





RANDOM ACTS OF METAL
. Anvil. Leng Tch'e
. Steel Prophet. Chaingunn
. BloodDuster. Disturbed
. Deceased. Stratovarius
. Symphorce. Machine Head
. Kataklysm. Gun Barrel
. Seven Witches. Helloween
. Circle II Circle. Rawhead Rexx
. Sickspeed. Wizard
. Black Label Society. The Chainsaw
. Circle of Nero. Endless Time
. Supervillain. Catch 22
. SelfInflicted. Chainsnap
. Curriculum Mortis. Sinergy
. Beautiful Creatures. Guardians Of Time
. Axenstar. Stalker
. Drillpoint. Pink Cream 69
. Brides of Destruction. Doro
. Royal Anguish. Fear Factory
. Shiva. I Hate Sally
. Yngwie Malmsteen. Exodus
. Riot. Deep Purple
. Iron Angel. Dragonspoon
. Cyst. Spiral Madness
. Estuary. De Lirium's Order
. Therion. Ungodly
. Joey Belladonna. After Forever
. Metal Church. Tearabyte
. Lullacry. Unearth
. Eternal Flight. Conquestador
. Haunted By Angels. Negative Creeps
. Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Avenue F
. Tristania. Betrayer
. Dark Tranquillity. Sonata Arctica
. Legion. Rottweiller
. The Mighty Nimbus. Miles Beyond
. Impaled. Necrophagia
. Tarot. Heartcry
. Mechanical Poet. Icarus Witch
. John Sykes. Alex Skolnick Trio
. God Fear None. Lord Gore
. Holy Moses. Kinrick
. Impiety. Slumber
. Ivory Knight. Biss
. Embraze. Blind Stare
. Sothis. God Among Insects
. Slough Feg. Subterranean Masquerade
. Devil Lee Rot. Holy Blood
. Blitzkrieg. Loits
. Black Majesty. Monster Magnet
. Blood Thirsty Demons. ASG
. Overloaded. Mabon
. Arthemis. Akercocke
. Spellbound. Gojira
. The Classic Struggle. From This Day
. Powerglove. Poison
. Hell-Born. Scum
. Dissection. Pyramaze
. Stormcrow. The Furor
. Fragments of Unbecoming. Destruction
. War Within. Paul Bonrud
. Scary Manilow. Shadows Within
. I. Wednesday 13
. Teeth of the Hydra. Venom
. Sathanas. Cheva
. Demise. Steve Cone
. Handful of Hate. The Gathering
. Lost Eden. Threat Signal
. Warbringer. Blood of the Black Owl
. Nagelfar. Chrome Division
. Five Finger Death Punch. Manes
. Kruger. JR Ewing
. Hearse. Nation Beyond
. Hellveto. Distorted
. I Shalt Become. Cockpit
. Deceiver. Father Befouled
. The Obsessed. Last Stone Cast
. To-Mera. Puscifer
. Moonshine. Iron Fire
. Kiuas. Place Of Skulls
. Wolfgate. Ihsahn
. Something Beautiful. Raven