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
. Cathedral. Hate Eternal
. Into Eternity. Steel Prophet
. BloodDuster. Mondo Generator
. Deceased. Regurgitate
. Twelfth Gate. Stratovarius
. Symphorce. Skullview
. Godflesh. Advent
. Mortician. Ravage
. Firewind. Abigor
. Led Zeppelin. October 31
. Exawatt. Endless Time
. Saint. Bloodbath
. Chainsnap. Kilfast
. Dream Weaver. Guardians Of Time
. Stalker. Drillpoint
. Attacker. Pharaoh
. Krisiun. Deivos
. Out of the Lair. Riot
. Messiah's Kiss. Madison Paige
. David Shankle Group. Low Earth Orbit
. Velvet Revolver. Lonewolf
. Black Zodiac. Acrid
. Dream Evil. Metal Church
. Final Dawn. Occult
. Otep. Necrodemon
. Slowlife. Jamie. St. James
. House of Shakira. Tartharia
. Arch Enemy. Haunted By Angels
. Blind Guardian. Seventh One
. Behemoth. Karmakanic
. Twisted Sister. Creed
. Sonata Arctica. Of Infinity
. Code Black. Gods Of Fire
. Labyrinth. Sabaton
. Yyrkoon. Car Bomb
. Backyard Babies. Alex Skolnick Trio
. Bleed The Sky. Debris Inc.
. Impiety. Slumber
. Ivory Knight. Embraze
. Blind Stare. Astarte
. Manntis. Python
. God Among Insects. Voyager
. Supagroup. Gemini 5
. Leaves Eyes. Ritual Killer
. Widow. Resurrecturis
. Morgana Lefay. Blitzkrieg
. Future is Tomorrow. Peccatum
. Illuminatus. Black Majesty
. Blood Thirsty Demons. Forever Slave
. Casus Belli. Ewigkeit
. Arthemis. The Absence
. Phantom X. Balatonizer
. Crystal Ball. Gojira
. Asrai. Midnight Idols
. Skullshifter. Celebratum
. Dismember. Insense
. From This Day. Brother Hawk
. Witchery. Tandjent
. Cannibal Corpse. Scum
. Steep. Firehouse
. Cryptopsy. Degree Absolute
. Vore. Silver Dirt
. The Smashup. Vreid
. Down Factor. Hirax
. Dreams of Damnation. Non-Human Level
. Upon Infliction. Destruction
. Space Odyssey. Amon Amarth
. Skid Row. Vicious Rumors
. Wednesday 13. The Ruins of Beverast
. Jeff Walker und Die Fluffers. Thy Majestie
. Cult of Daath. Lordi
. Extium. Starkweather
. Lecherous Nocturne. Steve Cone
. Centinex. The Gathering
. Hardcore Superstar. Threat Signal
. Throne of Katarsis. Dream Theater
. Merciless Death. Grenouer
. White Willow. White Wizzard
. Antigama. Denial Fiend
. Lipstick Magazine. Temple Of Blood
. Mongrel. Glenn Hughes
. Shining Star. Moonshine
. Celestia. Bible Of The Devil
. Luna Mortis. Winterfylleth
. Crown The Lost. Suffocation
. Earthen Grave