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
. HammerFall. LA Guns
. Sinner. The Haunted
. Vehemence. Children Of Bodom
. Misery Index. Mondo Generator
. Deceased. Regurgitate
. Impellitteri. Twelfth Gate
. Deranged. Commit Suicide
. Warhorse. Queensryche
. Circle II Circle. Usurper
. Godflesh. Iron Maiden
. Mortician. Metallica
. Dr. Butcher. Vyndykator
. Goat Horn. Nicta
. Bloodbath. Wycked Synn
. Curriculum Mortis. Kilfast
. Rage. Malstrom
. Rob Rock. Stryper
. Axenstar. Halloween
. Pharaoh. Slayer
. Fraise. Deivos
. Iron Savior. Node
. Cryonic Temple. Riot
. Outworld. Wolf
. Graveland. Disarmonia Mundi
. Edge Of Forever. Metalium
. Low Earth Orbit. Jorn
. Dragonspoon. Mob Rules
. Meliah Rage. Images of Eden
. Dark Age. Aina
. Polterchrist. Marshall Law
. Tartharia. Witchburner
. The Project Hate. Arch Enemy
. Made of Iron. Dark Tranquillity
. John Oliva's Pain. Crowbar
. Helgrind. Entombed
. Belef. Crionics
. Desire Black. Mystic Prophecy
. Backyard Babies. the missing:
. Darkthrone. Diecast
. Cemetary. Marduk
. Oathean. Novembers Doom
. Axis Of Perdition. Fire Alley
. Embraze. Agents Of Man
. Ektomorf. Unshine
. Dynamic Lights. Secrets She Kept
. Slik Helvetika. Dam
. Cannon. Widow
. Edenbridge. A Lower Deep
. The Scourger. Octavia Sperati
. Future is Tomorrow. Eternal Reign
. Dirty Americans. Sun O)))
. Vinterriket. Damnation
. Balatonizer. Akercocke
. Gojira. Ram-Zet
. Asrai. Midnight Idols
. Bronx Casket Company. Hate
. From This Day. Katatonia
. Lair Of The Minotaur. Nikki Puppet
. Moonspell. Silver Dirt
. Cavalar. Hirax
. Stormcrow. The Furor
. The Strongest Proof. Spawn of Possession
. Unsilent Phenomenon. From the Grave
. Zero Hour. Amputated
. Zoroaster. Rotting Christ
. Satyricon. Lesbian Bed Death
. Lecherous Nocturne. Handful of Hate
. Skullflower. Blood Tsunami
. Hardcore Superstar. Static-X
. Old Man's Child. Incrave
. Almah. Mithras
. Antigama. Wuthering Heights
. David Galas. Architect
. Keep of Kalessin. Ensiferum
. Cauldron. Destynation
. Ride The Sky. 40 Below Summer
. Rosetta. Father Befouled
. Puscifer. Kiuas
. Crown The Lost. Caliban
. DC4. Uli Jon Roth