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
. The Great Deceiver. Immolation
. Disturbed. Perzonal War
. Impellitteri. December
. Symphorce. Queensryche
. Circle II Circle. Steel Attack
. Fozzy. Legend
. Masterplan. God Dethroned
. Brainstorm. Circle of Nero
. Inner Rage of Emotion. Bloodbath
. Curriculum Mortis. Morbid Angel
. Runemagick. Rage
. Steel Preacher. Lanfear
. Assrockers. Sinergy
. Axenstar. Mnemic
. Windseeker. Fraise
. Silver Mountain. Superchrist
. Cryonic Temple. Construcdead
. W.A.S.P.. Van Helsing’s Curse
. Nova Lex. Jorn
. Lonewolf. Zaius
. Judas Priest. Feinstein
. Schenker/ Pattison Summit. Chapter VIII
. Lilitu. After Forever
. Black Destiny. Rhapsody of Fire
. Dio. Nashville Pussy
. Katagory V. Age Of Silence
. I.C.E.. Chris Caffery
. Marshall Law. GWAR
. Dark Ruin. Six Feet Under
. The Project Hate. Seventh One
. The 7 Method. Tsjuder
. Dark Tranquillity. John Oliva's Pain
. Motley Crue. Ligeia
. Necrophagia. Strikelight
. Apocalyptica. Backyard Babies
. Wolverine. Crimson Moonlight
. Cemetary. Derek Sherinian
. Lord Gore. Axel Rudi Pell
. Debris Inc.. Sinisthra
. Slumber. Ivory Knight
. Disbelief. Blind Stare
. Mirador. God Among Insects
. Maximum Overdrive. Brand New Sin
. Dark Funeral. Taake
. Leaves Eyes. The Father Panic Riot Orchestra
. Impaled Nazarene. Painmuseum
. V:28. Armored Saint
. Winterfell. Casus Belli
. The Firstborn. Twilight
. Chain Collector. Midnight Idols
. Decapitated. Early Man
. Insense. Craft
. Second Shadow. Across Tundras
. Naked Beggars. Poison
. Lair Of The Minotaur. Boris
. Cryptopsy. Pyramaze
. Ampast. Down Factor
. The Sword. Jotunspor
. Suzukiton. Destruction
. Paul Bonrud. Amon Amarth
. Psycroptic. Agalloch
. I. Hurt
. Wednesday 13. Pump
. Belphegor. Mastodon
. Cult of Daath. Lupara
. Obtest. Escape The Fate
. Darkness Eternal. Handful of Hate
. Skullflower. Twisted Into Form
. Warmachine. Southern Gentleman
. Onslaught. In This Moment
. Static-X. Textures
. Katrina Johansson. Nominon
. Retrospective. Blut Aus Nord
. Ulcerate. Fight
. Ensiferum. Echoes of Eternity
. Keldian. Diamond Dogs
. Glenn Hughes. The Obsessed
. Pop Evil. Straight Line Stitch
. To-Mera. Armory
. Godhead. Virgin Black
. Celestia. Sin
. Luna Mortis. Mustasch
. My Dying Bride. Uli Jon Roth