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. In Flames
. Lost Horizon. Nightwish
. Sinner. The Great Deceiver
. Big Dumb Face. Mondo Generator
. Exmortem. Cradle of Filth
. Deranged. Norma Jean
. Gun Barrel. Majesty
. Usurper. Dark Moor
. Wizard. Johnny Lokke
. Brainstorm. Evolution
. Catch 22. Artension
. Morbid Angel. Runemagick
. Victory. Malstrom
. Savatage. Drillpoint
. Primal Fear. Defiled
. Dew Scented. F5
. Yngwie Malmsteen. Superchrist
. Jag Panzer. Donnerkopf
. Edge Of Forever. Jorn
. Brutal Mastication. Hatework
. De Lirium's Order. Juggernott
. Joey Belladonna. Vox Tempus
. Unleashed. Meliah Rage
. Lilitu. Images of Eden
. Otep. Katagory V
. Division. Valume Nob
. Jungle Rot. Internal Bleeding
. House of Shakira. Negative Creeps
. Overlorde. Trans-Siberian Orchestra
. Mirror of Deception. Tsjuder
. Rush. Crowbar
. Cradle To Grave. Emerald Sun
. Rottweiller. Blood Red Throne
. Kamelot. Requiem Aeternam
. Maze Of Torment. Quiet Riot
. Astral Doors. Hibria
. Yyrkoon. Icarus Witch
. Apocalyptica. Backyard Babies
. Marduk. Chaoswave
. Alex Skolnick Trio. Lord Gore
. Fire Alley. Ignitor
. Gizmachi. Callenish Circle
. Throes of Dawn. Maximum Overdrive
. Unchained. Kult ov Azazel
. Horna. Devil Lee Rot
. Holy Blood. Blitzkrieg
. Nuclear Assault. Octavia Sperati
. To The Bone. Future is Tomorrow
. Mercyful Fate. V:28
. The Firstborn. Ghost Machinery
. Balatonizer. Even X
. Avulsed. Mastermind
. Detonation. Dismember
. Absu. End of Level Boss
. Sodom. Grimfist
. Pile of Heads. Across Tundras
. Ephel Duath. Codeon
. Tris Katone. Clawfinger
. The Ocean. Valhalla
. Manngard. Cataract
. Nicodemus. Speed/Kill/Hate
. Bludgeon. TK-421
. Abysmal Dawn. Gorgoroth
. Suzukiton. Paul Bonrud
. Amon Amarth. Ynis Vitrin
. Fleshgore. Zero Hour
. Setherial. Belphegor
. Amputated. Satyricon
. Eyes of Ligeia. Teeth of the Hydra
. Biolich. Warmachine
. Battered. Warbringer
. Nagelfar. Cattle Decapitation
. Passion. Pantera
. Gotthard. Pentacle
. Manes. Tears
. Funeral. Nation Beyond
. Depressed Mode. Mongrel
. Night Ranger. Dantesco
. Glenn Hughes. Ride The Sky
. Father Befouled. Demonic Symphony
. Blood Haven. Straight Line Stitch
. Souls Of We. Medieval Steel
. Alestorm. UFOmammut
. Eighteen Wheels Burning. Something Beautiful
. Raven. Uli Jon Roth
. Giant Squid