[4] The first Megadeth album since 1990 to feature a lineup change, Risk marks the studio debut of drummer Jimmy DeGrasso with the band, as well as the final appearance of longtime guitarist Marty Friedman, who announced his departure a year later.

[5] Meant to be a breakthrough on alternative rock radio, Risk received a mixed response because of the great deviation from the band's traditional sound.

The backlash ultimately resulted in the band returning to a heavier sound on their next album, The World Needs a Hero.

As with the rest of Megadeth's studio records released by Capitol, the album was remixed and remastered in 2004, with several bonus tracks added.

Risk followed the band's 1997 release Cryptic Writings, which according to Nielsen Soundscan, had sold 850,000 copies and won widespread praise from rock radio programmers.

[10] As bassist David Ellefson recalls, the band's manager Bud Prager had told them that they needed "to do something that will make all of their contemporaries knock themselves on the head and say, 'Why didn't we think of that'?".

Megadeth chose to produce the album once again with Dann Huff in Nashville, satisfied with the success of their previous record.

Mustaine originally wrote the song hoping that it would be adopted at arenas nationwide as a new sports anthem.

[17] Jeff Treppel spoke positively about the album's opener "Insomnia", naming it "one of the best Megadeth songs of the past 15 years".

The song features swirling Middle Eastern strings, crunching guitar line and, according to Treppel, some of Mustaine's most demented lyrics.

[11] Neil Arnold from Metal Forces opined that "Breadline" is "as melodic and commercial as Megadeth gets", while noting that "Wanderlust" and "I'll Be There" are "probably two of the band's most underrated songs".

[12] Amy Sciarretto of CMJ New Music Report noted that Risk marked another significant change in Megadeth's sound and called it a "logical stylistic progression" from their previous album.

According to her, Mustaine's "biting lyrics" and "power riffs" were toned down, finding Megadeth "traveling out of thrash metal territory".

He would again mention that if the album was released under a different name, it would've sold well, but that "People wanted a Megadeth record.