Former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has offered a blunt, candid assessment of a turbulent chapter in the band’s history, saying that during the period surrounding their album Risk, the band “lost the plot.” In a recent interview, he reflected on the band’s creative direction at the time — a deviation from the thrash‑metal roots that had defined Megadeth.
Ellefson acknowledged that Risk — released in 1999 — represented a drastic shift in style. Instead of the heavy riffs, biting lyrics, and aggressive energy longtime fans embraced, the record leaned heavily into experimental and commercial sounds. “We lost who we were,” Ellefson said, summing up the sentiment that many fans also felt. The album, he admitted, was more about chasing trends than staying true to Megadeth’s identity.
He went on to say the band’s internal dynamics at the time contributed to the misdirection: pressures from the industry, the desire to expand the audience, and a sense of uncertainty about where rock and metal were headed. According to Ellefson, those factors combined to push Megadeth into a sound and groove that felt foreign — and in hindsight, misguided.
Despite the misstep, Ellefson emphasized that the band learned hard lessons. He framed Risk as a necessary detour — a moment that, although painful to admit, helped clarify Megadeth’s core identity. “We realized what Megadeth really meant to us — thrash, integrity, raw edge. Once we came back to that, everything made sense,” he reflected.
For many longtime fans, Ellefson’s honesty offers closure. The “Risk era” has often been cited as a moment of division: some appreciated the experimentation, others felt betrayed. With this admission, Ellefson bridges the divide — acknowledging the mistakes, but also reaffirming the band’s roots.
As of now, Megadeth remains active, with new music and touring on the horizon. And for Ellefson — whether he’s involved or not — his words serve as a reminder of what Megadeth always was at its heart: a band built on intensity, conviction, and an uncompromising love for heavy metal.
