In a recent interview on the Talk Toomey podcast, former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson reflected on the band’s venture into mainstream music during the late 1990s and its subsequent impact. He noted that while Megadeth aimed to appeal to a broader audience with albums like ‘Risk’ (1999), this approach didn’t yield the desired success. Ellefson remarked, “We dedicated ourselves more to composing conventional songs. Suddenly, bands like Disturbed, Godsmack, and Korn were dominating at that time.”
In contrast, bands such as Slayer and Testament remained true to their thrash metal roots. Ellefson observed that while Megadeth and Metallica gained prominence, Slayer experienced a resurgence in the 2000s due to their unwavering commitment to their original sound. He stated, “It’s curious that in the end, Slayer ended up on top. Honestly, with total confidence.”
Ellefson also recounted a conversation with Slayer’s Kerry King, who briefly played with Megadeth in 1984. King inquired about the decision behind ‘Risk’ and expressed relief that Slayer didn’t have a similar album in their discography. Ellefson shared, “He asked me, ‘Whose idea was it to make ‘Risk’?’ I told him it was a combination of many things. He said, ‘I’m glad I don’t have that album in my discography.'”
Reflecting on the broader music scene, Ellefson highlighted that while Megadeth explored more mainstream compositions, bands like Slayer and Testament remained steadfast in their thrash metal identity, ultimately reaping the rewards of their consistency.
