Cryptic Writings  by Megadeth

Cryptic Writings is the seventh studio album by the American heavy metal band Megadeth, which was released on June 17, 1997, by Capitol Records. The title of the album comes from a lyric in the song Use The Man. It was the last album recorded with drummer Nick Menza, closing the period of the band's longest-lasting and most successful lineup (Mustaine, Friedman, Ellefson, Menza).

Cryptic Writings marked a shift towards a more melodic and radio-friendly sound, with more accessible song structures, without completely abandoning its thrash roots, as in the tracks The Disintegrators and FFF. Trust was the most successful single from the album, receiving a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance in 1998.

The album reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and went gold in the USA. Although it divided some of the older fans due to its more commercial style, it is considered today one of the most quality albums of Megadeth's "middle" period.