Turpitude was originally released in 1993 via Steamhammer/SPV as the fifth and final studio album by German thrash and speed metal band Risk. The group had emerged from Faithful Breath in 1986 and recorded the album in June and July 1993 at Studio Mohrmann. With tracks such as Cry, Materialized and Show No Mercy, the band shifted towards a slower, groove-oriented form of post-thrash. Shortly after the release, Risk disbanded.