"Cryptic Writings" was released in June 1997. Its main single, "Trust", was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1998. All four singles from the album went into the top 20 on "Billboard"'s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. "Cryptic Writings" had mixed (good and bad) reviews from critics. The album had songs that were very different from each other. The "Los Angeles Times" wrote that the album was a "balance" between metal and experimental music. Mustaine said that the album had three parts. The first was angrier, faster metal, the next one was radio-friendly rock "like "Youthanasia"", and the last one was happier.