Morbid Angel

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. Widely considered as one of the most influential bands in the genre and important in the transition of death metal from its thrash metal roots, they were one of the first bands to incorporate guttural vocals, up-tempo blast beats, atonality in guitar playing, multiple tempo changes and dark atmosphere. They have been described as one of "the most influential and emulated bands in death metal", alongside Cannibal Corpse, and have been cited as an influence by many later bands.^[1] They were also the first death metal band to experience mainstream success in connection with being signed to Giant Records in 1992, heavy rotation of their music videos on MTV, and having the music video for the song "God of Emptiness" shown on an episode of Beavis and Butt-head.^[2][3] Their first four albums are considered classics in the genre.^[4]

UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked Morbid Angel's 1989 debut 'Altars of Madness' first in its list "Top 40 greatest death metal albums". Decibel magazine also rated guitarist Trey Azagthoth as the number one "death metal guitarist ever".^[5] The band's songs are complex in arrangement, owing to the considerable technical skills of both Azagthoth as well as drummer Pete Sandoval, the latter of whom also played in the grindcore band Terrorizer. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Morbid Angel is the third best-selling death metal band in the United States (after Cannibal Corpse and Deicide up until 2003 with sales of over 445,000),^[6] with their third album Covenant being the best-selling death metal album during the beginning of the Soundscan era time with over 150,000 units sold.^[7]

The band's original lyrical themes focused mostly on Satanism, occultism and anti-Christian subject matter, but from Blessed Are the Sick onward, the lyrics moved toward the ancient Sumerian gods. Much of this is a nod to the Simon Necronomicon, which was influenced by Sumerian mythology, the author H. P. Lovecraft,^[8] and fascination with the Roman Empire. However, some anti-religious elements continue to permeate the lyrics. Their albums are notable for being released in alphabetical order, with guitarist Trey Azagthoth commenting that it was a coincidence regarding the first two albums, but that it has been done consciously since then.^[9]

History

Formation, demos and Altars of Madness (1984–1990)

Morbid Angel was formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida by guitarist Trey Azagthoth and drummer/vocalist Mike Browning. The band made their debut in 1987 on the New Renaissance Records record label. They recorded their debut album, Abominations of Desolation, in 1986, but the band was unsatisfied with the final product and it remained unreleased until 1991, printing 10,000 copies. In the early stages of their career the band developed a reputation for "gruesome stage antics."^[1]

In 1986, David Vincent joined the band, replacing Michael Manson and Sterling von Scarborough as vocalist and bassist respectively. Fellow Terrorizer drummer Pete Sandoval soon followed. Their first studio album, Altars of Madness, was released in 1989, and is regarded by many as one of the most important death metal albums of all time. It is sometimes considered the first true death metal album.^[10][11][12] Music journalist Jason Birchmeier writes that:

Few albums struck a chord within the ears and minds of the late-'80s underground metal scene like Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness did at the end of the decade, setting a new precedent for metal bands to reach. With the arguable exception of Chuck Schuldiner's Death, never before had a heavy metal band carried their lightning-fast guitar riffs and equally spellbinding guitar solos into such horrific territory. Venom and Slayer redefined the extent to which a metal band could align itself with all things evil during the beginning of the decade, but Morbid Angel made these two groups sound like children's music compared to the Florida-based group's assaulting death metal sounds and their blasphemous lyrics.^[13]

Rise to success (1991–1995)

1991 saw the release of their second album, Blessed Are the Sick, which was met with widespread critical acclaim, and is considered by many to be a landmark release in the death metal genre.^[14] The album differed from its predecessor, showcasing a more "sludgy" side to the band. Following the success of Altars of Madness' and 'Blessed are the Sick', in the Spring of 1992 Morbid Angel were signed by Irving Azoff to Giant Records for one album, with the option of five more.^[3] Later that same year, second guitarist Richard Brunelle was kicked out of the band due to alleged substance abuse.^[2]

On June 22, 1993 the band released their third full-length album 'Covenant', which went on to sell over 150,000 copies in the United States alone. Their record label dedicated promotional resources to the album, and commissioned music videos for the songs 'Rapture' and 'God of Emptiness'. These music videos were put on heavy rotation by MTV, and the latter also appeared on the television show Beavis and Butt-head. The success of the album enabled the band to tour with Black Sabbath and Motörhead across the United States from February through March of 1994, which David Vincent credits with helping the band significantly expand their audience.^[2][15]

The band released its fourth studio album, Domination, on May 9, 1995, which featured new guitarist Erik Rutan of Ripping Corpse. It proved to be a somewhat controversial album among fans, featuring a slower, more atmospheric and experimental sound than on previous albums.^[16] Music critic describes the album's sound as "more groove-oriented".^[17] The album has gone on to sell over 100,000 copies in the United States alone. Regardless, following the release of the album their record label dropped them from their roster.^[4][18]

Steve Tucker era (1996–2003)

In 1996, shortly after the release of their live album titled Entangled in Chaos, bassist/vocalist David Vincent departed the band and was replaced by Steve Tucker. They released their fifth full-length album Formulas Fatal to the Flesh in 1998, which was considered more aggressive and complex than their previous album 'Domination'.^[1] With Tucker, the band went on to release Gateways to Annihilation and Heretic in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Tucker briefly left Morbid Angel in 2001 and was replaced by former Hate Eternal bassist and vocalist Jared Anderson. In 2002 however, Anderson left the band and Tucker re-assumed his position as bassist and vocalist.^[14]

Reunion with David Vincent (2004–2014)

In 2004, Steve Tucker once again left the band, paving the way for former vocalist/bassist David Vincent to return. The band continued by touring and playing festivals such as Wacken Open Air in 2006.

Morbid Angel's appearance on some of the mid-summer 2008 European festivals was announced as a "short break from writing and pre-production of their new 8th studio album".^[19] In May 2008, it was announced that Destructhor from Zyklon would be the band's new guitarist,^[20] and Destructhor would appear on the new album.

On March 5, 2011, the band headlined the Scion Rock Fest in Pomona, California. This performance was their first in the US in six years, aside from a one-off show in Los Angeles in May 2009.^[21] On March 18, 2010, the band announced that Tim Yeung would play drums on the upcoming album, allowing Pete Sandoval to recover from back surgery.^[22] On June 22, 2010, the band entered the studio to begin the recording of their new full-length album.^[23] On March 9, 2011, Morbid Angel confirmed that their new album would be called Illud Divinum Insanus.^[24] The album was released on June 7, 2011 on Season of Mist.^[23][24] In an interview in December 2013, David Vincent confirmed that Pete Sandoval is no longer a member of the band, claiming that Sandoval had "found Jesus", and stating, "Pete Sandoval and Morbid Angel are not compatible", laying to rest speculation that Sandoval would eventually be returning to the band.^[25]

Asked in a December 2014 interview about Morbid Angel's plans for 2015, Vincent replied, "We're done [touring] for awhile. It's time to write."^[26] Yeung said that the band was in talks of recording an EP.^[27]

Reunion with Steve Tucker (2015–present)

On June 15, 2015, it was reported that David Vincent and Tim Yeung were no longer in the band. Former vocalist/bassist Steve Tucker has once again rejoined, and a replacement drummer has yet to be found.^[28][29] Later that day, however, Vincent denied that he had left the band.^[30] On his official Facebook page, Steve Tucker hinted in a post on the 17th of June that guitarist Destructhor is no longer part of Morbid Angel either: "Who will play second guitar? Time will answer that one..."^[31] On June 18, 2015, this was confirmed, as Destructhor announced his departure from Morbid Angel to focus on the Norwegian death metal band Myrkskog.^[32] On June 19, 2015, David Vincent confirmed that he left Morbid Angel, due to creative differences.^[33] Both Vincent and Yeung teamed up together in late 2016 to form the band I Am Morbid.^[34]

On August 3, 2016, it was announced that Morbid Angel was signed to UDR Music and is currently at work on a new studio album, which will be released in 2017, with a tour to follow.^[35] On January 9, 2017, Trey Azagthoth announced on his Facebook page that Scott Fuller from Annihilated joined Morbid Angel for the recording of their new album. Additional details indicated that the album title would presumably start with the letter "K", given the band's history on naming their albums alphabetically.^[36] The next day, the band announced that they had hired Dan Vadim Von from Vadimvon as their second guitarist. They also announced a U.S. tour with Suffocation, Revocation and Withered, which would begin in May.^[37] In a March interview on The Metal Magdalene With Jet show on Metal Messiah Radio, Steve Tucker explained that the album would be a "death metal album".^[38]

When speaking to Orlando Weekly, Tucker said that the tour setlist wouldn't feature any David Vincent era material and would then perform songs featuring him instead. He also said that they would play "probably one or two new songs" from the new album, in which he issued an update: "the album's almost done, but we don't want to put out too much with YouTube putting it up the next day."^[39] The opening night on May 23, they performed a new song entitled "Warped".^[40]

In July, Morbid Angel were forced to cancel their summer festival appearances in Europe due to "unfortunate and last minute, unforeseen problems with a passport for one of the members of the band." The band's management explained that a new passport wouldn't be issued in time for the shows. Morbid Angel were upset with the news and apologized thereafter. They are currently working on rescheduling their performances for the fall.^[41]

Legacy and controversy

Morbid Angel have been one of the most highly influential bands in the growth and development of death metal along with death metal band Cannibal Corpse.^[1][7][42] Former guitarist Erik Rutan went on to form the successful death metal band Hate Eternal, while the South Carolina band Nile have gone on to enjoy significant levels of success in a similar style of death metal.^[1] Their sound has also heavily influenced the growth and development of death metal and black metal in Brazil and South America, as well as of the early black metal scene in Norway.^[1] Many bands have cited Morbid Angel as an influence on their own music, including Immortal,^[43] Krisiun,^[44] Gorguts,^[45] Behemoth,^[46] Dead Congregation,^[47] Gojira,^[48] Opeth,^[49] Pyrrhon,^[50] Revocation,^[51] and many others. Their early release 'Abominations of Desolation' as well as 'Altars of Madness' are considered two of the earliest true examples of death metal, as well as two of the most boundary-pushing albums of their time in terms of extremity.^[52] Metalsucks named them one of the most important bands of the 90s, writing that "The band released three seminal albums — Blessed are the Sick, Covenant, and Domination — between 1991 and 1995 alone (and there are definitely fans who’d say we’re being unfair to 1998’s Formulas Fatal to the Flesh). And thanks to a little show called Beavis and Butt-Head, Morbid Angel became death metal’s ambassadors to the outside world, acting as the gateway drug for who even knows how many scores of kids."^[53]

Guitarist Trey Azagthoth is one of the most influential and widely revered guitarists in heavy metal.^[54][55][56] Loudwire named him one of the top 10 rock and metal "riff lords", writing that "Trey Azagthoth left his fingerprints all over the early death metal scene with a unique riffing style still unmatched within the genre today. [...] His unconventional style sounds haphazard in its approach, awkwardly stepping over piles of rubbles left from previous riffing attacks, but with crushing effect."^[57] VH1 have described him as "a unique and thrilling lead player more following in the adventurous footsteps of Eddie Van Halen than a stiff tactician. Bands like Hate Eternal and Nile have used the now common death metal language that Morbid Angel commenced. Their influence is most clearly represented by current Metal heavyweight, Gojira."^[58] SPIN write that "he has blazed a tension-filled style all his own" and that "when he solos, he enters a mystical mind state he calls the "Temple of Ostx".^[59] During the nineties the band were one of a number of bands involved in the scare created around death metal, and were featured in a news report about the issue due to the band's overtly Satanic and occult lyrics and imagery.^[60][61]

Musical style

Morbid Angel's style of music has undergone a number of changes throughout their musical career. The band's sound is characterised by harsh, growled vocals, technically complex guitarwork that frequently makes use of fast tremolo-picking and palm-muted riffs.^[62] Azagthoth's guitarwork is a core part of the band's sound, as he displays "mad virtuosity in riffs and solos alike, wielding atonality and shred in solos like a version of Kerry King that knew what he was doing."^[55] Pete Sandoval's work behind the drums has also been crucial to the band's sound, and "is known for his great double bass drum speed and technical proficiency" and as one of the fastest drummers in metal.^[63] In addition, "Sandoval is also among the first extreme metal drummers to champion the use of acoustic drum triggers."^[63] On their early albums, they pushed metal to its most extreme level, musically and lyrically.^[14] The band has evolved their anti-Christian lyrical themes from these early works. On 'Altars of Madness' the lyrics largely consist of simple blasphemous and overtly Satanic proclamations.^[1] However the sophistication and depth of the lyrics has grown over time. On their 1993 album 'Covenant', the band articulate more broadly anti-theistic lyrics, and profess "anger at a higher power." Today, "the band's lyrics are even more philosophical and thought-provoking. Current lyricist Trey Azagthoth has diagramed his personal ideology in the album "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh". His stance is blasphemous and non-traditional, but hardly evil."^[1]

Members

Morbid Angel in 2008

Current members

• Trey Azagthoth – guitars, guitar synthesizer, keyboards (1984–present)
• Steve Tucker – vocals, bass (1997–2001, 2003–2004, 2015–present)
• Scott Fuller – drums (2017–present)
• Dan Vadim Von – guitars (2017–present)

Former members

• Mike Browning – drums, percussion, vocals (1984–1986)
• Dallas Ward – vocals, bass (1984–1985)
• Terri Samuels – vocals (1984)
• Richard Brunelle – guitars (1985–1992, 1994, 1998)
• John Ortega – bass (1985–1986)
• Kenny Bamber – vocals (1985)
• David Vincent – vocals, bass (1986–1996, 2004–2015)
• Wayne Hartsell – drums (1986–1988)
• Michael Manson – vocals (1986)
• Sterling Von Scarborough – bass (1986; died 2006)
• Pete Sandoval – drums, percussion (1988–2010)
• Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards (1993–1996, 1998–2002, 2006)
• Jared Anderson – vocals, bass (2001–2002; died 2006)
• Destructhor – guitars (2008–2015)
• Tim Yeung – drums (2010–2015)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

Demo albums

EPs

Singles

Music videos

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morbid Angel.

• Official website
• Extensive interview with Trey (May 1999)