Morbid Angel

Morbid Angel

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983. The group begins with guitarist and primary composer Trey Azagthoth, vocalist and bassist Dallas Ward, and drummer Mike Browning. Azagthoth remains the sole original member.

Style and significance

The band is associated with Florida death metal and is regarded as one of the early acts to use guttural vocals, fast blast beats, frequent tempo changes, and a dark, atmospheric sound. Their music is noted for complex arrangements, which reflect the technical playing of Azagthoth and drummer Pete Sandoval.

Morbid Angel is also described as the first death metal band to gain mainstream exposure. In 1992 they sign with Giant Records, receive heavy rotation on MTV, and their video for “God of Emptiness” appears on Beavis and Butt-Head.

Albums and recognition

Their first three albums, Altars of Madness (1989), Blessed Are the Sick (1991), and Covenant (1993), are widely regarded as death metal classics. Altars of Madness is ranked first in Terrorizer magazine’s list of the “Top 40 Greatest Death Metal Albums”.

Covenant is listed by Nielsen SoundScan as the best-selling death metal album of the SoundScan era, with over 150,000 units sold. By 2003 Morbid Angel is the third-best-selling death metal act in the United States, after Cannibal Corpse and Deicide, with over 445,000 units sold. In 2016 Loudwire ranks the band as the 27th best metal band of all time. Trey Azagthoth is named the number one death metal guitarist by Decibel magazine.

Lyrics and personnel

Early lyrics, shaped largely by Mike Browning, David Vincent, and Azagthoth, focus on Satanism, occultism, and blasphemy. From Formulas Fatal to the Flesh onward, the lyrics move toward ancient Sumerian deities and draw on the Simon Necronomicon, H. P. Lovecraft, and Roman history. During Steve Tucker’s period in the band, the lyrical themes include anti-religious and barbaric ideas, often stressing the victory of the strong over the weak.

Morbid Angel’s membership has included Trey Azagthoth, Dallas Ward, Mike Browning, Kenny Bamber, Richard Brunelle, Sterling Von Scarborough, Wayne Hartsell, David Vincent, Pete Sandoval, Erik Rutan, Steve Tucker, Jared Anderson, Destructhor, Tim Yeung, Scott Fuller, and Daniel Vadim Von. The group remains active.

Albums

Altars of Madness (1989), Blessed Are the Sick (1991), Covenant (1993), Domination (1995), Formulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998), Gateways to Annihilation (2000), Heretic (2003), Illud Divinum Insanus (2011), Kingdoms Disdained (2017)