Morbid Angel performing live in 2008 (top) and 2011 (bottom).

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida. Formed in 1983, the group was originally a trio featuring bassist and vocalist Dallas Ward, guitarist and keyboardist Trey Azagthoth, and drummer and vocalist Mike Browning. The band's current lineup includes constant member Azagthoth alongside bassist and vocalist Steve Tucker (initially a member from 1997 to 2001, from 2003 to 2004, and most recently since 2015), drummer Scott Fuller (who joined in 2017) and drummer Charlie Koryn (who joined in 2023).

History

1983–1998

Morbid Angel was formed in 1983 by Dallas Ward, Trey Azagthoth and Mike Browning, with vocals initially handled by Ward. After brief stints in 1984 and 1985 with Terri Samuels and Kenny Bamber, respectively, vocal duties were taken over by Browning and guitarist Richard Brunelle, the latter of whom joined in 1985.[1] By early 1986, the band consisted of Browning, Azagthoth, Brunelle and bassist John Ortega, who recorded the group's first three demos Scream Forth Blasphemies, Bleed for the Devil and Total Hideous Death, as well as the 1991 release Abominations of Desolation.[2]

Shortly after the recording of Abominations of Desolation, Ortega was replaced with Sterling Von Scarborough, and after one more show Browning was fired following a fight with Azagthoth.[2] He was replaced by drummer Wayne Hartsell and vocalist Michael Manson, although after a short time both Scarborough and Manson departed, leaving producer David Vincent to take over as bassist and vocalist.[1] After another demo, Thy Kingdom Come, former Terrorizer drummer Pete Sandoval replaced Hartsell in July 1988.[3] This lineup released Altars of Madness and Blessed Are the Sick.[4]

In late 1992, Brunelle was dismissed from Morbid Angel, reportedly due to substance abuse, and the band became a trio for the first time since its formation.[5] After the release of Covenant, however, Brunelle's vacated position was taken by former Ripping Corpse guitarist Erik Rutan.[6] The new lineup issued Domination in 1995, before frontman David Vincent left at the end of the album's touring cycle the following summer.[7] Rutan also left around the same time.[8] Vincent was replaced by Steve Tucker and the band recorded 1998's Formulas Fatal to the Flesh as a trio.[9]

1998–2015

With Erik Rutan back in the lineup, the group issued Gateways to Annihilation in 2000.[10] The following year, Tucker was forced to step down due to "family and personal problems".[11] He was replaced by Rutan's Hate Eternal bandmate Jared Anderson.[12] By the summer of 2002, however, both Anderson and Rutan had left Morbid Angel to focus on Hate Eternal.[13][14] After a short hiatus, it was announced in May 2003 that Morbid Angel had begun recording a new album as a trio, with Tucker returning.[15] After the release of Heretic, the band added Monstrosity's Tony Norman as a touring guitarist.[16]

By August 2004, Tucker had left for a second time due to various "personal reasons, musical reasons and very logical reasons" (including health problems), with former frontman David Vincent returning to take his place.[17] Erik Rutan also returned temporarily in the summer of 2006, taking the place of Tony Norman for a European tour running until August.[18] After the tour, the band remained relatively inactive until May 2008, when it was announced that Thor "Destructhor" Myhren of Zyklon had joined as an official second guitarist, in time for the recording of a planned eighth album.[19]

In March 2010, drummer Pete Sandoval was forced to step down from Morbid Angel after undergoing back surgery.[20] He was replaced by Tim Yeung, who was initially credited as a stand-in but ultimately remained with the band on a permanent basis.[21] The new lineup issued Illud Divinum Insanus in 2011.[4] In June 2015, a series of personnel changes occurred – first, it was announced that Tucker had returned, although Vincent initially claimed that he had not left;[22] next, Yeung confirmed rumors that he too had left;[23] and finally, Destructhor announced his departure a few days later.[24]

Since 2015

Morbid Angel remained inactive for the rest of 2015 and all of 2016, before announcing its return in January 2017 with new guitarist Dan Vadim Von and drummer Scott Fuller.[25] The new lineup released Kingdoms Disdained later that year.[4] It was announced in March 2023 that drummer Charlie Koryn joined the band for its 2023 spring American tour.[26] His first gig with the band was in Pensacola, Florida at Vinyl Music Hall.[27]

Members

Current

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Trey Azagthoth - 2012.jpg
Trey Azagthoth 1983–present
  • guitars
  • keyboards
all Morbid Angel releases
Steve Tucker
  • 1997–2001
  • 2003–2004
  • 2015–present
  • bass
  • vocals
Dan Vadim Von 2017–present guitars Kingdoms Disdained (2017) – one track only
Charlie Koryn 2023–present drums None – live shows only

Former

Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Mike Browning 1983–1986
  • drums
  • vocals
Dallas Ward 1983–1985
  • bass
  • vocals
none
Richard Brunelle 1985–1992 (died 2019) guitars
  • all Morbid Angel releases from Scream Forth Blasphemies (1986) to Abominations of Desolation (1991)
  • Live Madness '89 (2006)
John Ortega 1985–1986 bass
  • Scream Forth Blasphemies (1986)
  • Bleed for the Devil (1986)
  • Total Hideous Death (1986)
  • Abominations of Desolation (1991)
Kenny Bamber vocals none
Sterling Von Scarborough 1986 (died 2006) bass none
Wayne Hartsell 1986–1988 drums Thy Kingdom Come (1987)
Michael Manson 1986 vocals none
Morbid Angel - Geiselwind 2012.jpg
David Vincent
  • 1986–1996
  • 2004–2015
  • bass
  • vocals
  • occasional keyboards
  • all Morbid Angel releases from Thy Kingdom Come (1987) to Entangled in Chaos (1996), except Abominations of Desolation (1991)
  • Live Madness '89 (2006)
  • Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)
Pete Sandoval.jpg
Pete Sandoval 1988–2010
  • drums
all Morbid Angel releases from Altars of Madness (1989) to Live Madness '89, except Abominations of Desolation (1991)
Hate eternal erik rutan berlin.jpg
Erik Rutan
  • 1993–1996
  • 1998–2002
  • 2006 (touring)
  • guitars
  • keyboards
  • Domination (1995)
  • Entangled in Chaos (1996)
  • Gateways to Annihilation (2000)
Jared Anderson.jpg
Jared Anderson 2001–2002 (died 2006)
  • bass
  • vocals
none
Tony Norman 2003–2006 (touring only) guitars
Metalmania 2007 - Zyklon - Thor 'Destructhor' Myhren 02.jpg
Thor "Destructhor" Myhren 2008–2015 Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)
DevineHerecy002 sharp.jpg
Tim Yeung 2010–2015
  • drums
Scott Fuller 2017–2023
  • drums
Kingdoms Disdained (2017)

Timeline

Lineups

Period Members Releases
1983–1984
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Mike Browning – drums
  • Dallas Ward – bass, vocals
none
1984–1985
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Mike Browning – drums
  • Dallas Ward – bass
  • Terri Samuels – vocals
1985–1986
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Mike Browning – drums
  • Richard Brunelle – guitars, vocals
  • John Ortega – bass
  • Kenny Bamber – vocals
Early – summer 1986
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Mike Browning – drums, vocals
  • Richard Brunelle – guitars
  • John Ortega – bass
Summer 1986
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Mike Browning – drums, vocals
  • Richard Brunelle – guitars
  • Sterling Von Scarborough – bass
none
Fall 1986
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Richard Brunelle – guitars
  • Sterling Von Scarborough – bass
  • Wayne Hartsell – drums
  • Michael Manson – vocals
Late 1986 – July 1988
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Richard Brunelle – guitars
  • Wayne Hartsell – drums
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
  • Thy Kingdom Come (1987)
July 1988 – late 1992
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Richard Brunelle – guitars
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
Late 1992 – late 1993
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
Late 1993 – summer 1996
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards
Early 1997 – early 1998
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Steve Tucker – bass, vocals
Early 1998 – April 2001
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Steve Tucker – bass, vocals
  • Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards (1st return)
April 2001 – June 2002
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards
  • Jared Anderson – bass, vocals
none
June – August 2002
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards
August 2002 – May 2003
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
May – November 2003
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Steve Tucker – bass, vocals (1st return)
November 2003 – August 2004
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Steve Tucker – bass, vocals
  • Tony Norman – guitars (touring only)
none
August 2004 – June 2006
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • Tony Norman – guitars (touring only)
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals (1st return)
June – August 2006
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
  • Erik Rutan – guitars (touring only)
August 2006 – May 2008
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
May 2008 – March 2010
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Pete Sandoval – drums
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
  • Destructhor – guitars
March 2010 – June 2015
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • David Vincent – bass, vocals
  • Destructhor – guitars
  • Tim Yeung – drums
June 2015 – January 2017
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Steve Tucker – bass, vocals (2nd return)
none
January 2017 – 2023
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Steve Tucker – bass, vocals
  • Scott Fuller – drums
  • Dan Vadim Von – guitars
2023 – present
  • Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards
  • Steve Tucker – bass, vocals
  • Charlie Koryn – drums
  • Dan Vadim Von – guitars
none

References

  1. 1 2 Chantler, Chris (April 30, 2020). "The demonic birth of Morbid Angel: "We performed rituals to conjure the Gods"". Metal Hammer. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Stevens, Brett (June 4, 2015). "Interview with Mike Browning 05-30-15". Death Metal Underground. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  3. "Pete Sandoval No Longer Has a Relationship With Morbid Angel: 'I Don't Even Speak To Them'". Blabbermouth.net. January 29, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Prato, Greg. "Morbid Angel: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  5. Badin, Olivier Zoltar (October 22, 2014). "20 Years Of Morbid Angel's Covenant". Louder. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  6. Brown, Gavin. "Interview: Erik Rutan from Hate Eternal". Echos and Dust. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  7. Deurwaarder, Silvia (April 21, 2005). "Morbid Angel". Reflections of Darkness. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  8. Rosenberg, Axl (November 26, 2014). "Ten Facts You Probably Didn't Know About Morbid Angel". Metal Sucks. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  9. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh - Morbid Angel: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  10. Korn, Mike. "Morbid Angel: Gateways of Annihilation". Music Street Journal. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  11. "Archive News Apr 04, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. April 4, 2001. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  12. "Archive News Nov 19, 2001". Blabbermouth.net. November 19, 2001. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  13. "Morbid Angel: New Frontman Needed". Blabbermouth.net. June 3, 2002. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  14. "Erik Rutan Leaves Morbid Angel". Blabbermouth.net. August 17, 2002. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  15. "Morbid Angel Reunite With Frontman, Begin Recording New CD". Blabbermouth.net. May 20, 2003. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  16. "Morbid Angel Recruit Monstrosity Axeman For Superjoint Tour". Blabbermouth.net. November 7, 2003. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  17. "David Vincent Rejoins Morbid Angel". Blabbermouth.net. August 12, 2004. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  18. "Morbid Angel Guitarist Erik Rutan To Rejoin Band For European Tour". June 26, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  19. "Morbid Angel Announces New Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. May 20, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  20. "Morbid Angel Drummer Undergoes Back Surgery; Divine Heresy's Tim Yeung Steps In". Blabbermouth.net. March 18, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  21. "Former Morbid Angel Drummer Pete Sandoval Says His Christian Beliefs Will Not Affect Terrorizer". Blabbermouth.net. November 21, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  22. "Updated: Morbid Angel Reunites With Steve Tucker; David Vincent Says He Hasn't Quit Band". Blabbermouth.net. June 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  23. "It's Official: Drummer Tim Yeung Exits Morbid Angel". Blabbermouth.net. June 15, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  24. "Morbid Angel Parts Ways With Guitarist Destructhor". Blabbermouth.net. June 18, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  25. "Morbid Angel To Tour U.S. With Suffocation, Revocation, Withered; Second Guitarist Announced". Blabbermouth.net. January 11, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  26. "MORBID ANGEL Recruits Drummer CHARLIE KORYN For Spring 2023 U.S. Tour". Blabbermouth.net. March 13, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  27. "MORBID ANGEL's TREY AZAGTHOTH: 'If You Don't Like My Music, F*** You. Go Listen To Some Other Band'". Blabbermouth.net. April 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
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