- Morbid Angel
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Morbid Angel 
Morbid Angel live in Toronto in 2006. From left to right: David Vincent (background), Trey Azagthoth (foreground)Background information Origin Tampa, Florida, United States Genres Death metal Years active 1984–present Labels Combat, Earache, Giant, Candlelight, Roadrunner, New Renaissance, Season of Mist Website morbidangel.com Members Trey Azagthoth
Pete Sandoval
David Vincent
DestructhorPast members Mike Browning
Wayne Hartsell
Dallas Ward
Richard Brunelle
Kenny Bamber
Sterling Von Scarborough
Steve Tucker
Erik Rutan
Jared Anderson
Tony Norman
John Ortega
Michael MansonMorbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1. Decibel Magazine also rated guitarist Trey Azagthoth as the number one “death metal guitarist ever.” The band′s songs are complex in arrangement, owing to the considerable technical skills of both Azagthoth and drummer Pete Sandoval, who also played in the grindcore death metal band Terrorizer. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Morbid Angel is the third best-selling death metal band in the United States with sales of over 445,000;[1] with their third album Covenant being the best-selling death metal album of all time with over 127,000 units sold.[2]
Contents
History
Morbid Angel was formed in 1984 in Tampa, Florida. 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. Their first proper studio album, Altars of Madness, was released in 1989.
Morbid Angel was one of the original death metal bands signed to Earache Records, and was also influential in the transition of death metal from its thrash metal roots to its current form by incorporating guttural vocals, up-tempo blast beats, atonality in guitar soloing, and dark, chunky, mid-paced rhythms. They were also the first death metal band to have a touch of mainstream success in connection with being signed to Giant Records in 1992 and having the music video for the song "God of Emptiness" shown on an episode of Beavis and Butt-head.
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,[3] 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 (their first album starts with the letter A, the second with B, etc.). Guitarist Trey Azagthoth commented in an interview that it was a coincidence with the first two albums, but has been done consciously since then.[4]
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".[5] In May 2008, it was announced that Thor Anders Myhren of Zyklon would be the band's new touring guitarist.[6] Myhren will also appear on the new album. During European tours and festivals in 2008, a new song entitled "Nevermore" was played from the forthcoming 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.[7] 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.[8] On June 22, 2010, the band entered the studio to begin the recording of their new full-length album.[9] On March 9, 2011, Morbid Angel confirmed that their new album would be called Illud Divinum Insanus.[10] The album was released on June 7, 2011 on Season of Mist.[9][10]
Members
Current line-up
Morbid Angel in 2008
- Trey Azagthoth – guitar, guitar synthesizer, keyboards, backing vocals (1984–present)
- Pete Sandoval – drums, percussion (1988–present)
- David Vincent – bass guitar, lead vocals (1986–1996, 2004–present)
- Destructhor – guitar (2008–present)
- Tim Yeung – session drums (2010–present)
Former members
- Bass guitar
- Dallas Ward – bass guitar, vocals (1984–1985)
- John Ortega – bass guitar (1985–1986)
- Sterling Von Scarborough – bass guitar (1986)
- Drums
- Mike Browning – drums, percussion, vocals (1984–1986)
- Wayne Hartsell – drums (1986–1988)
- Guitar
- Richard Brunelle – guitar (1985–1992, 1994, 1998)
- Gino Marino – guitar (1992–1993)
- Erik Rutan – guitar, keyboards (1993–1996, 1999–2002, 2006)
- Tony Norman – guitar (2003–2006)
- Vocals
- Kenny Bamber – vocals (1985)
- Michael Manson – vocals (1986)
- Steve Tucker – vocals, bass guitar (1997–2001, 2003–2004)
- Jared Anderson – vocals, bass guitar (2001–2002)
Discography
Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions US
[11]US
Heat.
[12]US
Ind.
[13]CHE
[14]FIN
[15]FRA
[16]GRC
[17]NLD
[18]SWE
[19]UK
[20]1989 Altars of Madness - Released: May 12, 1989
- Label: Earache
— — — — — — — — — — 1991 Blessed Are the Sick - Released: May 2, 1991
- Label: Earache
— — — — — — 26 81 — — 1993 Covenant - Released: June 22, 1993
- Label: Giant
— 24[21] — — — — — — — — 1995 Domination - Released: May 9, 1995
- Label: Giant
— 13[22] — — — — — 93 — 124 1998 Formulas Fatal to the Flesh - Released: February 24, 1998
- Label: Earache
— 22[23] — — — — — 93 — — 2000 Gateways to Annihilation - Released: October 17, 2000
- Label: Earache
— — — — — — — — — — 2003 Heretic - Released: September 22, 2003
- Label: Earache
— 27 28 — — 146 — — — — 2011 Illud Divinum Insanus - Released: June 7, 2011
- Label: Season of Mist
141 3 24 97 18 — — — 41 — "—" denotes a release that did not chart. Live albums
Year Album details 1996 Entangled in Chaos - Released: 1996
- Label: Earache
Demo albums
Year Album details NLD
[18]1991 Abominations of Desolation - Released: September 2, 1991
- Label: Earache
77 EPs
Year EP details 1994 Laibach Re-mixes - Released: 1994
- Label: Giant
Music videos
Year Song Director 1989 "Immortal Rites" 1991 "Blessed Are the Sick/Leading the Rats" 1993 "God of Emptiness" Tony Kunewalder "Rapture" 1995 "Where the Slime Live" 2003 "Enshrined by Grace" Pete Bridgewater[24] References
- ^ "Morbid Angel is the Third Best Selling Death Metal Band (Hitting this mark with only 8 Albums)". Blogcritics. 2003. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/18/115317.php. Retrieved 2003.
- ^ "Best Selling Death Metal Album is covenant". Blogcritics. 2003. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/18/115317.php. Retrieved 2003.
- ^ "HPLA - Lovecraftian Music". Hplovecraft.com. http://www.hplovecraft.com/popcult/music.asp. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "Morbid Angel Interview". Metal-Rules.com. 2003-09-23. http://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/MorbidAngel-Sept2003.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "NEWS / LavaReport". MorbidAngel.com. http://www.morbidangel.com/lavareport1.html. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ 9:58 AM. "Morbid Angel Announces New Guitarist - in Metal News". Metal Underground.com. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=36732. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Scion Rock Fest 2011 to Be Held in Pomona, Metal Legends Morbid Angel (Featuring "the Greatest Death Metal Guitarist Ever") to Headline". laweekly.com. January 12, 2011. http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2011/01/scion_pomona_morbid_angel.php. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
- ^ "Morbid Angel Drummer Pete Sandoval Undergoes Back Surgery". MetalUnderground.com. March 18, 2010. http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=54109. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
- ^ a b "MORBID ANGEL Begins Recording New Album". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=142041. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
- ^ a b "Morbid Angel: New Album Title Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. March 9, 2011. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155065. Retrieved 2011-03-09.
- ^ "Morbid Angel Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/morbid-angel/chart-history/5243?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ^ "Morbid Angel Album & Song Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/morbid-angel/chart-history/5243?f=324&g=Albums. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "Morbid Angel Album & Song Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Medeia. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/morbid-angel/chart-history/5243?f=326&g=Albums. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "Discographie Morbid Angel" (in German). Hung Medien. http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Morbid+Angel. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
- ^ "Discography Morbid Angel". Hung Medien. http://finnishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Morbid+Angel. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ "Discographie Morbid Angel" (in French). Hung Medien. http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Morbid+Angel. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "Discography Morbid Angel". Hung Medien. http://greekcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Morbid+Angel. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
- ^ a b "Discografie Morbid Angel" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Morbid+Angel. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "Discography Morbid Angel". Hung Medien. http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Morbid+Angel. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ^ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK: M – My Vitriol". Zobbel. http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_M.HTM. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "Morbid Angel > Covenant > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/covenant-r204394/charts-awards/billboard-album. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Morbid Angel > Domination > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/domination-r212781/charts-awards/billboard-album. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "Morbid Angel > Formulas Fatal to the Flesh > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/formulas-fatal-to-the-flesh-r339892/charts-awards/billboard-album. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
- ^ "MORBID ANGEL's 'Enshrined By Grace' Video to receive MTV2 premiere this weekend". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=21168. Retrieved 2011-08-20.
External links
Morbid Angel Studio albums Altars of Madness · Blessed Are the Sick · Covenant · Domination · Formulas Fatal to the Flesh · Gateways to Annihilation · Heretic · Illud Divinum InsanusLive albums Entangled in ChaosAssociated acts Categories:- Morbid Angel
- American death metal musical groups
- Heavy metal musical groups from Florida
- Musical groups from Tampa, Florida
- Musical groups established in 1983
- Earache Records artists
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