Morbid Angel

Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel performing in 2011
Morbid Angel performing in 2011
Background information
OriginTampa, Florida, U.S.
GenresDeath metal
Years active1983–present
Labels
Members
  • Trey Azagthoth
  • Steve Tucker
  • Dan Vadim Von
  • Charlie Koryn
Past members
Websitemorbidangel.com

Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983 by guitarist, primary composer and sole remaining original member Trey Azagthoth, vocalist and bassist Dallas Ward, and drummer Mike Browning. Widely considered 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, multiple tempo changes and a dark atmosphere. They have been described as one of "the most influential and emulated bands in death metal", alongside Obituary, Death, Cynic, Autopsy and Deicide, 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 three albums – Altars of Madness (1989), Blessed Are the Sick (1991), and Covenant (1993) – are considered classics in the death metal genre.[4]

British music magazine Terrorizer ranked 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 of the Soundscan era with over 150,000 units sold.[7]

The band's original lyrical themes, when helmed by Vincent (and Azagthoth and Browning respectively) focused mostly on Satanism, occultism and blasphemous subject matter, but from Formulas Fatal to the Flesh onward, via Azagthoth's influence, 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, and during Steve Tucker's tenure they take on more anti-religious and barbaric themes, namely of the strong overcoming the weak.

  1. ^ Purcell, Natalie J. (May 5, 2003). Death Metal Music: The Passion and Politics of a Subculture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786484065.
  2. ^ "20 Years Of Morbid Angel's Covenant". TeamRock. October 22, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  3. ^ "Covenant Turns 20". Stereogum. June 20, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  4. ^ "MORBID ANGEL: 'Domination' Reissued On Limited-Edition Digipak CD With Free Poster". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. August 22, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  5. ^ "Decibel Magazine Names the Top 20 Death Metal Guitarists of All Time". MetalSucks. June 26, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  6. ^ "Morbid Angel is the Third Best Selling Death Metal Band (Hitting this mark with only 8 Albums)". Blabbermouth. January 12, 2003. Archived from the original on December 2, 2003.
  7. ^ "The 25 Best Metal Bands of All Time, #16: Morbid Angel". MetalSucks. October 24, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  8. ^ "HPLA – Lovecraftian Music". Hplovecraft.com. Retrieved August 20, 2011.