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/vocalist Steve Tucker (1997-2001, 2003-2004, and most recently since 2015) and guitarist Dan Vadim Von (since 2017). Drums on the most recent 2023 tour were handled by session drummer Charlie Koryn.
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. 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 (which was recorded in 1986).
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. 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. After another demo, Thy Kingdom Come, former Terrorizer drummer Pete Sandoval replaced Hartsell in July 1988. This lineup released Altars of Madness and Blessed Are the Sick.
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. After the release of Covenant, however, Brunelle's vacated position was taken by former Ripping Corpse guitarist Erik Rutan. The new lineup issued Domination in 1995, before frontman David Vincent left at the end of the album's touring cycle the following summer. Rutan also left around the same time. Vincent was replaced by Steve Tucker and the band recorded 1998's Formulas Fatal to the Flesh as a trio.
1998–2015 With Erik Rutan back in the lineup, the group issued Gateways to Annihilation in 2000. The following year, Tucker was forced to step down due to "family and personal problems". He was replaced by Rutan's Hate Eternal bandmate Jared Anderson. By the summer of 2002, however, both Anderson and Rutan had left Morbid Angel to focus on Hate Eternal. 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. After the release of Heretic, the band added Monstrosity's Tony Norman as a touring guitarist.
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. Erik Rutan also returned temporarily in the summer of 2006, taking the place of Tony Norman for a European tour running until August. 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.
In March 2010, drummer Pete Sandoval was forced to step down from Morbid Angel after undergoing back surgery. He was replaced by Tim Yeung, who was initially credited as a stand-in but ultimately remained with the band on a permanent basis. The new lineup issued Illud Divinum Insanus in 2011. 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; next, Yeung confirmed rumors that he too had left; and finally, Destructhor announced his departure a few days later.
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. The new lineup released Kingdoms Disdained later that year. It was announced in March 2023 that drummer Charlie Koryn joined the band for its 2023 spring American tour. His first gig with the band was in Pensacola, Florida at Vinyl Music Hall. However he is not an official member.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsTrey Azagthoth1983–presentall releasesSteve TuckerDan Vadim Von2017–presentguitarsKingdoms Disdained (2017)Charlie Koryn2023–present drumsnone to date
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMike Browning1983–1986 Dallas Ward1983–1985noneRichard Brunelle1985–1992 guitarsJohn Ortega1985–1986bassKenny BambervocalsnoneSterling Von Scarborough1986 bassWayne Hartsell1986–1988drumsThy Kingdom Come (1987)Michael Manson1986vocalsnoneDavid VincentPete Sandoval1988–2010all releases from Altars of Madness (1989) to Live Madness '89, except Abominations of Desolation (1991)Erik RutanJared Anderson2001–2002 noneTony Norman2003–2006 guitarsThor "Destructhor" Myhren2008–2015Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)Tim Yeung2010–2015Scott Fuller2017–2023Kingdoms Disdained (2017)
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1983–1984Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums Dallas Ward – bass, vocalsrowspan="3" 1984–1985Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums Dallas Ward – bass Terri Samuels – vocals1985–1986Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums Richard Brunelle – guitars, vocals John Ortega – bass Kenny Bamber – vocalsEarly – summer 1986Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums, vocals Richard Brunelle – guitars John Ortega – bassScream Forth Blasphemies (1986) Bleed for the Devil (1986) Total Hideous Death (1986) Abominations of Desolation (1991)Summer 1986Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Mike Browning – drums, vocals Richard Brunelle – guitars Sterling Von Scarborough – bassrowspan="2" Fall 1986Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Richard Brunelle – guitars Sterling Von Scarborough – bass Wayne Hartsell – drums Michael Manson – vocalsLate 1986 – July 1988Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Richard Brunelle – guitars Wayne Hartsell – drums David Vincent – bass, vocalsThy Kingdom Come (1987)July 1988 – late 1992Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Richard Brunelle – guitars David Vincent – bass, vocals Pete Sandoval – drumsAltars of Madness (1989) Blessed Are the Sick (1991) Live Madness '89 (2006)Late 1992 – late 1993Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards David Vincent – bass, vocals Pete Sandoval – drumsCovenant (1993) Laibach Remixes (1994)Late 1993 – summer 1996Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards David Vincent – bass, vocals Pete Sandoval – drums Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboardsDomination (1995) Entangled in Chaos (1996)Early 1997 – early 1998Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocalsFormulas Fatal to the Flesh (1998)Early 1998 – April 2001Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards (1st return)Gateways to Annihilation (2000)April 2001 – June 2002Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboards Jared Anderson – bass, vocalsrowspan="3" June – August 2002Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Erik Rutan – guitars, keyboardsAugust 2002 – May 2003Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drumsMay – November 2003Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocals (1st return)Heretic (2003)November 2003 – August 2004Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Tony Norman – guitars rowspan="5" August 2004 – June 2006Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums Tony Norman – guitars David Vincent – bass, vocals (1st return)June – August 2006Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums David Vincent – bass, vocals Erik Rutan – guitars August 2006 – May 2008Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums David Vincent – bass, vocalsMay 2008 – March 2010Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Pete Sandoval – drums David Vincent – bass, vocals Destructhor – guitarsMarch 2010 – June 2015Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards David Vincent – bass, vocals Destructhor – guitars Tim Yeung – drumsIllud Divinum Insanus (2011)June 2015 – January 2017Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Steve Tucker – bass, vocals (2nd return)January 2017 – 2023Trey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Dan Vadim Von – guitars Scott Fuller – drumsKingdoms Disdained (2017)2023 – presentTrey Azagthoth – guitars, keyboards Steve Tucker – bass, vocals Dan Vadim Von – guitars Charlie Koryn – drums
References
External links Morbid Angel official website