Throughout history only a handful of artists have been able to achieve a truly iconic stature within any given artform. Morbid Angel is among those select few. Shattering the boundaries of creativity and imagination while evolving with each groundbreaking release throughout its historic career, the band truly is an icon in extreme music. Continually serving as source of countless inspiration to the multitude of fans and never failing to amaze with each evolving chapter. Formed in 1984 by founding member Trey Azagthoth, the Floridian band went through a number of lineup changes and recorded the demos “Scream forth Blasphemies”, “Bleed for the Devil” and “Abominations Of Desolation”, featuring Trey Azagthoth and Richard Brunelle on guitar, drummer/vocalist Mike Browning and bassist John Ortega. Azagthoth’s interests in the occult, ancient magic, witchcraft and the Necronomicon poured into the band’s lyricism, as the musical context grew darker and attained definitive sophistication. The 7’’ single “Thy Kingdom Come” was released in Europe in 1988 and Morbid Angel was preparing to make a profound universal statement in form of a lineup consisting of guitarist Trey Azagthoth, drummer Pete Sandoval, bassist/vocalist David Vincent, and guitarist Richard Brunelle. Living together in several band houses which also served as places for rehearsals and pulling their funds together to purchase an old school bus which they converted into a tour bus, Morbid Angel hit the road on various underground touring adventures with the company of their mascot/head of security pit bull named “Butch”. On a shoe string budget and supporting only the various demos, the band made its way to places such as New York and performing at the clubs “Streets” in the city and “Sundance” on Long Island. With the help from friends in the band Immolation, they managed to get a side job painting a shopping mall in upstate NY to help offset expenses on the many off days of this particular shake and bake tour. Also the band met with troubles when rolling though New Jersey and were pulled over and arrested, simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bus was searched and the police found some most interesting and alarming things which lead to them holding the band for a while there in jail, including Butch.  So fitting for a group consisting of a bunch of freaks. Morbid Angel continued on their mission of Death Metal and was soon discovered by Mick Harris of Napalm Death which lead to their meeting with Digby Pearson and their recording contract with Earache Records.