When Morbid Angel unleashed Illud Divinum Insanus in 2011, they did so after an eight-year hiatus, with fans eagerly awaiting their return. What followed, however, was a controversial and largely disliked record that blended industrial metal elements with death metal—an experiment that left many long-time fans scratching their heads. Fast forward to today, and the album remains one of the most criticized in Morbid Angel’s storied career.
David Vincent, the band’s iconic bassist and vocalist, has since opened up about the difficult and strange process behind Illud Divinum Insanus, acknowledging the challenges the band faced during its creation.
The Struggles Behind the Scenes
In a candid interview with Altars of Metal, Vincent spoke about the chaotic circumstances surrounding the album’s creation. By 2011, Morbid Angel had undergone significant lineup changes: longtime drummer Pete Sandoval had been sidelined due to an injury, and the band had recruited new members, including guitarist Thor “Destructhor” Myhren and drummer Tim Yeung. This turbulence undoubtedly affected the recording process.
“Well, record-wise, probably Illud was the most difficult thing that I’ve done. Yeah, that was a very strange time,” Vincent admitted. “That’s when Pete had his injury and he was unable to play. We had just worked in a new guitar player and a new drummer. And the writing process was really, really strange—not what I was accustomed to.”
For Vincent, the material was unlike anything the band had previously worked on. Despite the challenges, he remained committed to his role. “I did the best that I could with what I had to work with. I think there’s some really, really good performances on the record. Some of the material was just very strange. But again, my job is vocals, and I did the very best that I could with what I had to work with.”
Trey Azagthoth’s Regret
Trey Azagthoth, Morbid Angel’s creative mastermind, echoed Vincent’s sentiment in a 2018 interview with Guitar World. Azagthoth, known for his meticulous approach to songwriting, revealed that even during the recording process, he sensed that the album wasn’t going to live up to expectations. In fact, he went so far as to blame Vincent for certain elements that, in Azagthoth’s view, didn’t align with the band’s core sound.
“I already knew the result was gonna be off during rehearsals and recording. Some of it turned out cool, but David made his vocals too loud—like usual—and the rhythm guitars got subdued in the mix,” Azagthoth confessed. He even took issue with the track “Radikult,” a song that became one of the album’s most infamous tracks due to its more experimental, industrial vibe. “Nothing could save a silly song like ‘Radikult,’ which I just tried to ignore. I had nothing to do with that thing.”
Despite these tensions, Azagthoth admitted that his relationship with Vincent had evolved. “It just shows how David and I are in different worlds these days. He is, for sure, an artist and great in his own way, but was becoming so very different than what I was into. It was a confused effort, and that is why I changed the lineup.”
The Reception and Legacy of Illud Divinum Insanus
Illud Divinum Insanus was a divisive record, with many fans expressing disappointment over the band’s decision to incorporate industrial elements into their death metal sound. Songs like “Radikult” and “Nevermore” seemed out of place among Morbid Angel’s established death metal discography, and the album’s industrial influences didn’t sit well with those who had grown up on albums like Altars of Madness or Blessed Are the Sick.
Despite the criticism, Vincent remains steadfast in his belief that he did the best he could with the material at hand. “I don’t regret anything. I did the best that I could,” he said. And though Illud Divinum Insanus was not well-received by many fans, it nonetheless stands as a bold experiment in the band’s catalog.
In retrospect, Illud Divinum Insanus may have been the result of a band in transition, grappling with internal dynamics and shifting artistic directions. While the album remains controversial, it serves as a reminder that even the most iconic bands can take missteps along their journey—and sometimes, even their most disliked records offer a glimpse into the evolving creative process. Whether or not Morbid Angel will ever revisit the sound explored on Illud is uncertain, but its place in their legacy is secured, if only as a reminder of the trials and tribulations that can come with artistic evolution.
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