Nocturnus A.D.

Drummer-vocalist Mike Browning, a co-founding member of Morbid Angel and Nocturnus, has passed away at the age of 62. The news was confirmed yesterday (July 17th) through an Instagram post from Profound Lore Records. The label had released Browning’s most recent albums with Nocturnus A.D.: 2019’s Paradox and 2024’s Unicursal. “RIP death metal legend/visionary and sci-fi death metal godfather Mike Browning of Nocturnus/Nocturnus AD,” they wrote, “It has been an honour good sir. Now journey beyond the gateway to the outer void!” Born May 26, 1964 in Tampa, Florida, Browning picked up the drums at a young age and would build up skills as a 13-year-olkd jamming to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin records. He connected with guitarist Trey Azagthoth over his love of metal, and by 1983 they’d form the first incarnation of Morbid Angel. Browning would perform drums and vocals on the band’s debut album, Abominations of Desolation, though the 1986 sessions were shelved for years as the band felt the recordings were subpar. It’d eventually be given a commercial release in 1991. Browning left Morbid Angel in 1986 and go on to perform with a Florida band called Incubus (not to be confused with the Nineties band of the same name) before founding the progressive, sci-fi themed death-metal project Nocturnus in 1987. He performed on their 1990 debut, The Key, and 1992 follow-up Thresholds before exiting the group. The drummer would later reshape the project as Nocturnus A.D. in 2013, and deliver the aforementioned Paradox and Unicursal albums. They last performed live in 2024. Morbid Angel also paid tribute to their founding drummer in an Instagram post, writing, “Mike, thanks for helping making all this happen.” View this post on Instagram View this post on Instagram