“We play more times in Europe because over there it’s more appreciated” – Pete Sandoval of I Am Morbid shares his thoughts on metal

Former Morbid Angel and current I Am Morbid drummer Pedro “Pete” Sandoval discussed the development of the Florida death metal scene from the mid-1980s to the present in a recent interview with Francisco Zamudio of KNAC.COM. 

We have seen it in our eyes how the scene has enlarged, has expanded. Some of the first bands in Florida — there was Death, there was Morbid Angel, Deicide, Amon, whatever, Obituary, Cannibal Corpse… We were some of the first bands that were doing this, along with these other European bands like Kreator, Destruction, Sodom, you name, Bathory. So all these [bands] helped bring these tons and tons of bands that we have nowadays. And a lot of bands have made it. Black metal came in after death metal. First was death metal, of course, in the [late] ’80s, ’90. Then after that comes the awakening of black metal. Black metal got big somehow, and it’s still big in some areas. In fact, metal is much bigger in Europe. That’s why we play more times in Europe because over there it’s more appreciated, [bands that play] this kind of music. But now we are proving that we are a good band here in the States as well. So, hey, everything is doing great.

He also spoke of the legacy of Morbid Angel that he is carrying on now.

We were one of the first bands, along with the other bands, to start it all, and it’s been so many years. And now we’re here, and all these bands that made it after us, they’re here. So I’m here, boom… And it took me a while, guys, but you know what? I feel stronger than ever. And then we’re still gonna deliver more for new bands to come.