Mike Browning, the drummer and vocalist who co-founded the pioneering death metal bands Morbid Angel and Nocturnus, has died at age 62.
Morbid Angel announced the news on Instagram with a statement reading, “R.I.P Mike. Thanks for helping making all this happen. Our condolences to his family & especially his daughter.”
Browning was born May 26, 1964, in Tampa, Florida. He formed Morbid Angel in 1983 with guitarist Trey Azagthoth and later started Nocturnus in 1987. He released albums including The Key with Nocturnus before reforming the project as Nocturnus AD in 2013.
Recent releases with Nocturnus AD include Paradox in 2019 and Unicursal in 2024. He also performed with singer Lisa Lombardo in After Death, Devine Essence, and Wolf and Hawk.
Tributes came from figures including Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren, who wrote, “Mike, you were a musical legend and truly the nicest guy.”