Blast beat pioneer in MORBID ANGEL, TERRORIZER‘s current and founding drummer and current I AM MORBID drummer Pete “Commando” Sandoval (61) has opened up on his autism diagnosis. Sandoval, born Pedro Sandoval in El Salvador, revealed he has struggled with his search for this defining answer for a long time and has been misdiagnosed many times.

On a message on social media, Sandoval states:

“After many years of confusion and misdiagnosis, I’ve finally been properly diagnosed as autistic (Level 1) ADOS-2 module 4 (and some other tests) . This has been part of who I am since childhood, even though for a long time I didn’t have the words or understanding for it.

Over the years, this has affected how I communicate, how I process sound, and how I interact with people — sometimes in ways that may have seemed confusing, distant, or misunderstood. It was never about not caring, not listening, or not wanting to connect.

Now, at 61 having clarity has brought a lot of peace. It explains so much — and it’s allowed me to better understand myself instead of fighting it.

I’m still here, still playing, still creating, still grateful — after back surgery, after life challenges, and now with a better understanding of my own mind.

If sharing this helps even one person feel less alone or more patient with themselves or others, then it’s worth it.
Thank you for the love and support through the years. 🙏 Pete Sandoval”

Sandoval reunited wtih his former MORBID ANGEL and TERRORIZER band mate David Vincent in both TERRORIZER and I AM MORBID, the latter in which they focus on the first era of David Vincent in Morbid Angel, the albums A to D.