Andy Sneap

Andy Sneap
Andy Sneap in 2007
Background information
Born	18 July 1969 Derbyshire, England
Genres	Heavy metal, thrash metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter, sound engineer, record producer, guitarist
Instruments	guitar
Years active	1988, present
Associated acts	Hell, Sabbat

Andy Sneap (born 18 July 1969) is a British musician, songwriter, guitar player and record producer, best known as a successful Grammy winning producer with over 100 albums produced at his Backstage Recording studios in rural Derbyshire and as guitar player of British Heavy metal band Hell.^[1] He is one of the most active and successful music producers in the metal music genre and has worked with bands such as Accept, Saxon, Opeth, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Exodus, Megadeth, Kataklysm, Kreator, Nevermore and Testament^[2][3][4]

Biography

Andy was born on 18 July 1969 in Belper, Derbyshire, England. He got his first guitar and amplifier from his parents at age 12 as a Christmas present. He started learning guitar with founding Hell member, Dave Halliday, who had a huge affect on Andy and left him all the rights to all his songs and equipment, in his will following his death.^[5] Andy joined a British heavy metal band called Hydra as the second guitarist when he was 15 years old. But two weeks later, the original guitarist and drummer quit, Simon Negus joined them and the band's name changed to Sabbat.^[6]

After disbanding Hydra and forming a new band, they chose Sabbat as the new name, which came from a book on witchcraft.^[6] After one year of rehearsing, they recorded a four-track demo tape, Fragments of a Faith Forgotten. Andy distributed the demo tape to many record companies, but on listening, Berlin-based recording company Noise Records showed interest and asked for more material. In 1987, Noise Records offered the band a recording contract, but the contract could not be signed until Sneap turned 18 years old in July 1987. So they made a plan to start recording the band's first full studio album, History of a Time to Come. Andy wrote all the music while Martin Walkyier was responsible for the lyrics.^[7] Sabbat released the album on 20 April 1988 via Noise Records, which received positive attention from journalists and fans alike.

In January 1989 Andy and the other band members entered Sky Trak Studio in Berlin to start recording their second album, Dreamweaver, which was a concept album based on the 1983 book by Brian Bates – The Way of Wyrd: Tales of an Anglo-Saxon Sorcerer. Andy wrote almost all of the music except three songs, which Simon Jones also wrote with Andy. The album has come to be regarded as a classic of the thrash metal genre, which reflects Andy's predilection at that time for increasingly lengthy and progressively technical thrash metal songs.

Discography

As a band member

Band	Album details	Role	Source
Sabbat	History of a Time to Come Label: Noise Records Release date: 20 April 1988	Composer, Guitar, Remastering
	Dreamweaver Label: Noise Records Release date: 15 May 1989	Composer, Guitar, Remastering
	Mourning Has Broken Label: Noise Records Release date: 1991	Composer, Guitar
Hell	Human Remains Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 13 May 2011	Engineer, Guitar, Mixing, Producer	[8]
	Curse and Chapter Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 2013	Composer, engineer, Guitar, Mixing, Producer	[5]

Selected production

Year	Album details	Role	Source
1994	English Dogs – Bow to None Label: Impact Records Release date: 1994	Assistant, Mixing	[9]
1996	Dearly Beheaded – Temptation	Engineer	[10]
1997	Exodus – Another Lesson in Violence Label: Century Media Records Release date: 8 July 1997	Producer	[11]
	Napalm Death – Inside the Torn Apart Label: Earache Records Release date: 3 June 1997	Mixing	[12]
	Machine Head – The More Things Change Release date: 25 March 1997	Mixing	[13]
1998	English Dogs – All the World's a Rage Label: Impact Records Release date: 25 August 1998	Producer	[14]
	Earth Crisis – Breed the Killers Label: Roadrunner Records Release date: 8 September 1998	Audio Engineer, Audio Production, engineer, Mixing, Producer	[15]
	Obituary – Dead Label: Roadrunner Records Release date: 21 April 1998	Mixing	[16]
1999	Testament – The Gathering Label: Burnt Offerings, Spitfire (1999), Prosthetic (2008) Release date: 28 June 1999	Engineer, Mixing	[17]
2000	Nevermore – Dead Heart in a Dead World Label: Century Media Release date: 17 October 2000	Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer	[18]
	Fozzy – Fozzy Label: Palm Pictures / Megaforce Records Release date: 24 October 2000	Mastering, Mixing	[19]
2001	Testament – First Strike Still Deadly Label: Spitfire Records Release date: 24 October 2001	Audio Engineer, Mixing	[20]
	Kreator – Violent Revolution Label: Steamhammer Records/SPV Release date: 25 September 2001	Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer	[21]
	Arch Enemy – Wages of Sin Label: Century Media Release date: 2 April 2001	Mastering, Mixing	[22]
2002	Killswitch Engage – Alive or Just Breathing Label: Roadrunner Release date: 21 May 2002	Mastering, Mixing	[23]
	Arch Enemy – Burning Angel Label: Century Media Release date: 6 March 2002	Mastering, Mixing	[24]
	Opeth – Deliverance Label: Koch, Music for Nations Release date: 12 November 2002	Mixing	[25]
	Masterplan – Enlighten Me Label: AFM Records Release date: 18 November 2002	Engineer, producer	[26]
2003	Arch Enemy – Anthems of Rebellion Label: Century Media Release date: 23 August 2003	Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Pre-Production, Producer	[27]
	Artillery – B.A.C.K. Label: Die Hard music Release date: 15 April 2003	Mixing	[28]
	Masterplan – Masterplan Label: AFM Records Release date: 20 January 2003	Engineer, producer	[29]
	MTV2 Headbangers Ball Label: Roadrunner Release date: 7 October 2003	Mixing, producer	[30]
2004	Blaze – Blood & Belief Label: SPV/Steamhammer Release date: 26 April 2004	Audio Engineer, Audio Production, engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Photography, Producer	[31]
	Caliban – The Opposite from Within Label: Roadrunner Release date: 17 October 2004	Audio Engineer, Mastering, Mixing	[32]
2005	Trivium – Ascendancy Label: Roadrunner Release date: 15 March 2005	Mastering, Mixing, Vocals	[33]
	Soulfly – Dark Ages Label: Roadrunner Release date: 4 October 2005	Mixing	[34]
	Bullet for My Valentine – Hand of Blood Label: Trustkill Release date: 22 August 2005	Audio Production, Mastering	[35]
2006	Kerrang Album Release date: 11 September 2006	Producer	[36]
	Into Eternity – The Scattering of Ashes Label: Century Media Release date: 3 October 2006	Mixing, Mastering	[37]
2007	Rise to Addiction – A New Shade of Black for the Soul Label: Mausoleum Records Release date: 21 May 2007	Audio Production, engineer, Mixing, Producer	[38]
	Onslaught – Killing Peace Label: Candlelight Records Release date: 5 March 2007	Mixing, Producer	[39]
	Annihilator – Metal Label: SPV/Steamhammer Release date: 16 April 2007	Mixing, Producer	[40]
	Megadeth – United Abominations Label: Roadrunner Release date: 15 May 2007	Audio Engineer, Audio Production, engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer	[41]
2008	Unearth – The March Label: Metal Blade Records Release date: 14 October 2008	Mastering, Mixing	[42]
2009	Iron Monkey – Our Problem Label: Earache Release date: 26 May 2009	Engineer, Mixing, Producer	[43]
	DevilDriver – Pray for Villains Label: Roadrunner Release date: 14 July 2009	Guitar Producer, Mastering, Mixing, Mixing Advisor	[44]
2010	Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 22 September 2010	Guest Artist, Mixing	[45]
	Accept – Blood of the Nations Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 20 August 2010	Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer	[46]
	Slayer – The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria Label: Warner Bros. (U.S.), Vertigo/Mercury (Europe) Release date: 29 October 2010	Mixing	[47]
2011	Arch Enemy – Khaos Legions Label: Century Media Release date: 30 May 2011	Mastering, Mixing	[48]
2012	Testament – Dark Roots of Earth Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 27 July 2012	Additional Footage, engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer	[49]
	Accept – Stalingrad Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 6 April 2012	Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer	[50]
2013	Saxon – Sacrifice Label: UDR Release date: 1 March 2013	Mastering, Mixing	[51]
	Carcass – Surgical Steel Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 13 September 2013	Mastering, Mixing	[52]
	XXX: Three Decades of Roadrunner Records Label: Roadrunner Records Release date: 30 September 2013	Mixing, Producer	[53]
2014	Ronnie James Dio - This Is Your Life Label: Rhino Release date: 25 March 2014 (Japan), 31 March 2014	Engineer	[54]
	Accept – Blind Rage Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 15 August 2014	Mastering, Mixing, Producer	[55]
2015	Fear Factory – Genexus Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 7 August 2015	Mastering, Mixing	[56]

External links

• Official website

References

1. "Interview with ANDY, SNEAP". maelstromzine.com. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
2. "Andy Sneap". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
3. "Andy Sneap". hughes-and-kettner.com/. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
4. "Andy Sneap". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
5. "HELL: Curse & Chapter Out Today In North America, Andy Sneap Feature In Decibel Magazine". Metal Shock Finland. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
6. M!ck (10 May 1982). "Andy Sneap". Earache.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
7. "History of a Time to Come – Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
8. "Andy Sneap Discusses His Role in HELL". Bravewords.com. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
9. "Bow to None". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
10. "Temptation". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
11. "Another Lesson in Violence". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
12. "Inside the Torn Apart". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
13. "The More Things Change". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
14. "All the World's a Rage". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
15. "Breed the Killers". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
16. "Dead". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
17. "The Gathering". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
18. "Dead Heart in a Dead World". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
19. "Fozzy". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
20. "First Strike Still Deadly". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
21. "Violent Revolution". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
22. "Wages of Sin". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
23. "Alive or Just Breathing". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
24. "Burning Angel". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
25. "Deliverance". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
26. "Enlighten Me". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
27. "Anthems of Rebellion". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
28. "B.A.C.K.". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
29. "Masterplan". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
30. "MTV2 Headbangers Ball". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
31. "Blood & Belief". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
32. "The Opposite from Within". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
33. "Ascendancy". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
34. "Dark Ages". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
35. "Hand of Blood". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
36. "Kerrang Album". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
37. "The Scattering of Ashes". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
38. "A New Shade of Black for the Soul". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
39. "Killing Peace". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
40. "Metal". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
41. "United Abominations". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
42. "The March". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
43. "Our Problem". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
44. "Pray for Villains". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
45. "abrahadabra". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
46. "Blood of the Nations". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
47. "The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
48. "Khaos Legions". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
49. "Dark Roots of Earth". Retrieved 6 September 2015.
50. "Stalingrad". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
51. "Sacrifice". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
52. "Surgical Steel". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
53. "XXX: Three Decades of Roadrunner Records". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
54. "Ronnie James Dio – This Is Your Life". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-tribute-to-ronnie-james-dio-this-is-your-life-mw0002620533. External link in |publisher= (help);
55. "Blind Rage". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
56. "Genexus". Allmusic. Retrieved 6 September 2015.