Andy Classen

Andy Classen is a German heavy metal record producer, sound engineer and guitarist.

Career

Holy Moses

Classen began his career in 1980 as a guitarist for the German thrash metal band Holy Moses, fronted by his ex-wife Sabina Classen. In 1989 the band bought a house in the village of Borgentreich-Bühne in the vicinity of Warburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. In 1990 they founded a record label named 'West Virginia Records' and opened the Stage-One-Studio in their new house (so named because "Bühne" is German for "stage").

He remained lead guitarist in Holy Moses till 1994. Creative differences that had arisen during the production of the Holy Moses album No Matter What's the Cause (1994) with bassist Dan Lilker and Ryker's drummer Meff lead to Andy Classen leaving the band. Ultimately he and Sabina divorced, and West Virginia Records was dissolved.

Holy Moses was inactive till 2001 when it was revived by Sabina Classen, with Andy Classen acting as occasional songwriter and producer. In 2005 Holy Moses recorded the album Strength Power Will Passion the first without Andy Classen's involvement.

Producer

Andy Classen became producer and engineer in Stage-One-Studio in 1990. Among his first productions were the albums When War Begins... by the German thrashcore band Warpath and Mc Gillroy the Housefly by the German psychedelic death metal band Incubator, both of which were critically acclaimed, with the latter still having a cult following in the death metal underground. He also became influential in the German hardcore punk scene, being the producer for bands like Ryker's and Brightside.

In 1994 he took over the studio completely and produced for other labels like Nuclear Blast, Century Media Records, Gun Records, Metal Blade Records, AFM Records, Massacre Records, Season of Mist, Armageddon Music etc.

During the nineties Andy Classen established himself as one of the premier producers for hardcore, thrash metal and death metal music in Europe. His sound aesthetics usually are described as aggressive and powerful, yet transparent. Among others he produced records for the bands Dew-Scented, Tankard, Disbelief, President Evil (all from Germany), Asphyx (Netherlands), Legen Beltza (Basque Country), The Old Dead Tree (France), Graveworm (Italy) and Deafness by Noise (Croatia).

From the year 2000, he has found increasing recognition for his work in the international scene, with bands like Rotting Christ from Greece, Criminal from Chile/Great Britain, Dark Embrace from Spain, Krisiun from Brazil as well as Mantic Ritual and Solace of Requiem from the USA recording with him.

Richthofen and Seelenwalzer

In 1997, Classen was founding member, songwriter, producer and guitarist with the German industrial metal band Richthofen. After objections by the Richthofen family, the band was legally required to drop the name and Richthofen disbanded in 1999.

In 2019, Classen and musicians of the original Richthofen band founded the band Seelenwalzer referencing the name of Richthofens first album. The debut album Totgeglaubt – German for "presumed dead" – was released by Massacre Records in May 2019.

Charts

In 2003, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter's Have a Nice Trip was the first album produced by Andy Classen to enter the charts, reaching number 95 in Germany.[1]

Since 2007, Legion of the Damned from the Netherlands have been able to chart regularly with Andy Classen-produced albums in Germany.[2] Sons of the Jackal reached number 54 and in the following year, 2008, they even charted twice, reaching number 70 with Feel The Blade (and number 64 in Austria[3]) and number 60 with Cult of the Dead.

Austrians Belphegor also charted in 2008 (with Bondage Goat Zombie) and 2009 (with Walpurgis Rites – Hexenwahn), reaching number 99 and 81 in Germany[4] and even number 42 and 60 in Austria.[5]

Credits

Year Artist Album Recordedcripp Mixed Mastered
1990 Howlin' Mad Insanity • •
1991 Holy Moses Terminal Terror • •
1991 Incubator Symphonies of Spiritual Cannibalism • •
1991 Jumpin' Jesus The Art of Crucifying • •
1992 Deathrow Life Beyond • •
1992 Holy Moses Reborn Dogs • •
1992 Holy Moses Too Drunk to Fuck • •
1992 Incubator McGillroy the Housefly • •
1992 Obscenity Suffocated Truth • •
1992 Polluted Inheritance Ecocide • •
1993 Incubator Hirnnektar • •
1993 Warpath Massive • •
1993 Warpath When War Begins... Truth Disappears • •
1994 Asphyx Asphyx • • •
1994 Brightside Face the Truth • •
1994 Holy Moses No Matter What's the Cause • •
1994 Ryker's Brother Against Brother • •
1994 Warpath Against Everyone • •
1995 Approach to Concrete ...failures? • •
1995 Belphegor The Last Supper • • •
1995 Brightside Punchline • •
1995 Lunar Lunar • •
1995 Ryker's First Blood • •
1995 Sanctimonium Pathetique: The Beryllian Throne • •
1995 Sleeping Gods Above and Beyond • •
1996 Brightside No Policy • •
1996 Crack Up Blood is Life • •
1996 Croon Just • • •
1996 Rotting Christ Triarchy of the Lost Lovers • • •
1996 Ryker's Ground Zero • •
1996 Ryker's Low Life EP • •
1996 Shit for Brains Vortex Cordis • •
1997 Burden of Grief Haunting Requiems • •
1997 Burden of Grief Above Twilight Wings • • •
1997 Crack Up From the Ground • •
1997 Disbelief Disbelief • • •
1997 Mis.Divine Angsttriaden • • •
1997 Nagelfar Hünengrab im Herbst • • •
1997 Richthofen Seelenwalzer • • •
1997 Ryker's A Lesson In Loyalty • •
1997 Ryker's Cold Lost Sick EP • •
1997 Surface To Millenium... and Beyond • • •
1998 Brightside Bulletproof • • •
1998 Crack Up Heads Will Roll • • •
1998 Disbelief Infected • • •
1998 Drecksau Brecher • •
1998 Eisregen Krebskolonie • •
1998 Nagelfar Srontgorrth • • •
1998 Niederschlag Scrotum • •
1998 Waylander Reawakening Pride Once Lost • • •
1999 Drecksau Schmerz • •
1999 Kadath Cruel! • • •
1999 Path of Debris The Eyes of the Basilisk • • •
1999 Ryker's Life is a Gamble • •
1999 Suidakra Lays From Afar • • •
1999 Temple of the Absurd Mother, Creator, God •
1999 Zonata Tunes of Steel • • •
2000 Anfall Feuer, Eis & Energie • • •
2000 Blue Valentine Seelen Taetowierung • • •
2000 Crack Up Dead End Run • •
2000 Die Apokalyptischen Reiter All You Need Is Love • • •
2000 Dogma IVS Dunkelheit und Licht • • •
2000 Final Breath Flash Burnt Crucifixes • • •
2000 Krisiun Conquerors of Armageddon • • •
2000 Mindfield Deviant • • •
2000 Ryker's From the Cradle to the Grave • •
2000 Suidakra The Arcanum • • •
2001 Brightside True Force • • •
2001 Burden of Grief On Darker Trails • • •
2001 Callenish Circle My Passion // Your Pain • • •
2001 Dark at Dawn Crimson Frost • • •
2001 Disbelief Worst Enemy • • •
2001 Holy Moses Master of Disaster • • •
2001 Nagelfar Virus West • • •
2001 Rebaelliun Annihilation • • •
2001 Semen Datura This Love is Dead • • •
2001 Sleeping Gods Regenerated • •
2002 Dark Age The Silent Republic • • •
2002 Dew Scented Inwards • • •
2002 Final Breath Mind Explosion • • •
2002 Holy Moses Disorder of the Order • • •
2002 Mourning Caress Imbalance • • •
2002 Rotting Christ Genesis • •
2002 Suidakra Emprise to Avalon • • •
2002 Tankard B-Day • •
2003 Callenish Circle Flesh Power Dominion • • •
2003 Dew Scented Ill-Natured & Innoscent •
2003 Dew Scented Impact • • •
2003 Die Apokalyptischen Reiter Have a Nice Trip • • •
2003 Disbelief Spreading the Rage • • •
2003 Graveworm Engraved In Black • • •
2003 Mindfield Below • •
2003 Suidakra Signs for the Fallen • • •
2003 The Old Dead Tree The Nameless Disease • • •
2003 Vollrausch Wirkstoff: Adrenalin • •
2004 Blow Job Unboned • •
2004 Dementor God Defamer • • •
2004 Dies Ater Out of the Dark • • •
2004 Final Breath Let Me Be Your Tank • • •
2004 Occult Elegy for the Weak • • •
2004 Path of Golconda Destination: Downfall • • •
2004 Reckless Tide Repent Or Seal Your Fate •
2004 Tankard Beast of Bourbon • • •
2005 Criminal Sicaro • • •
2005 Dew Scented Issue VI • • •
2005 Graveworm (N)utopia • • •
2005 Legion of the Damned Malevolent Rapture • • •
2005 Neaera The Rising Tide of Oblivion • • •
2005 President Evil Evil Goes to Hollywood • • •
2005 Sencirow Perception of Fear • • •
2005 Spellbound Incoming Destiny • • •
2005 The Old Dead Tree The Perpetual Motion • • •
2006 Belphegor Pestapokalypse VI • • •
2006 Clobberin Time The Dawn of a Dying Race • • •
2006 Death Will Score From the Ashes • • •
2006 Dos Dias De Sangre Bound By Honor / Mini CD • • •
2006 Drone Head-On Collision • • •
2006 Edgecrusher Forever Failure • • •
2006 Krisiun AssassiNation • • •
2006 My Darkest Hate Combat Area • • •
2006 Path of Golconda The Threshold Diaries • • •
2006 President Evil The Trash'n'Roll Asshole Show • • •
2006 Shorts & Churchbells Reason to Complain • •
2006 Sinister Afterburner • • •
2006 Sniper Seducer of Human Souls • •
2006 Tankard The Beauty and the Beer • • •
2007 Ancient Existence Hate is the Law • • •
2007 Cripper Freak Inside •
2007 Dark Embrace The Rebirth of Darkness • • •
2007 Dies Ater Odiums Spring • • •
2007 Graveworm Collateral Defect • • •
2007 Inzest Grotesque New World • • •
2007 Legion of the Damned Sons of the Jackal • • •
2007 Nine XI The Opening • • •
2007 Requiem Premier Killing League • • •
2007 Revolting Breed Rise Against • •
2007 Solace of Requiem Utopia Reborn •
2007 Spellbound Nemesis 2665 • • •
2007 Tankard Best Case Scenario: 25 Years in Beers • • •
2007 The Old Dead Tree The Water Fields • • •
2007 Tough Motion Delta • • •
2008 Aavas Sepulcretum • • •
2008 Belphegor Bondage Goat Zombie • • •
2008 Daksinroy Dystopia • • •
2008 Davidian Hear Their Cries • • •
2008 Grave Desecrator Sign of Doom •
2008 Hatred Madhouse Symphonies •
2008 Krisiun Southern Storm • • •
2008 Legion of the Damned Cult of the Dead • • •
2008 Legion of the Damned Feel The Blade • • •
2008 Mindead Abandon All Hope •
2008 Morpheus Extermination of the Dominant Species •
2008 Postmortem Constant Hate •
2008 President Evil Hell in a Box •
2008 Prostitute Disfigurement Descendants of Depravity • • •
2008 Sencirow The Nightmare Within • • •
2008 Sniper Your World is Doomed • •
2008 Subterfuge Carver Deathcore • •
2008 Thytopia Bleeding Earth •
2009 Archgoat The Light-Devouring Darkness •
2009 Arckanum 11 Thorns •
2009 Belphegor Walpurgis Rites – Hexenwahn • • •
2009 Cryptic Wintermoon Fear •
2009 Damned Creed Enslaved Thoughts • •
2009 Distorted Impalement Bodyslam • •
2009 Graveworm Diabolical Figures • • •
2009 Hyades The Roots of Trash • •
2009 Insanity Reigns Supreme Occultus Insanus Damnatus • • •
2009 Maithungh Lust in the Kingdom of God •
2009 Mantic Ritual Executioner • • •
2009 Mastic Scum Dust •
2009 Misticia Sickness of the Earth • •
2009 Mor Dagor Mk. IV • • •
2009 Pandemia Feet of Anger • • •
2009 Path of Golconda Return • • •
2009 Punish Raptus • • •
2009 Requiem Infiltrate... Obliterate... Dominate... • • •
2009 Shadows Far As Black Turns Red • •
2008 Tankard Thirst • • •
2009 VeiL Blinkers Define the Spasm •
2010 Deafness by Noise Aim to Please • • •
2010 Debt of Nature Crush, Kill and Burn • •
2010 Disbelief Heal •
2010 Legen Beltza Need to Suffer •
2010 Malignant Tumour Earthshaker • • •
2010 Neaera Forging the Eclipse •
2010 Obszoen Geschoepf Symphony of Decay • • •
2010 Odium Stop My Anger • •
2010 Punish My Heaven First Punishment • • •
2010 Refugium Unknown •
2010 Sentimentalistic Bitches Down Below •
2010 Singstars of Death The Pink Album • •
2010 Solace of Requiem The Great Awakening • • •
2010 Spheron To Dissect Paper • •
2010 Unholy Ritual Finis Origine Pendet • •
2010 Varg Blutaar • • •
2011 Desecrated Sphere The Unmasking Reality • •
2011 Kaerbholz 100 Prozent • •
2011 Requiem Within Darkened Disorder • • •
2011 Varg Wolfskult • • •
2011 Brainscan Breaking Down Your Mind • •
2011 Krisiun The Great Execution • • •
2011 Theodicy Diary of War • •
2011 Transnight The Dark Half •
2012 Seven Ends To the Worms • •
2012 Taina Illusion • •
2012 Algebra Polymorph • •
2013 Malignant Tumour Overdose & Overdrive • • •
2013 Violator "Scenarios of Brutality" • • •
2014 Ryker's Hard To The Core • • •
2015 Hyades The Wolves Are Getting Hungry • • •
2016 Malignant Tumor "The Mentalist" • • •
2017 Corporal Jigsore "Unleashing the Pestilence" • •
2017 Ritual Decay "Devila Grantha" • •
2018 Krisiun "Scourge of the Enthrones" • • •
2019 Legion of the Damned "Slaves of the Shadow Realm" • • •
2019 Seelenwalzer "Totgeglaubt" • • •

References

  1. ^ "German Charts: Die Apokalyptischen Reiter". Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  2. ^ "German Charts: Legion of the Damned". Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Austrian Charts: Legion of the Damned". Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  4. ^ "German Charts: Belphegor". Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Austrian Charts: Belphegor". Retrieved 9 May 2011.
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