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| Andy Sneap | |
|---|---|
| Name | Andy Sneap |
| Caption | Sneap in 2015 |
| Birth date | 1969 |
| Birth place | Derby, England |
| Occupation | Record producer, mixing engineer, guitarist, songwriter |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Associated acts | Sabbat (British band), Hell (band), Judas Priest, Accept (band), Megadeth, Arch Enemy, Machine Head, Opeth, Testament (band), Exodus (band), Annihilator (band), Municipal Waste, Trivium, Children of Bodom, Kreator |
Andy Sneap is an English record producer, mixing engineer and guitarist known for his work in heavy metal, thrash metal and extreme metal. He has produced, mixed or mastered albums for a wide array of acts including Judas Priest, Megadeth, Accept (band), Arch Enemy, Machine Head, Opeth and Testament (band), and is also a member of Sabbat (British band) and later Hell (band). Sneap's reputation rests on a precise modern metal sound that blends aggressive instrumentation with polished production values, making him a frequent collaborator for established and rising artists across multiple metal subgenres.
Born in Derby, England, Sneap grew up during the rise of NWOBHM and was influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon (band), Motörhead, Venom (band), and Black Sabbath. He became a self-taught musician in his teens, studying guitar techniques inspired by players like Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, K.K. Downing, Kirk Hammett, and Dave Mustaine. Sneap's formative years overlapped with scenes centered around venues in Leicester and Nottingham, and he built early recording experience on four-track and eight-track setups similar to those used at independent studios working with acts such as Napalm Death, Carcass, Bolt Thrower, and Paradise Lost.
Sneap began his professional career playing guitar in Sabbat (British band) before transitioning into production and engineering, initially working on demos and small-label releases for bands in the thrash metal and death metal communities including Napalm Death, Extremities (band), Cancer (band), and Anathema (band). He founded a production base in Sheffield and later operated out of his own studio, collaborating with labels like Nuclear Blast, Century Media Records, Roadrunner Records, SPV GmbH, and Metal Blade Records. Over decades he produced landmark records for Machine Head, Exodus (band), Testament (band), Annihilator (band), Kreator, Municipal Waste, Trivium, Children of Bodom, Arch Enemy, Opeth, Megadeth, and Judas Priest, contributing to tours and festival appearances at Wacken Open Air, Download Festival, Hellfest, Bloodstock Open Air, and Graspop Metal Meeting. Sneap also performed live with Hell (band) during anniversary shows and participated in studio sessions and guest spots alongside artists from Saxon (band), Accept (band), Dio (band), and Savatage.
Sneap's production approach emphasizes clarity, low-end definition, and aggressive guitar tone, drawing from techniques used by engineers who worked with Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Megadeth, and Anthrax (band). He often employs digital audio workstations in tandem with high-gain tube amplifiers and cabinet simulations modeled after rigs used by Randy Rhoads, Dimebag Darrell, Jeff Hanneman, and Kerry King. His drum production frequently combines sampled reinforcement with natural acoustics reminiscent of sessions recorded for Sepultura, Machine Head, Fear Factory, and Soilwork, while vocal production balances raw performance and pitch-corrected polish as heard in records by Max Cavalera, Rob Flynn, Joey DeMaio, and Angela Gossow. Sneap is known to use meticulous editing and stereo imaging strategies similar to approaches favored by engineers who worked with Rick Rubin, Bob Rock, Terry Date, and Colin Richardson (producer), aiming for mix translation across club PA systems, festival stages, and hi-fi setups including rigs endorsed by Marshall (company), Mesa/Boogie, Laney (company), and Orange Amplification.
Sneap's production, mixing, mastering and performance credits span dozens of albums, EPs and singles for artists such as Judas Priest, Megadeth, Accept (band), Arch Enemy, Machine Head, Testament (band), Exodus (band), Annihilator (band), Trivium, Opeth, Children of Bodom, Kreator, Municipal Waste, Sodom (band), Destruction (band), Overkill (band), Sepultura, Soulfly, Napalm Death, Carcass, At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity, In Flames, Amon Amarth, Gojira, DevilDriver, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, Five Finger Death Punch, Bullet for My Valentine, Black Label Society, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Morbid Angel, Cavalera Conspiracy, Cancer (band), Anathema (band), Savatage, Dio (band), Saxon (band), Accept (band), Hell (band), Sabbat (British band), and Exhumed (band). Notable albums include work on records associated with tours supporting Ozzfest, Gigantour, The Big Four (metal)-related events, and headline festival runs at Wacken Open Air and Download Festival.
Sneap's contributions have been recognized by peers, industry publications and award bodies, with coverage in Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Decibel (magazine), Revolver (magazine), and technical features in Sound on Sound, Mix (magazine), and Tape Op. His mixes and productions have charted internationally through labels such as Nuclear Blast, Roadrunner Records, Universal Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment (global company), garnering nominations and wins at ceremonies tied to Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards, Kerrang! Awards, and regional album chart placements across UK Albums Chart, Billboard 200, German Albums Chart, and Official Finnish Charts.
Outside production, Sneap performs guitar and contributes to songwriting with bands including Sabbat (British band) and Hell (band), and he participates in panels, masterclasses and interviews with institutions and events such as NAMM, Red Bull Music Academy, Music Producers Guild, and AES (Audio Engineering Society). He is associated with equipment endorsements and collaborations with manufacturers like Friedman Amplification, Marshall (company), Mesa/Boogie, Laney (company), Shure, Sennheiser, SSL (Solid State Logic), and Universal Audio. Sneap lives and works in England and continues to produce records, tour, and mentor emerging artists across the international metal community.
Category:English record producers Category:Heavy metal producers Category:People from Derby