# Andy Sneap

Andy Sneap (born 18 July 1969) is an English guitarist, record producer, and composer with over 100 albums to his name, most of which have been produced at his Backstage Recording studios in rural Derbyshire. Some of the most critically acclaimed mixing-work on albums include Deliverance by Opeth and Disarm the Descent by Killswitch Engage; for which he earned a Swedish Grammis and a US Grammy nomination, respectively. As a performer, he first built his reputation as one of the guitarists in the British thrash metal band Sabbat, and played with them up until their disbanding. He is currently one of the co-guitarists of the British heavy metal band Hell. In 2018, Sneap joined Judas Priest as a touring guitarist, following long-time lead guitarist Glenn Tipton's diagnosis of Parkinson's disease which conflicts with his touring abilities, and while not an official member of the band, he contributed guitar work to their nineteenth studio album Invincible Shield (2024).
He is one of the most active music producers in the heavy metal music genre and has worked with bands such as Judas Priest, Accept, Blaze Bayley, Dream Theater, Saxon, Opeth, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Exodus, Megadeth, Kataklysm, Kreator, Nevermore, Testament, Carcass, Fear Factory, Overkill and DevilDriver. Of his production career, Sneap holds the distinction of having been credited as a producer, mixer or engineer on all six of Testament's albums since The Gathering (1999) – including the collection of re-recorded material First Strike Still Deadly (2001) – as well as all nine of Exodus' releases since the live album Another Lesson in Violence (1997). He also mixed Megadeth's show from the DVD The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria, also featuring Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax.

## Biography

Andy Sneap was born on 18 July 1969 in Belper, Derbyshire. 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 effect on Andy and left him all the rights to all his songs and equipment in his will following his death. Sneap 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.
After disbanding Hydra and forming a new band, they chose Sabbat as the new name, which came from a book on witchcraft. After one year of rehearsing, they recorded a four-track demo tape, Fragments of a Faith Forgotten. Sneap 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. Sabbat released the album on 20 April 1988 via Noise Records, which received positive attention from journalists and fans alike.
In January 1989 Sneap 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 |
| Sabbat | History of a Time to Come Label: Noise Records Release date: 20 April 1988 | Composer, Guitar, Remastering |
| Sabbat | Dreamweaver Label: Noise Records Release date: 15 May 1989 | Composer, Guitar, Remastering |
| Sabbat | Mourning Has Broken Label: Noise Records Release date: 26 March 1991 | Composer, Guitar |
| Hell | Human Remains Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 13 May 2011 | Engineer, Guitar, Mixing, Producer |
| Hell | Curse and Chapter Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 22 November 2013 | Composer, engineer, Guitar, Mixing, Producer |

### Selected production

| Year | Album details | Role |
| 1994 | English Dogs – Bow to None Label: Impact Records Release date: 1994 | Assistant, Mixing |
| 1996 | Dearly Beheaded – Temptation Label: Music for Nations Release date: 3 June 1996 | Engineer |
| 1997 | Machine Head – The More Things Change... Label: Roadrunner Records Release date: 25 March 1997 | Mixing |
| 1997 | Napalm Death – Inside the Torn Apart Label: Earache Records Release date: 3 June 1997 | Mixing |
| 1997 | Exodus – Another Lesson in Violence Label: Century Media Records Release date: 8 July 1997 | Producer |
| 1997 | Skinlab – Bound, Gagged and Blindfolded Label: Century Media Release date: 8 July 1997 | Engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 1997 | Napalm Death – Breed to Breathe (EP) Label: Earache Records Release date: 17 November 1997 | Mixing |
| 1998 | Obituary – Dead Label: Roadrunner Release date: 21 April 1998 | Mixing |
| 1998 | English Dogs – All the World's a Rage Label: Impact Records Release date: 25 August 1998 | Producer |
| 1998 | Earth Crisis – Breed the Killers Label: Roadrunner Release date: 8 September 1998 | Audio Engineer, Audio Production, engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 1999 | Skinlab – Disembody: The New Flesh Label: Century Media Release date: 23 February 1999 | Mixing, Producer, Vocals (Additional) |
| 1999 | Testament – The Gathering Label: Burnt Offerings, Spitfire Records (1999), Prosthetic Records (2008) Release date: 28 June 1999 | Engineer, Mixing |
| 1999 | Artillery – B.A.C.K. Label: Die Hard music Release date: 2 October 1999 | Mixing |
| 2000 | B L A Z E – Silicon Messiah Label: SPV Release date: 22 May 2000 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2000 | Nevermore – Dead Heart in a Dead World Label: Century Media Release date: 17 October 2000 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2000 | Fozzy – Fozzy Label: Palm Pictures / Megaforce Records Release date: 24 October 2000 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2001 | Arch Enemy – Wages of Sin Label: Century Media Release date: 2 April 2001 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2001 | Kreator – Violent Revolution Label: SPV/Steamhammer Records Release date: 25 September 2001 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2001 | Testament – First Strike Still Deadly Label: Spitfire Records Release date: 24 October 2001 | Audio Engineer, Mixing |
| 2002 | B L A Z E – Tenth Dimension Label: SPV Release date: 15 January 2002 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2002 | Arch Enemy – Burning Angel Label: Century Media Release date: 6 March 2002 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2002 | Killswitch Engage – Alive or Just Breathing Label: Roadrunner Release date: 21 May 2002 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2002 | Skinlab – Revolting Room Label: Century Media Release date: 27 May 2002 | Additional tracking, Mixing |
| 2002 | Living Sacrifice – Conceived in Fire Label: Solid State Records Release date: 24 September 2002 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2002 | Opeth – Deliverance Label: Koch, Music for Nations Release date: 12 November 2002 | Mixing |
| 2002 | Masterplan – Enlighten Me Label: AFM Records Release date: 18 November 2002 | Engineer, producer |
| 2003 | Masterplan – Masterplan Label: AFM Records Release date: 20 January 2003 | Engineer, producer |
| 2003 | B L A Z E – As Live as It Gets Label: SPV Release date: 25 March 2003 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2003 | Nevermore – Enemies of Reality Label: Century Media Release date: 29 July 2003, April 2005 (reissue) | Remastering, Remixing (2005 reissue) |
| 2003 | Arch Enemy – Anthems of Rebellion Label: Century Media Release date: 23 August 2003 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Pre-Production, Producer |
| 2003 | MTV2 Headbangers Ball Label: Roadrunner Release date: 7 October 2003 | Mixing, producer |
| 2003 | Machine Head – Through the Ashes of Empires Label: Roadrunner Release date: 31 October 2003 | Technician |
| 2003 | Opeth – Lamentations (Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire 2003) Label: Koch, Music for Nations Release date: 24 November 2003 | Mixing, Recording |
| 2004 | Exodus – Tempo of the Damned Label: Nuclear Blast Records, King Records (Japan), Dream On Music (Korea) Release date: 2 February 2004 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2004 | 36 Crazyfists – A Snow Capped Romance Label: Roadrunner Release date: 16 March 2004 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2004 | B L A Z E – Blood & Belief Label: SPV/Steamhammer Release date: 26 April 2004 | Audio Engineer, Audio Production, engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Photography, Producer |
| 2004 | Killswitch Engage – The End of Heartache Label: Roadrunner Release date: 11 May 2004 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2004 | Caliban – The Opposite from Within Label: Roadrunner Release date: 17 October 2004 | Audio Engineer, Mastering, Mixing |
| 2004 | Bullet for My Valentine – Bullet for My Valentine Label: Visible Noise Release date: 15 November 2004 | Mastering |
| 2005 | Kreator – Enemy of God Label: SPV/Steamhammer Release date: 10 January 2005 | Audio Production, Mixing, Producer |
| 2005 | Trivium – Ascendancy Label: Roadrunner Release date: 15 March 2005 | Mastering, Mixing, Vocals |
| 2005 | As I Lay Dying – Shadows Are Security Label: Metal Blade Records Release date: 14 June 2005 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2005 | Arch Enemy – Doomsday Machine Label: Century Media Release date: 26 July 2005 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2005 | Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor Label: Century Media Release date: 26 July 2005 | Engineering, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2005 | Bullet for My Valentine – Hand of Blood Label: Trustkill Records Release date: 22 August 2005 | Audio Production, Mastering |
| 2005 | Bullet for My Valentine – The Poison Label: Visible Noise Release date: 3 October 2005 | Mixing, Producer (track 6) |
| 2005 | Exodus – Shovel Headed Kill Machine Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 4 October 2005 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2006 | Caliban – The Undying Darkness Label: Abacus Release date: 4 April 2006 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2006 | As I Lay Dying – A Long March: The First Recordings Label: Metal Blade Release date: 16 May 2006 | Mixing (tracks 1 and 3) |
| 2006 | 36 Crazyfists – Rest Inside the Flames Label: Roadrunner, DRT Entertainment 12 June 2006 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2006 | Kerrang Album Release date: 11 September 2006 | Producer |
| 2006 | Into Eternity – The Scattering of Ashes Label: Century Media Release date: 3 October 2006 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2006 | Cradle of Filth – Thornography Label: Roadrunner Release date: 17 October 2006 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2007 | Onslaught – Killing Peace Label: Candlelight Records Release date: 5 March 2007 | Mixing, Producer |
| 2007 | Chimaira – Resurrection Label: Ferret Music (U.S.), Nuclear Blast (Worldwide) Release date: 6 March 2007 | Audio Engineer, Engineer, Mixing |
| 2007 | Annihilator – Metal Label: SPV/Steamhammer Release date: 16 April 2007 | Mixing, Producer |
| 2007 | Job for a Cowboy – Genesis Label: Metal Blade Release date: 15 May 2007 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2007 | Megadeth – United Abominations Label: Roadrunner Release date: 15 May 2007 | Audio Engineer, Audio Production, engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 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 |
| 2007 | Despised Icon – The Ills of Modern Man Label: Century Media Release date: 22 May 2007 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2007 | DevilDriver – The Last Kind Words Label: Roadrunner Release date: 31 July 2007 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2007 | As I Lay Dying – An Ocean Between Us Label: Metal Blade Release date: 21 August 2007 | Technician (guitar re-amping) |
| 2007 | Exodus – The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 26 October 2007 | Engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 2008 | Testament – The Formation of Damnation Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 29 April 2008 | Engineer, Mixing |
| 2008 | 36 Crazyfists – The Tide and Its Takers Label: Ferret Release date: 27 May 2008 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2008 | Soulfly – Conquer Label: Roadrunner Release date: 29 July 2008 | Mixing |
| 2008 | Unearth – The March Label: Metal Blade Release date: 14 October 2008 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2008 | Nevermore – The Year of the Voyager Label: Century Media Release date: 20 October 2008 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2008 | Cradle of Filth – Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder Label: Roadrunner Release date: 28 October 2008 | Audio Engineer, Audio Production, Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2008 | Exodus – Let There Be Blood Label: Zaentz Records Release date: 28 October 2008 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2009 | Iron Monkey – Our Problem Label: Earache Records Release date: 26 May 2009 | Engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 2009 | DevilDriver – Pray for Villains Label: Roadrunner Release date: 14 July 2009 | Guitar Producer, Mastering, Mixing, Mixing Advisor |
| 2009 | Megadeth – Endgame Label: Roadrunner Release date: 14 September 2009 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2009 | Arch Enemy – The Root of All Evil Label: Century Media Release date: 28 September 2009 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2010 | Living Sacrifice – The Infinite Order Label: Solid State Release date: 26 January 2010 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2010 | Exodus – Exhibit B: The Human Condition Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 7 May 2010 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2010 | Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy Label: Century Media Release date: 8 June 2010 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2010 | 36 Crazyfists – Collisions and Castaways Label: Ferret, Roadrunner Release date: 27 July 2010 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2010 | Accept – Blood of the Nations Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 20 August 2010 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2010 | Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 22 September 2010 | Guest Artist, Mixing |
| 2010 | Megadeth – "Sudden Death" Label: Roadrunner Release date: 28 September 2010 | Mixing |
| 2010 | Slayer – The Big Four: Live from Sofia, Bulgaria Label: Warner Bros. (U.S.), Vertigo Records/Mercury Records (Europe) Release date: 29 October 2010 | Mixing |
| 2010 | Cradle of Filth – Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa Label: Peaceville Records (Europe), Nuclear Blast (U.S.) Release date: 1 November 2010 | Assistant Engineer, Mastering |
| 2011 | DevilDriver – Beast Label: Roadrunner Release date: 22 February 2011 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2011 | Arch Enemy – Khaos Legions Label: Century Media Release date: 30 May 2011 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2011 | Megadeth – Thirteen Label: Roadrunner Release date: 1 November 2011 | Additional engineering |
| 2012 | Accept – Stalingrad Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 6 April 2012 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2012 | Testament – Dark Roots of Earth Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 27 July 2012 | Additional Footage, engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2013 | Saxon – Sacrifice Label: UDR Release date: 1 March 2013 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2013 | Killswitch Engage – Disarm the Descent Label: Roadrunner Release date: 2 April 2013 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2013 | Amon Amarth – Deceiver of the Gods Label: Metal Blade Release date: 25 June 2013 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2013 | Carcass – Surgical Steel Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 13 September 2013 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2013 | XXX: Three Decades of Roadrunner Records Label: Roadrunner Release date: 30 September 2013 | Mixing, Producer |
| 2014 | Ronnie James Dio – This Is Your Life Label: Rhino Entertainment Release date: 25 March 2014 (Japan), 31 March 2014 | Engineer |
| 2014 | Accept – Blind Rage Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 15 August 2014 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2014 | Exodus – Blood In, Blood Out Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 14 October 2014 | Engineer (drums), Mastering, Mixing, Tracking |
| 2014 | Machine Head – Bloodstone & Diamonds Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 10 November 2014 | Additional tracking, editing, and mixing |
| 2014 | Carcass – Surgical Remission/Surplus Steel (EP) Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 11 November 2014 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2015 | Kataklysm – Of Ghosts and Gods Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 31 July 2015 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2015 | Fear Factory – Genexus Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 7 August 2015 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2015 | Saxon – Battering Ram Label: UDR Release date: 16 October 2015 | Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2016 | Amon Amarth – Jomsviking Label: Metal Blade Release date: 25 March 2016 | Engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 2016 | Despised Icon – Beast Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 22 June 2016 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2016 | Testament – Brotherhood of the Snake Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 28 October 2016 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2017 | Overkill – The Grinding Wheel Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 10 February 2017 | Mixing |
| 2017 | Accept – The Rise of Chaos Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 4 August 2017 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2018 | Saxon – Thunderbolt Label: Silver Lining Release Date: 2 February 2018 | Engineer, Mixing, Producer |
| 2018 | Judas Priest – Firepower Label: Epic Records Release Date: 9 March 2018 | Co-Producer (Along with Tom Allom), Engineer, Mastering, Mixing |
| 2019 | Overkill – The Wings of War Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 22 February 2019 | Mastering, Mixing (track 11) |
| 2019 | Xentrix – Bury the Pain Label: Listenable Records Release date: 7 June 2019 | Mixing |
| 2019 | Killswitch Engage – Atonement Label: Metal Blade Release date: 16 August 2019 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2020 | Testament – Titans of Creation Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 3 April 2020 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2020 | Kreator – "666 - World Divided" Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 10 April 2020 | Producer |
| 2020 | John Petrucci – Terminal Velocity Label: Sound Mind Music/The Orchard Release Date: 28 August 2020 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2021 | Accept – Too Mean to Die Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 29 January 2021 | Mixing, Producer |
| 2021 | Fear Factory – Aggression Continuum Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 18 June 2021 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2021 | Dream Theater – A View from the Top of the World Label: Inside Out Music Release Date: 22 October 2021 | Mastering, Mixing |
| 2021 | Exodus – Persona Non Grata Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 19 November 2021 | Mixing |
| 2022 | Saxon – Carpe Diem Label: Silver Lining Release date: 4 February 2022 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2022 | Annihilator – Metal II Label: earMUSIC Release date: 18 February 2022 | Re-amping (guitars) |
| 2022 | Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army Label: Metal Blade Release date: 5 August 2022 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2022 | Xentrix – Seven Words Label: Listenable Release date: 4 November 2022 | Mixing |
| 2023 | Elegant Weapons – Horns for a Halo Label: Nuclear Blast Release date: 26 May 2023 | Mastering, Mixing, Engineering, Producer |
| 2024 | Saxon – Hell, Fire and Damnation Label: Silver Lining Release date: 19 January 2024 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2024 | Judas Priest – Invincible Shield Label: Epic Release date: 8 March 2024 | Producer, Guitar |
| 2024 | Accept – Humanoid Label: Napalm Records Release date: 26 April 2024 | Mastering, Mixing, Producer |
| 2025 | Dream Theater – Parasomnia Label: Inside Out Release date: 7 February 2025 | Engineering, Mastering, Mixing |