Andy Classen


Andy Classen is a German musician, sound engineer and record producer.

Holy Moses

He 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.
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 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, Asphyx, Legen Beltza, The Old Dead Tree, Graveworm and Deafness by Noise.
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 & Seelenwalzer Bands

In 1997 Andy Classen was founding member, songwriter, producer and guitarist with the German Neue Deutsche Härte 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 "believed dead" - is being published with 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.

Since 2007, Legion of the Damned from the Netherlands have been able to chart regularly with Andy Classen-produced albums in Germany. 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 60 with Cult of the Dead.
Austrians Belphegor also charted in 2008 and 2009, reaching number 99 and 81 in Germany and even number 42 and 60 in Austria.

Credits

YearArtistAlbumRecordedcrippMixedMastered
1990Howlin' MadInsanity
1991Holy MosesTerminal Terror
1991IncubatorSymphonies of Spiritual Cannibalism
1991Jumpin' JesusThe Art of Crucifying
1992DeathrowLife Beyond
1992Holy MosesReborn Dogs
1992Holy MosesToo Drunk to Fuck
1992IncubatorMcGillroy the Housefly
1992ObscenitySuffocated Truth
1992Polluted InheritanceEcocide
1993IncubatorHirnnektar
1993WarpathMassive
1993WarpathWhen War Begins... Truth Disappears
1994AsphyxAsphyx
1994BrightsideFace the Truth
1994Holy MosesNo Matter What's the Cause
1994Ryker'sBrother Against Brother
1994WarpathAgainst Everyone
1995Approach to Concrete...failures?
1995BelphegorThe Last Supper
1995BrightsidePunchline
1995LunarLunar
1995Ryker'sFirst Blood
1995SanctimoniumPathetique: The Beryllian Throne
1995Sleeping GodsAbove and Beyond
1996BrightsideNo Policy
1996Crack UpBlood is Life
1996CroonJust
1996Rotting ChristTriarchy of the Lost Lovers
1996Ryker'sGround Zero
1996Ryker'sLow Life EP
1996Shit for BrainsVortex Cordis
1997Burden of GriefHaunting Requiems
1997Burden of GriefAbove Twilight Wings
1997Crack UpFrom the Ground
1997DisbeliefDisbelief
1997Mis.DivineAngsttriaden
1997NagelfarHünengrab im Herbst
1997RichthofenSeelenwalzer
1997Ryker'sA Lesson In Loyalty
1997Ryker'sCold Lost Sick EP
1997SurfaceTo Millenium... and Beyond
1998BrightsideBulletproof
1998Crack UpHeads Will Roll
1998DisbeliefInfected
1998DrecksauBrecher
1998EisregenKrebskolonie
1998NagelfarSrontgorrth
1998NiederschlagScrotum
1998WaylanderReawakening Pride Once Lost
1999DrecksauSchmerz
1999KadathCruel!
1999Path of DebrisThe Eyes of the Basilisk
1999Ryker'sLife is a Gamble
1999SuidakraLays From Afar
1999Temple of the AbsurdMother, Creator, God
1999ZonataTunes of Steel
2000AnfallFeuer, Eis & Energie
2000Blue ValentineSeelen Taetowierung
2000Crack UpDead End Run
2000Die Apokalyptischen ReiterAll You Need Is Love
2000Dogma IVSDunkelheit und Licht
2000Final BreathFlash Burnt Crucifixes
2000KrisiunConquerors of Armageddon
2000MindfieldDeviant
2000Ryker'sFrom the Cradle to the Grave
2000SuidakraThe Arcanum
2001BrightsideTrue Force
2001Burden of GriefOn Darker Trails
2001Callenish CircleMy Passion // Your Pain
2001Dark at DawnCrimson Frost
2001DisbeliefWorst Enemy
2001Holy MosesMaster of Disaster
2001NagelfarVirus West
2001RebaelliunAnnihilation
2001Semen DaturaThis Love is Dead
2001Sleeping GodsRegenerated
2002Dark AgeThe Silent Republic
2002Dew ScentedInwards
2002Final BreathMind Explosion
2002Holy MosesDisorder of the Order
2002Mourning CaressImbalance
2002Rotting ChristGenesis
2002SuidakraEmprise to Avalon
2002TankardB-Day
2003Callenish CircleFlesh Power Dominion
2003Dew ScentedIll-Natured & Innoscent
2003Dew ScentedImpact
2003Die Apokalyptischen ReiterHave a Nice Trip
2003DisbeliefSpreading the Rage
2003GravewormEngraved In Black
2003MindfieldBelow
2003SuidakraSigns for the Fallen
2003The Old Dead TreeThe Nameless Disease
2003VollrauschWirkstoff: Adrenalin
2004Blow JobUnboned
2004DementorGod Defamer
2004Dies AterOut of the Dark
2004Final BreathLet Me Be Your Tank
2004OccultElegy for the Weak
2004Path of GolcondaDestination: Downfall
2004Reckless TideRepent Or Seal Your Fate
2004TankardBeast of Bourbon
2005CriminalSicaro
2005Dew ScentedIssue VI
2005Gravewormutopia
2005Legion of the DamnedMalevolent Rapture
2005NeaeraThe Rising Tide of Oblivion
2005President EvilEvil Goes to Hollywood
2005SencirowPerception of Fear
2005SpellboundIncoming Destiny
2005The Old Dead TreeThe Perpetual Motion
2006BelphegorPestapokalypse VI
2006Clobberin TimeThe Dawn of a Dying Race
2006Death Will ScoreFrom the Ashes
2006Dos Dias De SangreBound By Honor / Mini CD
2006DroneHead-On Collision
2006EdgecrusherForever Failure
2006KrisiunAssassiNation
2006My Darkest HateCombat Area
2006Path of GolcondaThe Threshold Diaries
2006President EvilThe Trash'n'Roll Asshole Show
2006Shorts & ChurchbellsReason to Complain
2006SinisterAfterburner
2006SniperSeducer of Human Souls
2006TankardThe Beauty and the Beer
2007Ancient ExistenceHate is the Law
2007CripperFreak Inside
2007Dark EmbraceThe Rebirth of Darkness
2007Dies AterOdiums Spring
2007GravewormCollateral Defect
2007InzestGrotesque New World
2007Legion of the DamnedSons of the Jackal
2007Nine XIThe Opening
2007RequiemPremier Killing League
2007Revolting BreedRise Against
2007Solace of RequiemUtopia Reborn
2007SpellboundNemesis 2665
2007TankardBest Case Scenario: 25 Years in Beers
2007The Old Dead TreeThe Water Fields
2007Tough MotionDelta
2008AavasSepulcretum
2008BelphegorBondage Goat Zombie
2008DaksinroyDystopia
2008DavidianHear Their Cries
2008Grave DesecratorSign of Doom
2008HatredMadhouse Symphonies
2008KrisiunSouthern Storm
2008Legion of the DamnedCult of the Dead
2008Legion of the DamnedFeel The Blade
2008MindeadAbandon All Hope
2008MorpheusExtermination of the Dominant Species
2008PostmortemConstant Hate
2008President EvilHell in a Box
2008Prostitute DisfigurementDescendants of Depravity
2008SencirowThe Nightmare Within
2008SniperYour World is Doomed
2008Subterfuge CarverDeathcore
2008ThytopiaBleeding Earth
2009ArchgoatThe Light-Devouring Darkness
2009Arckanum11 Thorns
2009BelphegorWalpurgis Rites - Hexenwahn
2009Cryptic WintermoonFear
2009Damned CreedEnslaved Thoughts
2009Distorted ImpalementBodyslam
2009GravewormDiabolical Figures
2009HyadesThe Roots of Trash
2009Insanity Reigns SupremeOccultus Insanus Damnatus
2009MaithunghLust in the Kingdom of God
2009Mantic RitualExecutioner
2009Mastic ScumDust
2009MisticiaSickness of the Earth
2009Mor DagorMk. IV
2009PandemiaFeet of Anger
2009Path of GolcondaReturn
2009PunishRaptus
2009RequiemInfiltrate... Obliterate... Dominate...
2009Shadows FarAs Black Turns Red
2008TankardThirst
2009VeiLBlinkers Define the Spasm
2010Deafness by NoiseAim to Please
2010Debt of NatureCrush, Kill and Burn
2010DisbeliefHeal
2010Legen BeltzaNeed to Suffer
2010Malignant TumourEarthshaker
2010NeaeraForging the Eclipse
2010Obszoen GeschoepfSymphony of Decay
2010OdiumStop My Anger
2010Punish My HeavenFirst Punishment
2010RefugiumUnknown
2010Sentimentalistic BitchesDown Below
2010Singstars of DeathThe Pink Album
2010Solace of RequiemThe Great Awakening
2010SpheronTo Dissect Paper
2010Unholy RitualFinis Origine Pendet
2010VargBlutaar
2011Desecrated SphereThe Unmasking Reality
2011Kaerbholz100 Prozent
2011RequiemWithin Darkened Disorder
2011VargWolfskult
2011BrainscanBreaking Down Your Mind
2011KrisiunThe Great Execution
2011TheodicyDiary of War
2011TransnightThe Dark Half
2012Seven EndsTo the Worms
2012TainaIllusion
2013Malignant TumourOverdose & Overdrive
2013Violator"Scenarios of Brutality"
2014Ryker'sHard To The Core
2015HyadesThe Wolves Are Getting Hungry
2016Malignant Tumor"The Mentalist"
2017Corporal Jigsore"Unleashing the Pestilence"
2017Ritual Decay "Devila Grantha"
2018Krisiun"Scourge of the Enthrones"
2019Legion of the Damned"Slaves of the Shadow Realm"
2019Seelenwalzer"Totgeglaubt"