Andy Classen

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.

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.

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.

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 64 in Austria) 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 and even number 42 and 60 in Austria.

• 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" — • — • — •