Andy Sneap

You can't fail with the studio guru at the helm.

Producers are the music world's unsung heroes, but metal likes to salute those who bring something special to the steel table, and renowned desk-monkey Andy Sneap has done more than most to refine the sound of the music we love. He came to our attention as guitarist with thrash legends Sabbat, who were the UK's single greatest contribution to the original thrash wave, thanks in part toAndy's way with a skull-rattling riff.

"When Sabbat disbanded in 1990 I was fed up with dealing with musicians," he states. "I tried a few other band scenarios but my heart wasn't in it. It seemed the logical step to go it alone in production. I'd always been fascinated with recording and enjoyed the studio more than playing live. I'd bought an eight-track reel-to -reel set-up which I put in the old rehearsal studio and this became the first incarnation of Backstage Studio as I demoed a lot of friends and local bands. I started doing live sound and this ended up with me on a couple of pretty sizable tours and working in bigger and bigger studios."

Andy's big break came when he worked alongside veteran producer Colin Richarson on Machine Head's classic second album The more Things Change in LA in 1996. Andy has since produced early 100 albums, working with everyone from Megadeth, Testament and Exodus through to Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage and Devildriver. With such an impressive resume(acenttque), it'sno wonder that he has trouble picking his favorites.
"Opeth's Deliverance was one because of the Swedish Grammy we got," he says. "My father takes my career seriously because of that! KSE's The End Of Heartache went (US) gold which is nice."

Currently in San Diego working with Megadeth on their new album, Andy has numerous projects on the go, including forthcoming releases from Arch Enemy, Onslaught and Exodus, the ongoing Sabbat reunion and an album of songs by a band called Hell, whose chief song writer Dave Halliday taught a teenaged Andy to play guitar in the 80s before tragically taking his own life in 1987.

"It's been a dream of mine to get Dave's songs heard since he died and hopefully I can get the album in the can by the beginning of July,"he says, before summing up his flourishing reputation as metal's number one knob-twiddler.

 "I don't try and put a stamp on anything I do, I just do what I'd like to hear. More and more I hear people talk about a Sneap sound. Hopefully that's a compliment!"

Read more...

TOP – 10 HEAVY METAL HAND GESTURES

10-THE CLAW
You’re grim. You’re tough. You’re evil. And you’re holding very large apple. Or the scrotum of a recently slain foe, obviously. One of the two.

9-THE DOUBLECLAW
Of course, it you’ve killed two foes then you’ll be needing both hands. Very popular with black metal bands from snowy climates. Possibly caused by frostbite.

8-THE THUMBS-UP
A bit too cheerful for black metal bands, but very popular with pissed-up Australian rock bands and crusty British punks. Comes with compulsory cheesy grin.

7-THE WANKER
Also popular with football crowds and enraged motorists. Not to be confused with the internationally recognised gesture for “would you like a coffee?”

6-THE TWO-FINGERED SALUTE
Either a celebration of victory or a firm “fuck off, twat features!” this is a very British gesture that to this day remains criminally under-used.

5-THE FIST
Witness the forceful power of my mighty clenched hand as I firmly punch the air in a vaguely threatening manner! See also the classic game of ‘Which hand is it in?’

4-THE POINTER
Yeah that’s right, metal fans, I’m pointing at you through the camera lens. And if I use both hands, it makes me look a bit like The Fonz. Yeah.

3-THE MIDDLE FINGER
Known in the US as ‘flipping the bird’, this rude gesture has usurped the UK’s humble two-finger salute. It’s ‘Fuck you!’ in finger form. Essential.

2-THE COMBINATION
Pick any of the above hand gestures and instantly double the impact. “Fuck you, I’m holding an apple!” “Yeah, I’m pointing at you, you big wanker!” “Witness the power of my mighty clenched hand, twat features” ect.

1-THE DEVIL’S HORNS
The Daddy of all metal hand gestures. Invented by Satan, popularised by Ronnie James Dio, used by all of us. Daily. Hourly, even. Horns up!

Read more...

Alice In Chains

Seattle legends hit the studio to record their first album in 14 years.

"It's gonna sound a little different but we're still Alice In Chains.

Legendary grunge titans Alice In Chains are putting the finishing touches to their first album of new material since they reformed in 2005. The album, which will be the band's first since 1995's self-titled effort, was recorded at Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl's Studio 606 complex in California with renowned producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with Stone Sour, Trivium and Rush amongst others. As drummer Sean Kinney says, it's been a perfect match.

"When we decided to make a record, we met with a bunch of producers and Nick was obviously the guy, you know?" he says. "We really dug him as a guy. A lot pf producers have their own sound and all the bands they work with end up sounding similar. Our band has a core sound to it, so we're never really needed a producer to do anything other than record us. Nick's an old-school amps. You really play, and that's what we're used to."

This will be the first AIC album to feature new vocalist William DuVall, who has been with the band since 2006, but even though his voice is noticeably different from his predecessor's - the late, great Layne Staley, who passed away in 2002 - Sean is adamant that the new material will make long-time fans of the band feel much at home.

"It's gonna sound a little different, inevitably, but the songwriting and the guys playing sounds like Alice," he states. "It's the only thing we know how to do. If it was a problem I'd say, 'Man, it's too vintagel!' or some shit. There's not enough drum machine! Ha ha ha! I don't know. It sounds like us. With our music, the people that loved it loved the shit out of it, to this day, and the people that never got it didn't dig it. Nothing's changed!"

Alice In Chains' as-yet-untitled return is due to hit the shops and the band will be embarking on an intensive bout of festivals and headlines shows to promote it. And having already weathered a storm of cynicism and proved that this reunion is worth supporting, Sean and his band mates are relishing a second bite at the rock'n'roll cherry.

"It's just feels right so we're going to see where it goes, " he concludes. "When our time comes, hopefully someone will tell us, 'Hey, you're too stupid-looking to be doing this shit!' Rock'n'roll's a young guy's game and we were 20 when we started the band. But in the end, I'm digging the record. The music just continues, man."

Read more...

Def Leppard

THERE HAVE BEEN a lot of landmark performances at Donington over the past 30 years, but perhaps none as emotional as when Def Leppard returned to a British stage for the first time since drummer Rick Allen had lost his arm in a road accident at the end of 1983.

This was the day when Leppard were transformed from bloated rich pariahs- as many over here still saw them- into heroes.

To put this into perspective,Leppard were still nearly a year from being ready to release the Hysteria album, but had become so fed up with the studio delays they decided to blow off a few cobwebs with selected European festival appearances . But it was at Donington that everythingfell into place.

Sheffield's finest took to the vast stage after Warlock, Bad News and Motorhead, with the rain pouring and the crowd impatient for the Scorpions and headliner Ozzy. Not exactly the setting for a triumphant homecoming.

However, there was a visible rapport between band and crowd as Leppard launched into Stagefright, led in a Phil Collen guitar intro. What followed was an explosion of powerful, melodic anthems, with the quintet blasting through some of their best loved songs: Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop), Another Hit & Run, Photograph and Let It Go.

They also found time to preview two songs from Hysteria, namely Love And Affection and Run Riot, although it was hard to get any impression of the way this might sound on record. And the main set ended with a Rock Of Ages medley, featuring snippets from Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love and The Who's My Generation, plus a rousing Wasted.

But it was the encore that made this so specia;. A cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Travellin' Band, it featured a brief Rick Allen solo, before Joe Elliot walked back out and simply said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Rick Allen on the drums". The response was so massive, so hearfelt, it took even the leppard guys by surprise. There were definitely tears in the eyes and lumps in the throat as a somewhat overwhelmed Rick acknowledged the ovation.

In later years, Joe Elliot has revealed that the decision to introduce the drummer was a spur-of-the-moment reaction, and not planned. But it was the perfect way to seal Leppard's rehabilitation with British fans.

Doubtless many who cheered that day had jeered the band at the Reading Festival six years earlier- the vegaries of popularity, eh?

Read more...

Amorphis..Skyforger

'SKYFORGER' is a strong and very melodic album with fantastic vocals and powerful choruses. I will recommend this collection to all Amorphis fans, old or new. If you are a fan of melodic metal with a touch of folk, let this Finns take you to another dimension of Kalevala.

'Skyforger' is as epic, absorbing, and solemn as the tales that it is based on. Amorphis have reached new heights,for them the sky is 'not' the limit, it's just the beginning of a new journey...

Read more...

Iron Maiden

IRON MAIDEN is a continent-jumping, fire-breathing monster of a film, an access all areas journey as part of a Maiden team as they ambark on a historic tour round the planet. Exhilarating, honest and often humorous this is a fascinating look at life on the road. This is a music documentary that really delivers where so many others disappoint- the time flies as fast as Ed Force One.

Flight 666 is a perfect celebration of Iron Maiden. Not only does it show their musical passion, uncompromising attitude and amazing live show, but the film takes you on a worldwide journey examining what it is to be a fan of this band. From all corners of the globe the one great unifier of young rock fans is Iron Maiden. Flight 666 shows why I'm proud to be called a fan.

Absolutely insane...an excess all areas look at Britain's biggest metal band. Awesome!.

Read more...