12 Best Heavy Metal Producers of All Time
The best heavy metal producers of all time are the unsung heroes of the genre. They are the ones who helped pull out the best out of memorable musical acts. Furthermore, they also elevated the production value of the records, giving them the sound they deserved. Therefore, it is only logical that figures of this stature get more recognition.
The 12 heavy metal producers on this list have proven time and time again they understand the genre. They know what makes it tick and get the best out of it. Moreover, most of them have proven their mettle with multiple different acts. This quality of theirs is what makes them pillars of the genre’s golden age of success.
1. Martin Birch
It’s important to start strong. When it comes to heavy metal producers, one of the first names that comes to mind is Martin Birch. One of the most important (perhaps the most) considering his career, the bands he worked with, and the albums he produced. Birch was not only a producer but also a sound engineer.
However, it’s just necessary to point out his work as a producer since it is quite impressive.
His body of work includes Deep Purple‘s “Stormbringer”, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Rainbow‘s “Rising” and “On Stage”, the first eight Whitesnake albums, Black Sabbath‘s “Heaven and Hell” and “Mob Rules”, and all of Iron Maiden‘s albums from “Killers” to “Fear of the Dark”. Simply spectacular.
2. Rick Rubin
He’s one of the most important producers in the music industry, regardless of the genre. Focusing on metal, it’s worth mentioning that he’s worked with such important bands in the genre as Slayer, Danzig, AC/DC, and Metallica. In addition to his work as a producer, he’s held important positions at several major record labels and even founded a couple.
3. Bob Rock
The Canadian has had an extensive career in the music industry, both as a producer and as an engineer, mixer, and even as a musician. His career as a producer began in the late 1970s and continues to this day. It is worth pointing out his contributions in the 1990s and 2000s with Metallica and albums like the self-titled (The Black Album), “Load”, “Reload”, “S&M”, and the controversial “St. Anger”. He also worked on albums by Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, and David Lee Roth, to name a few.
Rock is going to be remembered for his work with Metallica and his crisp, powerful, and atmospheric productions. Bands such as The Cult and Mötley Crüe got their biggest hits under his tutelage as well. While a divisive figure in the metal community, no one can argue with the results.
4. Jim Morris
Jim and his brother Tom, through their record label, Morrisound Recording, have been major proponents of death metal. Just look at the bands they’ve worked with since the early 1980s, when they founded the record label. This has led them to be included on the list of the best heavy metal producers since they have worked on multiple metal subgenres. In fact, they might be the most underrated duo in the genre in this department.
They were pioneers in trying to implement good production in a subgenre where that aspect was somewhat neglected. In this way, they worked with and promoted bands like Cannibal Corpse, Death, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, and Sepultura, as well as other equally important bands but not as widely recognized as death metal, such as Kreator, Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards, and Kamelot.
5. Scott Burns
Another of the most important heavy metal producers, and curiously, one who also had a huge impact on death metal. In addition to being a producer, Burns also worked as a mixer and computer engineer. As a producer alone, he worked with Sepultura, Obituary, Death, Napalm Death, Cannibal Corpse, and many others.
Interestingly, his production work was mostly in the 1990s, yet he still managed to produce a huge number of albums. When it comes to the world of extreme metal, Burns has a major contribution.
6. Flemming Rasmussen
The Dane doesn’t have a very extensive career as a producer, however, when you see his work, you’ll understand why he’s on the list of heavy metal producers. Rasmussen, through his record label, Sweet Silence Studios, has worked with bands like Rainbow, Metallica or Blind Guardian. That’s impressive in itself, but the albums he produced are even more impressive.
Suffice it to say “Ride the Lightning“, “Master of Puppets”, …And Justice for All, “Imaginations From the Other Side, and “Nightfall in Middle-Earth“. A generational talent when it comes to the world heavy metal producers.
7. Andy Wallace
Wallace developed his professional career in music mostly focused on mixing and engineering, although he did notable work as a producer. Slayer‘s “Seasons in the Abyss”, Sepultura‘s “Chaos A.D.”, Faith No More‘s “King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime”, and Limp Bizkit‘s “Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water” are some of the albums he produced.
A striking feature of Wallace is his ability to adapt to different subgenres and eras, which is one of the main reasons why he is one of the best heavy metal producers.
8. Ross Robinson
Robinson can be considered one of the main driving forces of nu metal and more modern heavy metal. He was the man who launched the careers of Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, and Korn.
His albums, including the self-titled albums by Slipknot and Korn, stand out, as well as others like “Iowa”, “Life Is Peachy”, and Limp Bizkit‘s “Three Dollar Bill, Y’all”. He also produced albums by Sepultura, Machine Head, Fear Factory, and The Cure, to name a few. He also worked with Vanilla Ice, if you’re interested.
9. Terry Date
As is customary on this list of heavy metal producers, we have a professional with an extensive career in rock and metal. In this case, one who has traversed many subgenres and with great success. Bands like Metal Church, Dream Theater, Fifth Angel, Soundgarden, Overkill, Pantera, Slayer, Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, and Limp Bizkit.
He has specialized in the rock and metal genre and continues to produce for newer bands as well as some with many years of experience, from the 80s to this day.
10. Andy Sneap
What else can be said about Andy Sneap? In addition to being one of the best heavy metal producers, he’s also a musician, engineer, composer, and mixer. Basically, anything that goes into making an album, he can do it at a very good level. That alone makes him one of the best heavy metal producers in the market because of his sheer experience and knowledge.
As a producer, he can boast having made several Exodus albums, Kreator‘s “Violent Revolution” and “Enemy of God”, Annihilator‘s “Metal”, Megadeth‘s “United Abominations”, Accept‘s “Blood of the Nations”, and most recently, Judas Priest‘s “Invincible Shield“.
11. Beau Hill
There is an argument to be made that Beau Hill is the most underrated produced on this list. Heavy metal producers don’t often get the credit they deserve for their contribution to the glam movement. However, it was thanks to Hill’s production work that some founds got a crisp, clean sound. This would allow them to hit the mainstream and popularize this kind of music as a whole.
Initially, his career focused on guitar and occasional backing vocals with his own bands in the 70s and 80s. However, at the same time, he pursued his true passion, which was recording and production. He found opportunities that allowed him to produce albums for bands like Ratt, Alice Cooper, Winger, and Europe, to name just a few of his works. Truly a bastion of 80s glam metal and hard rock.
12. Chris Tsangarides
The Greek-Cypriot Briton was clearly one of the best heavy metal producers. His extensive career, which not only led him to produce, also included numerous jobs as a sound engineer and mixer. His first job as a producer was in the late 1970s with Gary Moore and his album “Back on the Streets”. That was just the beginning of a producing career that led him to work with Anvil, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest (on “Painkiller”), Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Helloween, and the solo projects of Bruce Dickinson and Ian Gillan.
It is also worth pointing out that Tsangarides‘ contributions also influenced his work in Japanese metal. He collaborated with the band Anthem, producing a couple of their records as well. This is another example of his versatility and wide array as a producer.
