Andy LaRocque

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Andy LaRocque
Tuska 20130628 - King Diamond - 29.jpg
LaRocque in 2013
Background information
Birth nameAnders Allhage
Born (1962-11-29) 29 November 1962 (age 61)
Gothenburg, Sweden
Genres Heavy metal, death metal, thrash metal, melodic death metal, black metal, neoclassical metal
Occupation(s)Musician, record producer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, keyboards
Member of King Diamond

Andy LaRocque (born Anders Allhage, 29 November 1962) is a Swedish guitarist, songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of the heavy metal band King Diamond since 1985.

Contents

Biography

LaRocque started out in the mid 1980s in the Gothenburg hard rock bands Trafalgar and an early version of Swedish Erotica. [1] He also played on the Death album Individual Thought Patterns [2] and the IllWill album Evilution, along with former members of Mercyful Fate. [1] He can be heard on other albums as well, such as Falconer's Chapters from a Vale Forlorn , where he performed lead guitars on the song "Busted to the Floor". [3]

LaRocque contributed a guitar solo to the track "Cold" on the album Slaughter of the Soul by Swedish melodic death metal group At the Gates. Producer Fredrik Nordström was responsible for the idea, and telephoned LaRocque. [4] At the Gates' guitarist Anders Björler gave LaRocque an audio cassette recording of the song. The tape played at the wrong speed at LaRocque's house, so LaRocque had to transcribe the recording. [4] Two days after receiving the cassette, LaRocque laid down a guitar solo for the song within half an hour. Björler described the solo as "great" and in a November 2007 interview admitted he still couldn't play the solo "properly". [4]

LaRocque opened a studio called the "Los Angered Recordings" in Angered, Sweden in 1995, where he produced and recorded albums for many bands. In 2007, he moved the studio to Varberg and renamed it "Sonic Train Studios" where he continues to record and produce for various rock and heavy metal bands. [5]

He is known for his signature playing style which incorporates neoclassical elements, using exotic scales such as harmonic minor, phrygian dominant, and diminished minor. His extended theory knowledge enables him to mix these scales with others such as the blues scale and melodic minor. He has a distinct guitar tone for his solos, and often incorporates layers of harmonies over his runs and phrasing. He frequently uses a mixture of classically-flavored arpeggio sequences and alternate picked runs mixed with melodic lines to create his signature style. [1]

LaRocque was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2007. [6] He is regularly listed as among the best or most underrated guitarists in heavy metal. [7] [8] He cites Michael Schenker and Randy Rhoads as major influences. He also likes Steve Vai and Tony Iommi, and was impressed by the friendliness of Chuck Schuldiner when he recorded Individual Thought Patterns with him. [9]

Discography

LaRoque with King Diamond at Hellfest 2016 W2596 Hellfest2016 KingDiamond AndyLaRoque 9191.jpg
LaRoque with King Diamond at Hellfest 2016

With King Diamond

With Death

With IllWill

As guest musician

As producer

Andy LaRocque owns Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden. The notable bands which recorded in Sonic Train Studios include:

Related Research Articles

<i>Slaughter of the Soul</i> 1995 studio album by At the Gates

Slaughter of the Soul is the fourth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band At the Gates, released on 14 November 1995 by Earache Records. It was their last album before their eleven-year breakup from 1996 to 2007. Slaughter of the Soul is considered a landmark in melodic death metal and played a major role in popularizing the Gothenburg scene, alongside The Jester Race by In Flames and The Gallery by Dark Tranquillity. The album was recorded and mixed in Studio Fredman, early 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falconer (band)</span> Swedish power metal band

Falconer was a Swedish power metal band from Mjölby, formed in 1999 by the former guitarist of Mithotyn, Stefan Weinerhall. Falconer carried on many of the traditions set by Weinerhall's previous band and played a fusion style of power metal that utilizes folk instrumentation and melody to create a more medieval sound.

<i>Fatal Portrait</i> 1986 studio album by King Diamond

Fatal Portrait is the debut album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond. It was produced by Rune Hoyer and released on 17 February 1986 through Roadrunner Records. Guitarist Andy LaRocque joined the album recording sessions at the last minute, as the band's second guitarist at the time "wasn't working out" in the studio. As a result, it is the only King Diamond album which does not feature any writing credits from LaRocque. Recording a solo for "Dressed in White" functioned as his audition for joining the band. Along with The Spider's Lullabye, it is one of the band's only albums which is not a whole concept album.

<i>Abigail</i> (album) 1987 studio album by King Diamond

Abigail is the second album by Danish heavy metal band King Diamond, and the band's first concept album. It was released on 15 June 1987 through Roadrunner Records. There were several re-releases, first in 1997 with four bonus tracks, and then a 25th anniversary edition in 2005 with a bonus DVD. Abigail is the last album to feature guitarist Michael Denner and bassist Timi Hansen.

<i>Individual Thought Patterns</i> 1993 studio album by Death

Individual Thought Patterns is the fifth studio album by American death metal band Death, released on June 22, 1993, by Relativity Records. It is the only album by the band to feature guitarist Andy LaRocque, the first to feature drummer Gene Hoglan and the second and last to feature bassist Steve DiGiorgio. Manager Eric Greif described the album as "an angry record, angry lyrically", attributing it to his conflict with Chuck Schuldiner at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anders Björler</span> Swedish guitarist

Anders Björler is a Swedish musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist in the metal bands The Haunted and At the Gates, alongside his bass-playing twin brother Jonas Björler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melechesh</span> Black metal band

Melechesh is an ethnically Assyrian black metal band that originated in Jerusalem and is currently based in Amsterdam. Ashmedi started the band as a solo project in 1993. In the following year, guitarist Moloch and drummer Lord Curse were added to the line-up. The band's goal was to create a type of black metal incorporating extensive Middle Eastern influences mainly based on Assyrian (Mesopotamian) and occult themes ; the band invented the title "Mesopotamian metal" or "Sumerian Black Thrashing Metal" to best describe their type of metal. They are sometimes referred to as oriental metal.

<i>Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy</i> 1999 studio album by Evergrey

Solitude, Dominance, Tragedy is the second studio album by Swedish progressive metal band Evergrey. It was released on 17 May 1999 through Gothenburg Noiseworks/Hall of Sermon. It was re-issued and re-released in 2004 via Inside Out Music, and in 2017 via AFM Records. Recording sessions took place at Los Angered Recordings in Gothenburg from February to April 1999. Production was handled by Andy LaRocque and Evergrey themselves. It is the last album to feature original bassist Daniel Nojd and guitarist Dan Bronell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Diamond discography</span>

The discography of King Diamond, a Danish heavy metal band, consists of twelve studio releases, three live albums, five compilations, six singles, and four music videos. King Diamond was formed in 1985, after the dissolution of the group Mercyful Fate, by vocalist King Diamond, guitarists Andy LaRocque and Michael Denner, bassist Timi Hansen, and drummer Mikkey Dee. The following year, the band released their debut album Fatal Portrait on 14 March 1986 which charted at number 33 in Sweden. King Diamond's second studio album, Abigail, was released on 15 June 1987 and reached number 123 in the US, number 39 in Sweden and number 68 in the Netherlands. Following some line-up changes, the group released the album "Them" on 20 June 1988, which peaked at number 38 in Sweden, number 65 in the Netherlands, and at number 89 in the US, making "Them" King Diamond's highest-charting album in North America. The following year, the band released the follow-up album Conspiracy, which charted at number 111 in North America, number 41 in Sweden and at number 64 in the Netherlands. In 1990, after more line-up changes, King Diamond released the album The Eye, which only charted at number 179 in the US, which makes The Eye King Diamond's lowest-charting album in North America.

<i>In Search of Truth</i> 2001 studio album by Evergrey

In Search of Truth is the third studio album and first concept album by Swedish progressive metal band Evergrey. Released on 13 November 2001 through Inside Out Music, it is the first album to feature guitarist Henrik Danhage and bassist Michael Håkansson, as well as the only one to feature keyboardist Sven Karlsson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom S. Englund</span> Musical artist

Tom S. Englund is a Swedish musician best known for being the vocalist and guitarist of Evergrey, of which he is also a founding member, as well as the vocalist of Redemption.

Sandalinas is a Spanish/Swedish progressive metal band founded in 2001 by guitarist Jordi Sandalinas, featuring Rick Altzi on vocals. Apollo Papathanasio, ex-Firewind and Spiritual Beggars sang on the band's debut album called Living on the Edge. Their first album, Living on the Edge, was produced by Andy LaRocque and released in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacramentum (band)</span> Swedish melodic black metal band

Sacramentum is a melodic black metal band from Falköping, Sweden, formed by Nisse Karlén (vocals/guitar) in the summer of 1990 under the name of Tumulus. The band released three full-length studio albums and two demos. They are best known for their debut album Far Away from the Sun, which is often considered one of the best early melodic black metal releases.

<i>Sphynx</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Melechesh

Sphynx is Melechesh's third full-length album. The album presents the band's Mesopotamian/Sumerian metal in a more aggressive and intricate manner. The CD version includes an enhanced multimedia section featuring a trip to the world of Melechesh. There is a guest appearance from Andy LaRocque on the track "Purifier of the Stars".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonas Kjellgren</span> Swedish musician

Jonas Kjellgren is a Swedish musician and producer, now residing in Grangärde. He has been lead vocalist for Carnal Forge and Dellamorte, played guitar for Centinex, and played bass for October Tide. He is most famous for being the former co-founder and guitarist of Scar Symmetry, founded in 2005. As a producer, he has worked with bands such as Sonic Syndicate, Zonaria, Steel Attack, 21Lucifers, Darzamat and The Absence. He owns and operates Black Lounge Studios, which many Swedish metal bands use to record, mix and master their albums, although most of his own production efforts are done at The Abyss, which is owned by Peter Tägtgren. Kjellgren is known for playing seven-string guitars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darzamat</span>

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<i>No Sacrifice, No Victory</i> 2009 studio album by HammerFall

No Sacrifice, No Victory is the seventh studio album by Swedish power metal band HammerFall, released 20 February 2009. It was partly recorded at PAMA Studios, Torsås and partly at Andy La Rocque's Sonic Train Studios in Varberg. This is the first album featuring the band's new lead guitarist Pontus Norgren, the return of bassist Fredrik Larsson who played bass from 1994 to 1997, as well as the first to have the band tuning all of their guitars in all songs to D tuning as opposed to the E-flat tuning seen on most songs from all previous albums.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Catania, Andrew (8 September 2016). "Interview with Andy LaRocque – King Diamond's Main Shredder". All That Shreds. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  2. Lee, Cosmo (13 December 2006). "Death – Individual Thought Patterns". Invisible Oranges . Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  3. Krannila, Ville (12 March 2018). "Andy LaRocque Interview". K.K. Downing's Steel Mill. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Morgan, Anthony (November 2007). ""The Flames of the End"? – Guitarist Anders Björler wishes to pen the final chapter in the glorious history of Swedish legends at the Gates". Lucem Fero. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  5. "Andy LaRocque - All Aboard the Sonic Train". Backstage Auctions. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  6. "Artist: Andy LaRocque". Recording Academy: Grammy Awards. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  7. DiVita, Joe (22 March 2018). "30 Most Underrated Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists". Loudwire. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  8. "11 Most Criminally Underrated Metal Guitarists". Loudwire. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  9. Krannila, Ville (7 May 2008). "Andy LaRocque from King Diamond". K.K. Downing's Steel Mill. Retrieved 9 May 2019.