Artist and producer Christian Olde Wolbers remains an undeniable presence in both heavy metal and hip hop. Playing guitar and upright bass in metal juggernaut Fear Factory and laying down tracks for hip hop heavyweights like Snoop Dogg and Cypress Hill, Christian’s creativity has no boundaries. With numerous world tours since the early 90’s as well as six gold and three platinum records, Christian’s work speaks for itself. However, he pushes musical boundaries even further as a producer. With his help in the studio, Threat Signal, Mnemic and Bleed the Sky achieved their respective visions on standout albums. With a distinct production style, Christian interacts directly with the bands and brings them to the next level while recording.
During Fear Factory’s hiatus in 2001, Christian delved into the hip hop world. He wrote “Trouble” and “Catastrophe” for Cypress Hill’s Stoned Raiders. After touring with Cypress Hill, Christian dropped bass tracks on “Paper’d Up” and “Bo$$playa” for Snoop Dogg’s Paid tha Cost to Be Da Boss. However, Christian’s first taste of full record production came while working on Fear Factory’s Archetype in 2004. “When Fear Factory re-formed, we did the record on our own. I produced all of the demos and worked closely with Burt on the vocals. We worked well together and made a great album.” A brutal and bludgeoning record, Archetype resurrected the band. During that time Christian was asked to replace Jason Newsted in OZZY Osbourne’s band, but he had to decline due to his commitment to Fear Factory. Plus in 2006, Christian filled in as co-guitarist for KoRn’s See You On the Other Side Tour. Christian was then asked to produce Threat Signal’s Nuclear Blast debut Under Reprisal in 2006. He accepted the gig and crafted one of the tightest and most ferocious debuts of that year.
Christian’s production style truly separates him from other producers. Working with him, bands complete drum tracks at a professional studio in the first few days of recording. Guitars are then cut at the Fear Factory space, leaving ample time to focus on vocals. “From doing all of this hip hop stuff, I’ve learned so much about cutting vocals. I had a really good connection with Jon from Threat Signal because I worked directly with him. I don’t sit behind glass like most producers do. The singer is sitting right next to me looking at ProTools.” Due to this personal interaction, Christian channels honest and powerful performances from vocalists, especially evident on Mnemic’s 2007 Passenger. “My method involves making sure pre-production is really tight. I like for the singer to come in with most of his lyrics written. So I can concentrate on the melodies, hooks and performance rather than what he’s going to sing. I like to vibe with the singer in the studio, because ultimately the singer is what’s going to sell a record.” Unlike most typical producers, Christian has been on stage in front of hundreds of thousands of fans. In addition, his vast songwriting experience helps bands in the creative process as well. “Everybody takes a different approach on producing a song. Most producers are primarily engineers. I can actually write songs with the bands even.”
Also creating beats for the likes of D-12 and Soul Assassins, Christian even bridges the genre gap between his diverse musical endeavors. He comments, “For the hip hop stuff, ever since ’98, I’ve been going by ‘Edgecrusher’ because it was linked to Fear Factory. I wanted to have a connection there. The name also fits my personality because I’ve got a lot of fire, and I’m very driven.” This drive will no doubt lead to even more success. “I never had it in my mind that I was going to be producing metal bands, but it makes sense. I wouldn’t mind leaving a bigger mark on metal than just Fear Factory. I want to be like Rick Rubin, grow a beard to the floor and produce hip hop and metal.” – Rick Florino
Guitar equipment:
6 and 7 string signature series COW models and USA custom shop models, Fender Strats, Fender 7 string acoustic, Gibson SG, Hufschmid 7 string, Ibanez 7 string acoustic, Fender 12 string acoustic,Guild acoustic, Jackson Kelly 7, Jackson RR 7, Jackson RR 6, Jackson Sweet tone 8 string, etc
EMG pick ups 81- 81-7 and 707 models
Fender strings 09-46/52
010-46/54
DR strings "Black Beauties" 09-46/52
Tunamatic bridges and several models with floyd rose and Kahler trems
Randall v2 amp
Randall T2 amp
Marshall 100/100 poweramps
KranK "KranKenstein" amps
Krank"revolution" amp
ISP "Theta" amp
VHT "deliverance" amp
VHT "Pittbull"
Line 6 amps and pods
Krank Revolution cabs4x12 loaded with 75 watt Eminence speakers
Randall XL cabs 4x12 loaded with 100 watt celestions
Marshall mode 4 cabs loaded with 4x12 75 watt celestions 4x12
Marshall 900 lead cabs loaded with 4x12 vintage 30's
Line 6 cab
ISP 300 watt sub woofers
Custom Audio Switching Systems
Kriz Kraft & A&s flight cases
Dunlop 88 mm tortex picks
Korg DTR 2000 and Peterson Strobe and Boss tuners
Berringer Intellegate
ISP Decimator noise suppressors
TonePros bridges
Sperzel tuning systems
Digitech Delay, Hyper Phase, Stereo Flanger, Whammy, Synth Wha and other Digitech pedals. Tube screamer T-9, Various Boss pedals, Ibanez pedals, custom pedalsetc over a few hundered
Boss RE 10 EQ
Bass Equipment:
4 & 5 string Customshop Fender basses, Fender 72 Jazz bass, Fender 70 reissue relic string Jazz bass, Ibanez K5. Washburn acoustic bass, Emannuel Wilfer custom 5 string upright bass, 5 string King double bass, 4 string King double bass,
EMG pickups
Bill Lawrence Pick ups
Fender Pickups
Ampeg SVT 2 & SVT 4 amplifiers
Ampeg 8x10 Cabs,
Fender strings,
Dunlop Triangle 88 mm tortex picks
Ampeg BSP-1 preamps, Sansamp psa-1 preamps,
Line 6 bass pod,Custom Audio Switching Systems,
Studio Gear:
Mac G4 dual
Mac G5 quad
Logic 7 Platnium
Pro Toold 7.1
Native Instuments ( i have every software plug)
Korg Triton Extreme
Evolver Dave Smith Poly Synth
Kawai 5000
Kurzweil K2600
Nord Lead 3 synth
MPC 2000 and MPC 2000 XL
Yamaha NS 10's monitors
Genelec monitors
Event Monitors
RME DSP Multiface
Universal Audio 6176
Vintech Audio 1073 pre's and EQ's
Rosetta Ad Converter
3800 Dat Panisonic
Vestax Digital Turntable
Vestax Mixstick and PMC
05pro Mixers
Pioneer Digital CD Turntables
Technics 1200's
Senheizer 421's microphone
Royer 121 ribbon mic
Sure 57's,58's,52's
AKG C 414
Soundelux E47 Microphone
Yamaha OV1 Digital Mixer
Discography:
Jack Your Dead - Self-titled [1992]
Fear Factory - Demanufacture Roadrunner Records (1995)
Fear Factory - Remanufacture Roadrunner Records(1996)
Fear Factory - Burn ep (1996)
Fear Factory - Obsolete Roadrunner records (1998)
Fear Factory - Cars(1999)
Fear Factory - Digimortal Roadrunner Records (2000)
Fear Factory - Digital Connectivity DVD Roadrunner (2001)
Fear Factory- Linchpin ep (2001)
Fear Factory -Archetype Calvin Records (2004)
Fear Factory- Transgression Liquid 8 Records (2005)
Fear Factory - the best of (2006)
Soulfly - Soulfly RoadRunner Records[1997]
A.N.I.M.A.L - Loco Warner Bros [1997]
Devin Townsend - Infinity [1998]
Swollen Members - Strength Battleaxe Records[1998]
Biohazard - New World Disorder [1999]
Cypress Hill - Skull and Bones Colombia Records[1999]
Greedy fingers - Shady sirens [1999]
De Puta Madre - Technikstonic [1999]
Kurupt - Space boogie [2000]
Cypress Hill - Stoned Raiders Colombia records [2001]
Nonphixion - The future is now [2002]
Snoop Dogg - Pay the cost to be the boss. Doggy Style Records/ Capitol records [2003]
Lil Jay - back to J Calvin Records [2003]
Swollen Members - Heavy [2004]
Everlast - White trash Beautiful [2004]
Front Line Assembly - Civilisation [2004]
And to the following TV shows:
Jay Leno Tonight Show w/ Cypress hill & Roni Size [2002]
Jay Leno Tonight Show w/ Snoop Dogg/Ludacris/Chingey [2003]
Jay Leno Tonight Show w/ Ice Cube and West Side Connection (2004)
