gear giveaway

Distortion Pedals

Most overdrive and distortion pedals are based on pre-existing circuits if not downright clones of stompboxes that have stood the test of time. That can't be said for the JHS Hard Drive, a high gain distortion publicized by the brand as their first attempt "at a full-blown and respectable modern…Click on the title for more

JHS Hard Drive

Empress Heavy Menace Distortion

At first glance, the Empress Heavy Menace seems like a pedal that might win the contest for "most tweakable distortion pedal in a compact case." Also, it looks very cool, notwithstanding its demonic references! An evolution in compact case of the company's popular Heavy pedal, the Heavy Menace could be…Click on the title for more

Empress Heavy Menace Distortion

Decibelics The Reverend XX

Handmade in Spain, the Decibelics The Reverend XX is a dual version of the company's ZZ Top inspired single channel distortion pedal. Its circuit is based off the vintage Bixonic Expandora, a RAT mutation known for being one of the first dirt boxes able to deliver all sorts of saturated…Click on the title for more

Decibelics The Reverend XX

Pedaltrain Nighlight Distortion

Known for their popular pedalboards, Pedaltrain just entered the actual pedal arena by releasing their two debut stompboxes: the Daylight Overdrive and the Nightlight Distortion. Both effects prioritize simplicity and tone, and went through a whole year of testing by renowned Nashville session players with various guitar/amp combinations. That's also…Click on the title for more

Pedaltrain Nighlight Distortion

Fuzzrocious Big Fella Drive/Fuzz/Distortion

Most modern dirt boxes try to provide a wide range of tones, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a device capable of matching the range of the Fuzzrocious Big Fella, a pedal that can deliver overdrive, distortion, gated fuzz, and feedback. With a circuit that runs at 9v or 18v…Click on the title for more

Fuzzrocious Big Fella Drive/Fuzz/Distortion

RAT Pedals and Best RAT Clones in 2024 | A Buyer’s Guide

With its origins dating back to 1978, the RAT is one of those simple yet unique pedals that are at once legendary, widespread, and affordable. There have been many different variations of the circuit from the original builder, Pro Co, but overall, the line has remained fairly true to the…Click on the title for more

RAT Pedals and Best RAT Clones in 2024 | A Buyer’s Guide

WMD Geiger Counter Distortion/Bitcrusher

When I first took a look at the WMD Geiger Counter pedal I thought for sure that the WMD stood for Weapons of Mass Destruction and thought , "OK, these guys are no joke". Come to find that WMD actually stands for William Mathewson Devices and that he is actually...…Click on the title for more

WMD Geiger Counter Distortion/Bitcrusher

Does it Doom? Doomsaw Distortion

The Does it Doom? Doomsaw distortion is a pedal built by a musician running a popular website and YouTube channel dedicated to gear for metal-related genres. It's a variation of the BOSS HM-2 tweaked for a better low-end. It's slightly less aggressive than the original but delivers a better low-end…Click on the title for more

Does it Doom? Doomsaw Distortion

Fairfield Circuitry Roger That RF Distortion

The Fairfield Circuitry Roger That, a distortion inspired by FM radio communication, is another intriguing and imaginative pedal by a Canadian company with an uncanny ability to design original yet rather intuitive effect circuits, outside all trends. Using an "FM modulation and demodulation scheme," the Roger generates tones ranging from…Click on the title for more

Fairfield Circuitry Roger That RF Distortion

Isolate Audio RATATATAT

Hailing from Australia, the Isolate Audio RATATATAT is a modern take on a classic distortion circuit with a similar name but fewer "A"s and "T"s, and some intriguing new features. Besides featuring a Bass and a (low-pass) Cut knob foreign to the classic Rat pedals and vaguely reminiscent of the…Click on the title for more

Isolate Audio RATATATAT

PastFX Mischief Distortion

Australian builder PastFX has gotten us used to tweakable variations of classic pedal circuits, and a RAT-style distortion couldn't be missing from its roster. The PastFX Mixchief fills in that gap through a circuit featuring the original LM308 op-amp found in the vintage RATs, with a series of useful additions.…Click on the title for more

PastFX Mischief Distortion

Updated Pedal: Airis Merciless Drive V2

The Airis Merciless Drive V2 is an updated version of the Canadian company's hybrid and metal-oriented dirt box including a clean boost, a Rat-based ultra high gain distortion, and a boosted HM-2 EQ section, which can be all combined to taste. The EQ section is particularly useful including a Low and…Click on the title for more

Updated Pedal: Airis Merciless Drive V2