gear giveaway

Metal Distortion Pedals

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

New Pedal: Universal Audio UAFX 1992 ANTI High Gain Amp

Universal Audio is back with a new member of their UAFX series with the Anti 1992, a stereo pedal that meticulously recreates the iconic sounds of the metal of the '90s, packing a world of distortion into a compact stompbox, whether you're a fan of Scandinavian death metal or Southern…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Universal Audio UAFX 1992 ANTI High Gain Amp

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

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

DOD Chthonic Fuzz

A dark and sludgy take on the early fuzz circuitry, the DOD Chthonic Fuzz is the first release by the pioneering US pedal company since it was acquired by Cortek Guitars from Samson within the sale of DigiTech. In perfect DOD style, it's a pedal that caters to alternative guitarists,…Click on the title for more

DOD Chthonic Fuzz

Master Effects Martyr Distortion V2

Built by a Calgary-based company specializing in guitar and bass pedals for loud rock genres, the Master Effects Martyr is a pedal voiced after the sound of the Marshall Valvestate 8100 from the '90s, a guitar amp that defined the sound of death metal. This is V2 of this circuit,…Click on the title for more

Master Effects Martyr Distortion V2

Tsakalis Nerve MkII

Both thick and dynamic, the Tsakalis Nerve MkII is a dual high-gain, silicon-based distortion pedal for guitarists with a heavy tone, featuring two matched JFET stages that deliver an American-style distortion. A toggle switch selects between High and Low gain settings for Channel 1 for in-song dynamic shifts, while a…Click on the title for more

Tsakalis Nerve MkII

Fortin Natas Distortion

The Fortin Natas Distortion is a pedal version of one the company's now disontinued, but very popular in the mid aughts, Natas guitar amp. Forting describes itself as "the heaviest company in the guitar world," and for good reason: their line of amps and pedals is geared towards heavy guitarists,…Click on the title for more

Fortin Natas Distortion

New Pedal: Idiotbox Heavy Weapon

Those among you interested in heavy distortion pedals should take a look a the Idiotbox Heavy Weapon, a dual distortion/overdrive pedal described by the builder as "probably the HEAVIEST effect of all time." It consists of two existing Idiotbox circuits in one: the bop row of controls is the company's…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Idiotbox Heavy Weapon

Victory V1 The Kraken High Gain Preamp

The Victory V1 Kraken is the third pedal (and the only compact one) in a series of high-gain stompboxes by UK Victory Amplification. Its siblings are a 180w power amp and a bigger preamp "V4" model. Based on the company's VX Kraken amp, which was born out of a collaboration…Click on the title for more

Victory V1 The Kraken High Gain Preamp

New Pedal: Catalinbread Carbide Distortion

The Catalinbread Carbide is the Portland company's take on the "Chainsaw-style Distortion," an effect used and abused by some metal bands who downtune their guitars to add a sense of dread to their tone. Unlike other pedals going for this sound, the Carbide keeps things simple, at least on the…Click on the title for more

New Pedal: Catalinbread Carbide Distortion

Electro-Harmonix Hell Melter

The Electro-Harmonix Hell Melter, as you may have guessed, is not a pedal for the gentle electric guitarist. Catering to the metal crowd (those who use their 6-string to "melt" stuff), this stompbox is a love letter to the "chainsaw" tone made popular by a string of Swedish Death Metal…Click on the title for more

Electro-Harmonix Hell Melter