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10 Awesome Guitar Pedals for Metal
Driven by a distorted electric guitar’s aggressive sounds, heavy metal is arguably the most commercially successful rock music genre. Metal seems like a simple style, but achieving a truly beautiful-sounding metal guitar tone takes some tweaking, a bit of thought, and ultimately, the appropriate gear. Capturing an excellent distorted sound is a very essential component of a metal tone. When it comes to metal distortion stompboxes, there is a significant division among guitar players. Several of them swear by distortion pedals with a clean guitar amp, while others believe that a decent metal tone can be created only by an amp and distortion pedals will just ruin the tone. Aside from distortion, some other stompboxes can also prove necessary to a metal guitarist’s pedalboard. Some of these units can help make a distorted tone sound even gnarlier. Of course, the perfect choice still depends on the player’s tone preferences. Metal distortion pedals vow to turn any amp into a high-gain beast. They are capable of tightening, sculpting, and thickening a metal tone. This article provides some suggestions for the best metal guitar pedals in the market.
Boss MT-2W Waza Metal Zone
Iconic for its copious amounts of gain and versatile three-band EQ, Boss’ MT-2 Metal Zone distortion stompbox has found its way onto numerous pedalboards during the past decades. It has long been regarded as one of the most influential and popular compact pedals in the Boss lineup, with total sales that are second only to the revered DS-1 Distortion. Infused with Waza Craft mojo and built in Japan, the MT-2W Waza Metal Zone takes the legendary stomp to new levels of versatility and tonal range. Standard mode provides a more advanced version of the classic mid-focused Metal Zone tone, while Custom mode presents a new, broad-ranging voice suitable for modern diverse high-gain styles. Similar to other Waza Craft pedals, the MT-2W Waza Metal Zone infuses an original Boss analog design with innovative refinements for better performance and versatility. It elevates the well-loved high-gain tone of the original with two different modes of operation and top-shelf pure analog circuitry. Users will benefit from intense sound customization courtesy of a powerful three-band EQ. The two-stage gain circuit sports a discrete design with meticulously picked components, dishing out stunning tones with better clarity. The EQ was also refined, with a smoother midrange tone and distinct Q values specifically tuned for the stompbox’s Custom and Standard modes. Other features include a premium buffer for a clear and clean tone when bypassed.
MXR Fullbore Metal
Don’t get deceived by its tiny footprint, the MXR Fullbore Metal allows players to capture massive metal tones. Plugging into this super high-gain distortion pedal lets guitarists experience the full force of what their instrument can do for them. Complete with all the necessary tools for mammoth high-gain riffs and solos, the pedal incorporates a three-band EQ with sweepable midrange, a Scoop switch that boosts highs and lows for big metal tone, and a highly effective switchable and customizable noise gate. All that functionality is loaded into a tough and ultra-compact enclosure, making the Fullbore Metal stompbox a perfect fit for any pedalboard. “Ultimate riff power is yours with the Fullbore Metal Distortion pedal from MXR. This compact but powerful device is all you need to unleash the most devastating contemporary metal guitar tones ever heard. The Fullbore Metal Distortion turbo-charges your guitar signal with lethal amounts of ultra high gain. This is combined with a built-in Noise Gate to knock out the noise associated with extreme gain levels while also adding definition and tightness to syncopated metal riffs,” MXR promises.
Wampler Dracarys Distortion
While many distortion stompboxes cause down-tuned riffs to sound flabby or make tone sludgy and thick when the gain is cranked up, the Dracarys high gain distortion pedal from Wampler serves up modern high-gain tones with clarity, depth, and aggression. “Modern Metal has moved on so much in the last 20 years we HAD to make a pedal that reflected it. It’s not about the gain, well… not completely, it’s about the voicing, the depth, the aggression and most importantly, the power. The Dracarys melts faces, but only on your command,” Wampler detailed. Boasting a trademark Wampler three-band active EQ and two clipping styles, the Dracarys lets users breathe any kind of fire through their rig. Per Wampler, “The complexity of the gain in the Dracarys is what makes it so powerful, it’s not a thick blanket like other pedals, it’s not a fuzz style, it’s the clearest, heaviest and most crushing gain you’ll ever hear… it’s almost enough gain to grant you Swedish residency.” Made in the USA, the Dracarys features a durable soft-touch footswitch and high-grand components picked for their superb response and sound. Top-mounted jacks allow for easy pedalboard placement.
Lone Wolf Audio Left Hand Wrath
The Left Hand Wrath by Lone Wolf Audio is a blue ribbon choice for chainsaw death metal, created by the sole company that cares about death metal. This revamped and modernized variant of the best-modded HM2 incorporates a clean blend available as a standard option, making the legendary HM2 even better. Configured for the ultimate in chainsaw ripping frenzy, users obtain full tonal command over their sound. Lone Wolf Audio decoupled the midrange from the high control. The Left Hand Wrath also sports a three-position clipping toggle featuring classic Japanese diodes utilized in the MIJ HM2, a hybrid pair of vintage germanium diodes for an aggressive yet softer tone, and zero clipping. Like other Lone Wolf Audio pedals, the Left Hand Wrath is incompatible with one spot and other budget brand power equipment. It necessitates a separate, regulated 9v power supply.
Friedman BE-OD
The BE-OD overdrive stompbox from Friedman is capable of capturing the tone of the iconic BE-100 amp, which has graced the stages of world-class musicians across the globe. It dishes out authentic tube-amp sound from a compact chassis sporting the necessary controls for sculpting the tone, including gain, volume, bass, presence, treble, and tight. These responsive dials will take the user from light, quite broken up overdrives to unadulterated gain nirvana. Made in the USA and tailored to endure many years of abuse, the BE-OD is an invaluable tool for any tone fanatic. The BE-OD features true bypass switching, so it will not affect the tone when disengaged. This wide-ranging, British-flavored overdrive pedal is perfect for adding aggression to any guitar amp. Users can push the BE-OD well into the high gain territory. It is the perfect choice for those who fancy the BE100 guitar amp’s sonic flexibility in a portable pedal.
Fender Pugilist Distortion
Flexible and fiery-sounding, the Pugilist Distortion by Fender is here to give some heavyweight gain to any rig. It incorporates two gain engines, each with separate tone controls, allowing users to pick several variations of distortion, guaranteeing this stompbox will work beautifully with any rig. The Pugilist Distortion carries a Bass Boost switch that fattens up the tone, while the Series/Blend switch allows users to stack channels for beefy, cascading distortion. The Blend knob combines the two channels to enjoy the best of both worlds, yielding a sound uniquely for the user. Beyond the Pugilist Distortion’s broad-ranging distortion and overdrive, every aspect of this pedal is designed for live performers. It sports LED-backlit knobs to show the users their settings at a glance, even on dim locations. Battery changes are quick and convenient, props to its revolutionary battery compartment design. With all that loaded into a sturdy, anodized aluminum chassis, the Pugilist Distortion stompbox is surely capable of withstanding frequent use and abuse.
Bogner Ecstasy Red
Reinhold Bogner is behind several of the most legendary rock amps in recent history. The list of artists who employ Bogner amps looks like rock ‘n’ roll’s who’s who. Now, the Bogner Ecstasy Red enables users to nail that huge Bogner amp sound in a stompbox. Designed after the Ecstasy amp’s Red channel, this stompbox serves up all the heavy distortion the user desires. They may sculpt and carve out the tones they want with four tone-sculpting switches that go beyond the usual EQ. The Ecstasy Red was created leveraging discrete Class-A circuits like an amp. The pedal has no clipping diodes or op-amps, similar to the Ecstasy amp’s circuitry. This innovative approach offers amp-esque touch sensitivity, clarity, and note separation. The Ecstasy Red is like having three amps in a single pedal. It carries a Structure switch that allows users to select from various EQs and gain structures of different Ecstasy amps. It also consists of a Pre-EQ switch that adjusts the presence and openness of higher range harmonics, a Variac switch that gives a dropped voltage dynamic compression to the sound and feel, as well as a Mode switch that selects between mellow, tight, and full EQ curves. The Ecstasy Red boasts a vibe, tone, and response that is pure Bogner goodness.
Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff
Aimed directly at metal-loving guitarists, the Metal Muff with Top Boost pedal by Electro-Harmonix is arguably the most exquisite stompbox for heavy metal available. It is controllable using the Dist, Bass, Mid, Treble, Top Boost, and Vol knobs as well as independent Boost and Bypass footswitches. As Electro-Harmonix puts into words, the Metal Muff with Top Boost is the “ultimate metal distortion pedal,” adding that “three powerful EQ bands sculpt the mids and 6 controls shape the sound precisely for your groove from slithering mercury to lead belly blast furnace dross. Its unique Top Boost adds serious bite with its own control knob and footswitch so you can kick it on for searing leads.”
TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion
Far from any one-trick pony, this phenomenal distortion unit boasts an incredible dynamic range, providing a highly musical distortion covering an extensive sound spectrum. The vintage-voiced distortion from analog circuits dishes out a full sound with a lively response, which can be immediately adjusted to a tremendous range of tones. The Dark Matter Distortion features dual-band EQ with active bass and treble dials for sound-sculpting. A voicing switch lets users change between extra bass for a more contemporary sound or injecting their tone with retro vibes. The Dark Matter Distortion sports a convenient, one-screw battery compartment access and a four-knob interface for comprehensive tonal tweaking while staying highly intuitive so users can concentrate on their playing. It also includes true bypass, which enables superb clarity and no high-end loss when the stompbox is off. Designed and engineered in Denmark, the Dark Matter Distortion comes in a compact format that easily fits on any pedalboard. According to TC Electronic, the Dark Matter Distortion “is the kind of pedal that you wanna go play for half an hour and end up spending half a day with. It’s musical, covers a super-wide range of sounds but stays true to its base, an all analog-drive circuit that reminisces plexi sounds with both a classic and modern edge. Dark Matter delivers in spades thanks to a very low compression and a lively response that reacts to your playing at every turn.”
**Behringer Ultra Metal UM300 **
Chasing extreme metal tone? Check out the Ultra Metal UM300 distortion stompbox from Behringer. Aside from providing an extra-dense tube-esque distortion, the Ultra Metal UM300 delivers loads of tone-sculpting power to play with. It is capable of dishing out “the most extreme, sought-after hard rock and heavy metal sounds, with super-thick, tube-like distortion – plus virtually endless sustain.” Like many distortion units, the Ultra Metal UM300 carries Level and Distortion knobs, and the Low and High controls allow for setting the amount of top-end and bottom at will, but the resemblance to other boxes ends right there. Similar to its world-class mixing consoles, Behringer incorporated a Mid Frequency control, so users can pick a midrange frequency from 200 Hz to 5 kHz and cut or boost it by as much as 15 dB. A bright status LED indicates when the pedal is active, while a high-quality on/off switch preserves ultimate signal integrity in bypass mode. The Ultra Metal UM300 is an over-the-top, no-holds-barred distortion stompbox that operates on a regular 9V battery or optional power supply for convenient pedalboard integration.
