The Animal Factory Amplification Ozymandias Dual Overdrive Distortion is a stacked dual overdrive/distortion pedal: two independent overdrive circuits in one enclosure, with identical controls on each side but marked differences in tone and voicing between them1. It sits in the broad territory covered by overdrive pedals and distortion pedals, and its two-channel layout means it can do the work of two separate gain pedals on a board.
The two channels
Each side of the pedal is a complete overdrive with its own character. Pedal of the Day describes them this way:
Both channels carry their own GAIN, TONE and VOLUME controls, so each side can be set up independently1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the pedal "extremely user-friendly, while providing more drive and crunch tones than you'll know what to do with"1.
The FLAIL channel, on the right side with a red LED, is voiced in the midrange, with more drive and compression. Its high-mid voicing is described as cutting through a mix on pretty much any instrument1.
| Channel | Position | LED | Voicing |
|---|---|---|---|
| CROOK | Left | Blue | Full, fat, thick, amp-like, articulate, huge low end1 |
| FLAIL | Right | Red | Midrange, more drive and compression, high-mid cut1 |
Controls and routing
Both channels have GAIN, TONE and VOLUME controls1. Each channel also carries a three-way switch covering hard clipping, labeled GRIND, and soft clipping, labeled GRIT, plus a range setting marked FULL/MID1.
A center square switch selects how the two channels connect:
- Series (light off): the FLAIL channel feeds the CROOK channel, then Output 21
- Parallel (light on): the FLAIL channel goes to Output 1 while the CROOK channel goes to Output 21
Each channel has its own set of input and output jacks. That allows you to split the output from each channel into separate amplifiers, or to process two different instruments independently through the two sides1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal on 23 February 20251. Their verdict on usability:
"it's extremely user-friendly, while providing more drive and crunch tones than you'll know what to do with"
"it's extremely user-friendly, while providing more drive and crunch tones than you'll know what to do with"
Videos
Animal Factory Amplification
Animal Factory Amplification
Animal Factory Amplification
Questions
What is the difference between the CROOK and FLAIL channels?
The CROOK channel, on the left side with a blue LED, has a full, fat, thick sound and an amp-like voicing, and is described as more articulate with a huge low end. The FLAIL channel, on the right side with a red LED, is voiced in the midrange with more drive and compression, and its high-mid voicing is said to cut through a mix on pretty much any instrument.
What do GRIND and GRIT mean on the Ozymandias?
Each channel has a three-way switch covering hard clipping, labeled GRIND, and soft clipping, labeled GRIT, plus a range setting marked FULL/MID. Hard and soft clipping shape the distortion differently, and the range switch changes where the voicing sits.
Can I send each channel to a separate amp?
Yes. Each channel has its own input and output jacks, which allows you to split the output from each channel into separate amplifiers, or to process two different instruments independently through the two channels.
Can the two channels run at the same time?
Yes. A center square switch selects between series mode, with the light off, where the FLAIL channel feeds the CROOK channel and then Output 2, and parallel mode, with the light on, where the FLAIL channel goes to Output 1 and the CROOK channel goes to Output 2 at the same time.
What power supply does the Ozymandias use?
The pedal runs from a regular 9V pedal power supply.
Does the Ozymandias have separate inputs for each channel?
Yes. Each channel of the Ozymandias has its own set of input and output jacks, so the two sides can be used independently or chained together depending on the routing mode.
Sources (1)
- Animal Factory Amplification Ozymandias Dual Overdrive Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2025-02-23