The EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath Enhanced Otherworldly Reverberator is a reverb pedal from the Akron, Ohio maker, first released in 2014 and described by the company as an "otherworldly reverberation machine"12. MusicRadar calls it "the little pedal with the big, cavernous sound," the phrase the maker uses for its 2014 unit1. It sits in EarthQuaker's reverb line alongside pedals like the Afterneath V2, the Transmisser, the Astral Destiny and the newer Ledges and Towers.
A reverb built from many short delays
The Afterneath is not a conventional reverb circuit. Delicious Audio's buying guide describes how "EarthQuaker's otherworldly reverberator creates its digital reverb from many short delays"2, so the pedal approaches reverb as a cluster of quick repeats rather than a simulated room or hall. Guitar World notes that the design combines a reverb and delay algorithm4, and the v3 introduced what gearnews called a "New advanced 'Otherworldly Reverb' algorithm"5.
That origin is unusual too. MusicRadar reports the sound came from what founder and lead designer Jamie Stillman called a "happy accident" discovered while experimenting with the code that would become the Afterneath algorithm1.
Controls
The Enhanced Otherworldly Reverberator carries four main controls, described by EarthQuaker Devices' Corey Jenkins3:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Diffuse | Controls the spread and articulation of the reverb3 |
| Dampen | Controls the tone3 |
| Reflect | Alters the regeneration of the reverb3 |
| Drag | Manipulates the fabric of time, with the maker contrasting Stretch versus Drag3 |
The pedal has nine different modes that drastically change the way the Drag control functions, and each mode has its own way of manipulating the fabric of time3. That makes Drag the control to experiment with once the basic reverb character is set with Diffuse, Dampen and Reflect.
Versions and special editions
The Afterneath has been through several versions, and the v3 is the current platform1. In 2022, EarthQuaker Devices released special editions of the pedal, its top seller according to Guitar.com6: a limited edition colourway of both the Afterneath v3 pedal and the Afterneath Eurorack module, with black print on a raw silver enclosure1. Guitar.com describes the Afterneath V3 Retrospective Pedal as a limited edition reverb pedal from that run6.
Special edition Afterneath pedals, such as the 2022 Retrospective version, were limited runs. The standard v3 and the limited editions differ in enclosure finish, not in the reverb itself: Guitar World reports the "Otherworldly Reverberator" circuit remains the same across these editions4.
What reviewers said
The Afterneath has picked up strong words from players and engineers over the years. MusicRadar notes that it inspired Tool engineer "Evil" Joe Barresi to liken it to "a $1500 piece of outboard gear in a pedal"1. GuitarPlayer's Christopher Scapelliti, reviewing the v3, wrote that Afterneath, EarthQuaker's "otherworldly reverberation machine," has become a favorite ambience tool for guitarists7. MusicRadar's Rob Laing described it as "An inspiring, boldly adventurous" reverb pedal1.
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Questions
Who designed the EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath?
The Afterneath was designed by Jamie Stillman, the founder and lead designer of EarthQuaker Devices. MusicRadar reports that Stillman discovered the pedal's characteristic sound as a happy accident while experimenting with the code that would become the Afterneath algorithm. The pedal was first released in 2014 and has since gone through several versions, including the v3.
What does the Drag control do on the Afterneath?
According to EarthQuaker Devices, the Drag control manipulates what the maker calls the fabric of time, and the maker contrasts two approaches, Stretch versus Drag. On the Enhanced Otherworldly Reverberator, the pedal has nine different modes that drastically change the way the Drag control functions, so what Drag does to the reverb depends on which mode is selected.
How many modes does the Afterneath have?
The EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath Enhanced Otherworldly Reverberator has nine different modes. EarthQuaker Devices says these modes drastically change the way the Drag control functions, with each mode having its own way of manipulating the fabric of time.
Who made the Wizard in a Cave artwork on the Afterneath?
The Wizard in a Cave graphic on the Afterneath was made by artist Matt Horak, according to MusicRadar, which notes that the graphic adorns the pedal.
How was the Afterneath algorithm discovered?
MusicRadar reports that the Afterneath came from a happy accident. EQD founder and lead designer Jamie Stillman discovered the sound while experimenting with code that would become the Afterneath algorithm. The result is a digital reverb built from many short delays rather than a conventional reverb design.
Sources (7)
- “It's like a $1500 piece of outboard gear in a pedal”, MusicRadar, 2022-03-16
- The Best Ambient-Shoegaze Reverb Pedals In 2024, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-15
- The Tale of Tails: Defining the Towers Stereo Reverberant Filter, EarthQuaker Devices, 2026-04-20
- EarthQuaker Devices celebrates the success of its Afterneath V3 reverb with special-edition pedal and feature-length documentary, Guitar World, 2022-03-16
- The new Afterneath V3 from Earthquaker Devices features 9 new Modes, gearnews.com, 2020-01-20
- EarthQuaker Devices release limited edition versions of the Afterneath Otherworldly Reverberator, Guitar.com, 2022-03-16
- EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath V3 Review, GuitarPlayer.com, 2020-05-19
