The KHDK Ascendancy is a signature overdrive pedal developed with Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu of Trivium, built to cover both guitarists' tones in one enclosure. KHDK describes it on its product page as a "Dual Pedal for Matthew and Corey of Trivium"1. It was released in 2021 as a limited run and, per the maker's page, the original run is long sold out2.
What it is and what it does
The Ascendancy is a clean/boost-style overdrive, as MusicRadar described it in a later piece on KHDK's signature range4. Its brief is unusual: rather than voicing a single player's sound, it was designed to cover the tones of both of Trivium's guitarists. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley, writing with Matt Heafy, put it this way: "Given that it is covering both Beaulieu and Heafy's tones, the Ascendancy is eminently tweakable."3
That tweakability shows up in the control layout. Alongside the usual Drive, Volume and Tone controls, the pedal carries a trio of switches for making quick global changes to its tone3.
Heafy's verdict on the pedal, quoted by MusicRadar: "This OD smashes all the legendary ODs across the board"3.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive3 |
| Volume | Sets the output level3 |
| Tone | Shapes the pedal's tone3 |
| Three switches | Make quick global changes to the pedal's tone3 |
Design and artwork
The circuit was built by KHDK's Antonin Salva, the designer behind several of the company's artist pedals3. The enclosure is decorated with artwork by Dan Kurz, who references cyberpunk and Japanese masks in the design3.
Release, price and availability
The Ascendancy takes its name from Trivium's second album, Ascendancy, according to MusicRadar, which described KHDK as naming the pedal after "the Florida metal stalwarts' second album"3. Gearnews later covered the pedal as the previous year's release when reporting on KHDK's follow-up with Trivium2.
The original run is sold out. KHDK's product page has offered a last-chance B-stock run: 20 pieces, signed by Matthew and Corey, numbered #1 to #20, each including a signed certificate1. KHDK lists the B-stock price at $229.991.
The price has moved between reports: KHDK's current product page lists $229.99 USD1, while MusicRadar's 2021 launch coverage gave $2493.
Where it sits in KHDK's range
The Ascendancy is a signature pedal built by KHDK with Trivium, and it sits alongside other KHDK signature overdrives covered on Tonebox, including the KHDK Gojira Drive, the KHDK LCFR: Various colors and the KHDK Infernal Drive by Michael Amott. Gearnews covered the Ascendancy as part of KHDK's ongoing work with Trivium when reporting on the follow-up In Waves clean boost2. For the wider category, see the Overdrive Pedals page.
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Questions
How much does the KHDK Ascendancy cost?
KHDK Electronics lists the Ascendancy at $229.99 USD on its product page as of October 2026, which covers the recent B-stock run. When the pedal first went on sale on 4 June 2021, MusicRadar reported a price of $249 for the limited 333-unit run.
Where can you buy the KHDK Ascendancy?
The pedal was available direct from KHDK Electronics when it launched in June 2021. The original run of 333 units is long sold out, and KHDK's product page has offered a last-chance B-stock run of 20 pieces, signed and numbered by Matthew and Corey, each with a signed certificate.
Who designed the KHDK Ascendancy circuit?
The circuit was built by KHDK's Antonin Salva, according to MusicRadar's 2021 report on the pedal's launch. The pedal was developed with Trivium's Matt Heafy and Corey Beaulieu.
Why is the KHDK Ascendancy named Ascendancy?
The pedal takes its name from Trivium's second album, Ascendancy, according to MusicRadar. The band, from Florida, released that album as their breakthrough record, and the pedal was designed as a signature unit for the band's two guitarists.
Whose tones does the KHDK Ascendancy cover?
The pedal was designed to cover the tones of both of Trivium's guitarists, Corey Beaulieu and Matt Heafy. MusicRadar noted that because it covers both players' tones, the Ascendancy is eminently tweakable, with Drive, Volume and Tone controls plus a trio of switches for quick global tone changes.
Sources (4)
- Ascendancy guitar pedal by KHDK with Trivium, KHDK Electronics (www.khdkelectronics.com)
- KHDK and Trivium collaborate on new In Waves clean boost pedal, gearnews.com, 2022-03-11
- KHDK unveils the Ascendancy, MusicRadar, 2021-06-04
- “This thing shall destroy all!” promises Gary Holt as KHDK Electronics launches the thrash legend's Mad Monarch signature preamp/drive pedal, MusicRadar, 2023-09-15
