KHDK Paranormal

The KHDK Paranormal is a parametric EQ overdrive pedal, a limited-edition signature collaboration between KHDK and Gary Holt, guitarist of Exodus and Slayer¹. Where a typical overdrive shapes mids at one fixed spot, the Paranormal combines an overdrive circuit with a parametric EQ, so the player picks the midrange frequency, sets how wide the band is, and then cuts or boosts it¹. KHDK describes it as working like a full studio parametric EQ, letting a player control the amp's EQ down to minute detail².

The pedal was announced in March 2019 as a limited run of 250 units, offered for pre-order at $249.99³. It is now sold out².

A parametric EQ overdrive

Most overdrive pedals have a tone control that tilts the whole spectrum brighter or darker. The Paranormal instead puts a parametric mid band in front of the player: a frequency control to choose where the EQ acts, a bandwidth control to choose how narrow or wide that band is, and a level control to cut or boost it. KHDK's product page pitches it at players who are never happy with their amp's EQ section, promising "incredible definition" from being able to tune the midrange precisely².

Guitar.com reported that the pedal was aiming to capture the ferocious tones of the Exodus and Slayer guitarist, and MusicRadar described it as designed as an always-on EQ for use on Slayer's final tour, rather than as an effect switched in and out¹⁵. Gearnews reported that the Paranormal did see use on that final tour⁶.

Guitar World quoted KHDK's description of the result as "distinct, thick, precise with absolute clarity in the mix"³.

The controls

The control set splits between knobs and sliders, with one trimmer inside the enclosure¹³.

The 30Hz to 8000Hz sweep on the Freq knob is unusually wide for a pedal: it reaches down below where most guitar content sits and up past the point where a speaker's presence region begins, so the boosted or cut band can be placed almost anywhere in the guitar's range¹.

The internal trimmer is the hidden gain structure control. Set one way it pushes the overdrive section harder for more gain and compression; set the other way it backs off for a cleaner output with more headroom¹.

Gary Holt's signature edition

The Paranormal was KHDK's first ever limited edition signature collaboration⁷. It was designed in cooperation with Gary Holt⁶, and the enclosure art carried a distinctive detail: upside-down cross LEDs that light up in the cat's eyes on the artwork⁷. Guitar World called the pedal a staple of the Slayer and Exodus guitarist's live rigs at the time of the announcement³.

MusicRadar quoted Holt on what the pedal gave him:

The Paranormal was a limited-edition Gary Holt signature pedal, the brand's first ever limited edition signature collaboration, with upside-down cross LEDs that light up in the cat's eyes on the enclosure art⁷. It has since sold out¹. Like the first Paranormal, the Paranormal II was created with Gary Holt, described by KHDK as "the high priest of thrash metal"⁴.

The Paranormal II

The original Paranormal sold out, and KHDK followed it with the Paranormal II, again created with Gary Holt⁴. The sequel keeps the parametric EQ overdrive concept but changes the gain structure: KHDK says the circuit is "supercharged with even more gain and an added gain control," which the original did not have as a front-panel control⁴.

The Paranormal II was a larger run, 333 pieces, built in the EU, guitar-tested, hand-numbered, and shipped with a certificate signed by Gary Holt⁴. KHDK listed it as sold out, on pre-order, shipping in September⁴.

Holt's own words on the sequel appear on KHDK's product page:

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