The KMA Audio Machines WURHM is a limited-edition distortion pedal from the German effects firm KMA Audio Machines, built as a tribute to the made-in-Japan Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal. It is a variant of KMA's WURM distortion, dressed in a black-and-orange enclosure that references the original Boss pedal's color scheme, and it was produced in a run of just 200 units1.
Where the Boss HM-2 had a two-band active EQ, the WURHM carries a four-band active EQ: the highs and lows of the HM-2 plus new high-mid and low-mid controls1. KMA described it in its own words as:
"our WURHM Distortion is our unabashed sonic love letter to this filthy box of doom and gloom, but taking it much further"
Guitar World reported that the WURHM should be able to handle a host of high-gain distortion tones beyond the chainsaw "Swedeath" sound the HM-2 is known for1.
The four-band active EQ
The EQ is the heart of the pedal. The Boss HM-2's active two-band EQ, with its famous scooped-mid "chainsaw" settings, is what defined the Swedish death metal sound of the late 1980s. KMA kept that core and expanded it321:
| EQ band | Origin |
|---|---|
| Highs | Carried over from the HM-21 |
| Lows | Carried over from the HM-21 |
| High Mids | New KMA band1 |
| Low Mids | New KMA band1 |
Delicious Audio described the design as integrating the original's active EQ with two more bands for a total of four EQ controls: Lows, High Mids, Low Mids and Highs2. For a player chasing HM-2 tones, the two mid bands mean the WURHM can push or cut midrange in a way the original pedal never could, which is useful for a more modern high-gain sound or for sitting differently in a mix.
WURM versus WURHM
The WURHM is not a new circuit but a limited edition of the existing KMA Machines WURM distortion. Guitar.com described it at launch as "a new limited-edition of its Wurm distortion pedal, entitled the Wurhm"4. What sets it apart:
- A black-and-orange enclosure referencing the original HM-2's color scheme1
- A limited run: only 200 units created and available in this finish4
- A limited-edition t-shirt with the same design, claimable by every purchaser4
The price at announcement was €219 / £199 (approximately $260) per unit, as reported by Guitar World in November 20201.
The WURHM was a one-time limited edition of 200 units in this finish. Players looking for the same circuit new were later served by KMA's WURM 2 and GUARDIAN of the WURM.
Where it came from
The WURHM was built as a limited edition, with just 200 units produced in this finish1. Its voice is shaped by a four-band active EQ, which includes the highs and lows of the HM-2, plus new high mids and low mids controls1. Those two added bands are what separate its control layout from the two-band EQ players associate with the original circuit.
MusicRadar later confirmed the pedal's release, describing the "KMA Machines WURHM Special Edition HM Distortion" as having arrived late the previous year5.
What came after
The WURHM's run ended with the 200 units produced in this finish1. What carried forward from it was the EQ concept: the four-band active layout, including the highs and lows of the HM-2 plus new high mids and low mids controls, gave later pedals in the line a broader shaping range than the original two-band design1.
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Questions
What is the KMA Audio Machines WURHM based on?
The WURHM is a limited-edition version of KMA Machines' WURM distortion, built around the circuit of the made-in-Japan Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal. It keeps the HM-2's active high and low EQ bands and adds new high-mid and low-mid controls for a four-band active EQ.
How many WURHM pedals are being made?
Only 200 WURHM pedals were created and made available in the black-and-orange finish. It was sold as a limited edition, and every purchaser could also claim a limited-edition t-shirt with the same design.
What is the difference between the WURM and the WURHM?
The WURHM is a limited-edition variant of the standard WURM distortion. The main differences are the black-and-orange enclosure, which references the original Boss HM-2's color scheme, and the included matching t-shirt. The circuit is the same HM-2-based design with the four-band active EQ.
Does the WURHM come with a t-shirt?
Yes. Every purchaser of the WURHM could claim a limited-edition t-shirt with the same design as the pedal's artwork, according to coverage from Guitar World, Guitar.com and MusicRadar at the time of the announcement.
Has the KMA WURHM been released yet?
Yes. The WURHM was announced in November 2020 and MusicRadar later described it as released late that year. It was a limited edition of 200 units, and KMA's follow-up, the GUARDIAN of the WURM, took off where the WURHM left off.
Sources (5)
- Can't wait for the Boss HM-2 reissue? KMA Audio Machines' WURHM could fill the void, Guitar World, 2020-11-26
- KMA Machines WURHM Orange Terror Distortion (WURM Custom Version), Delicious Audio, 2021-01-13
- KMA Machines’ WURM 2 offers chainsaw high-gain tones and beyond | Guitar.com, Guitar.com
- KMA Machines launches the limited-edition Wurhm, bringing a classic colour-scheme to its death metal chainsaw machine, Guitar.com, 2020-11-27
- Terror tamed: KMA Machines unleashes the high gain beast with Guardian Of The Wurm distortion pedal, MusicRadar, 2021-07-15
