The Lichtlaerm Audio Thorn is a compact high-gain distortion pedal and a signature model for Lennart Bossu, the guitarist of Amenra, Living Gate, Oathbreaker and Predatory Void. Lichtlaerm Audio describes it as a reverse-engineered recreation of Bossu's own Providence Stampede SDT-1, reimagaged for the modern stage in a smaller box1. It joined the maker's compact high gain lineup alongside the Altar, Gehenna and Medusa2.
The pedal carries three modes, an EQ section with a 1 kHz mid control, an additive boost on its own footswitch, and Lichtlaerm Audio Smart Relay technology12.
What it does
The Thorn is aimed squarely at heavy, high-gain playing. Lichtlaerm Audio positions it as Bossu's signature distortion, built from the circuit of the Stampede SDT-1 he actually used, and adds an SDT-2 mode for the more compressed, saturated tones the maker says he leans on in Living Gate1. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer, Stefan Karlsson, called it "a really easy pedal to dial in - yielding instant satisfaction"2.
The Thorn's first batch sold out very quickly, and a second batch has been more widely available, including at Joe's Pedals in the UK at £199 and from Lichtlaerm in the EU at €2292.
The controls and three modes
The control set covers gain shaping, a three-band EQ, a mode selector and two footswitches2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the main gain level2 |
| Boost | Sets the amount of the additive boost2 |
| Level | Sets the output level2 |
| Treble | Treble EQ control2 |
| Mids | Mid EQ control; Lichtlaerm describes it as a 1 kHz control for surgical presence-shaping12 |
| Bass | Bass EQ control2 |
| EQ switch | Off / On2 |
| MODE switch | SDT-2 / Laerm / SDT-12 |
| Boost footswitch | Engages the boost2 |
| Bypass footswitch | Bypasses the pedal2 |
The three modes give distinct flavors of the same circuit12:
- SDT-1: the stock core sound of the original Stampede2
- SDT-2: more compressed and saturated, with some volume drop2
- laerm: a proprietary Lichtlaerm mode the maker describes as "more open, louder, and more direct than any Stampede ever was"1
The Boost is additive rather than independent: it stacks onto the main gain rather than acting as a separate circuit, and Karlsson found it tightens up the delivery and adds more sustain2. He also stated a clear preference among the options: "I much prefer the EQ On! And I much prefer the SDT-1 and Laerm Modes over the SDT-2."2
History: from the Providence Stampede SDT-1
The Thorn's circuit traces directly to Bossu's own pedal. Karlsson notes that Bossu "used to deploy the fairly large format Providence Stampede SDT-1 pedal - where Daniel of Lichtlaerm Audio has expanded" the circuit and shrunk it into the compact Thorn format2. Lichtlaerm Audio's own account matches: "we set out to reverse-engineer Lennart's exact unit and reimagine it for the modern stage"1.
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X reviewed the Thorn in December 2025 and again in its year-end distortion roundup. The verdicts:
- "The Thorn is another fantastic High Gain variant - highly recommended!"2
- "A really potent High Gain Pedal - different to the Altar, Gehenna, and Medusa - which I already have and love."3
Within the Lichtlaerm range, Karlsson placed the Thorn closest to the Gehenna, "but there are still distinct differences between them"2. His year-end note reinforces that: the Thorn stands apart in overall sound from the Altar, Gehenna and Medusa he already owns3.
Videos
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CHURCHOFRA C-O-R
Dirty Demos
Questions
Is the Lichtlaerm Thorn based on the Providence Stampede?
Yes. Lichtlaerm Audio says it reverse-engineered Lennart Bossu's exact Providence Stampede SDT-1 unit and reimagined it for the modern stage. The original was a fairly large format pedal, and Daniel of Lichtlaerm Audio expanded and shrunk the circuit into the compact Thorn format.
How does the Boost footswitch on the Thorn work?
The Boost is additive rather than independent: it stacks on top of the main gain setting rather than acting as a separate boost circuit. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer found it tightens up the delivery and adds more sustain, though he felt the distortion was potent enough that he did not need the Boost at all.
How does the Thorn compare with the Lichtlaerm Gehenna?
Guitar Pedal X's reviewer called the Thorn the closest of Lichtlaerm's compact high gain pedals to the Gehenna, but with distinct differences between them. In his year-end roundup he described the Thorn as a really potent high gain pedal with a different overall sound from the Altar, Gehenna and Medusa.
Who uses the Lichtlaerm Audio Thorn?
The Thorn is a signature pedal for Lennart Bossu, guitarist with Amenra, Living Gate, Oathbreaker and Predatory Void. It is built around the Providence Stampede SDT-1 he used with those bands, and its SDT-2 mode targets the more compressed, saturated tones he leans on in Living Gate.
Sources (3)
- Lennart Bossu // Amenra Signature Pedal, LICHTLÆRM AUDIO
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-12-01
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-12-05
