The Total Distortion Worship MkII is a distortion pedal built for extreme metal, made by Lichtlaerm Audio in Berlin, Germany in collaboration with Cult FX. Lichtlaerm describes it as the result of "an obsessive tone chasing journey in search of the ultimate Extreme Metal distortion," forging "a nasty, yet versatile distortion with a highly distinctive character," whether you are playing crushing doom or other extreme metal styles. The maker's tagline for it: "It's more extreme because more is more!"1
The MkII is the production version of a pedal that began as a limited run. After the original Total Distortion Worship sold out in no time, Lichtlaerm worked up the MkII, adding more gain, expanding the low-end range, and replacing the original boost with a simplified version of the overdrive from its King in Yellow.1
Controls
The TDW gives a player three main areas of shaping: a Cut knob, a Focus knob, and an active 5-band EQ1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cut | Gives full control over the structure and tightness of the distortion1 |
| Focus | Part of the overdrive; gives full access to the most important frequency range of your tone, the mid range1 |
| 5-band fader EQ | Active EQ with a +/- 12 dB range per band for extensive tone shaping1 |
The EQ is placed after the distortion circuit, so it shapes the distorted signal rather than feeding into it. That placement matters in practice: cuts and boosts act on the finished distortion, which is a common approach for tightening a heavy tone without changing how the distortion itself behaves.1
MkII versus the original
| Total Distortion Worship | Total Distortion Worship MkII | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Limited run, sold out quickly1 | Production version1 |
| Gain | As originally built | More gain added1 |
| Low end | As originally built | Expanded low-end range1 |
| Boost/overdrive | Boost | Boost replaced with a simplified version of the King in Yellow overdrive, with a Focus knob for the mid range1 |
Colors and price
Lichtlaerm offers the MkII in two distinct color schemes: Red//Silver and the classic Lichtlaerm black and gold, listed as Black//Gold.1 The maker lists the pedal at €289.00 EUR on its product page as of 26 October 2026.1
The listed price is given in euros by the maker. No US dollar price appears on the maker's product page.
Where it sits in Lichtlaerm's range
Lichtlaerm Audio builds a family of compact high gain pedals alongside the TDW, each aimed at heavy styles from a different angle: the Lichtlaerm Audio Gehenna distortion and preamp, the Lichtlaerm Audio Medusa take on the Boss HM-2 style of death metal distortion, the Lichtlaerm Audio Altar high gain fuzz, and the Lichtlaerm Audio Thorn high gain distortion. The company also makes the Lichtlaerm Audio .Ritual., an extended range Rat style distortion. Players comparing extreme metal distortion pedals across that lineup will find the TDW is the one built around a completely unique distortion circuit with a post-distortion fader EQ.1
Videos
Metalhead Productions
The other John Browne
Max Power's Tasty Tones
Questions
How much does the Lichtlaerm Audio Total Distortion Worship MkII cost?
Lichtlaerm Audio lists the Total Distortion Worship MkII at €289.00 on its product page as of 26 October 2026. That is the maker's own listed price in euros; the page does not give a US dollar figure.
Where is the Total Distortion Worship MkII made?
Lichtlaerm Audio says the TDW is made to extremely high quality standards by the company in Berlin, Germany.
What is different between the Total Distortion Worship and the MkII?
The original Total Distortion Worship was a limited run that sold out quickly. Lichtlaerm then developed the MkII as the production version, adding more gain, expanding the low-end range, and replacing the boost with a simplified version of the overdrive from its King in Yellow, along with a Focus knob for the mid range.
Who made the Total Distortion Worship MkII with Lichtlaerm Audio?
The Total Distortion Worship is a collaboration between Cult FX and Lichtlaerm Audio.
What colors does the Total Distortion Worship MkII come in?
Lichtlaerm offers the MkII in two color schemes: Red//Silver and Black//Gold, the latter described as the classic Lichtlaerm black and gold.
Where is the EQ placed in the signal chain?
The active 5-band fader EQ, with a +/- 12 dB range per band, is placed after the distortion circuit in the signal path.
Sources (1)
- The perfect distortion for all kinds of harsh music, Lichtlaerm Audio
