The Screen Violence is a stereo pedal made by Old Blood Noise Endeavors in collaboration with the Glasgow synth-pop band CHVRCHES, designed to capture effects from their acclaimed 2022 album of the same name1. It is a pedal of two halves: a tube-inspired overdrive called Violence, and a one-knob effect called Screen that can be modulation, delay, reverb, or a mix of all three1. Guitar.com described it as a "stereo saturated modulated reverb" inspired by the album of the same name2.
The project grew out of a real working relationship. Both Iain Cook and Martin Doherty of CHVRCHES used many Old Blood Noise pedals during the making of the Screen Violence album, and the pedal was designed together as a shortcut to the dark, cinematic synth and guitar tones of that record3. MusicRadar called it a versatile multi-fx pedal aimed at those sounds4. It is made in the USA2 and is suitable for both guitar and synths, and can run in stereo as a studio tool5.
The Screen Violence is listed as sold out on the Old Blood Noise Endeavors product page as of October 20261. It launched at $279 in 2022, sold through the OBNE website and at CHVRCHES gigs2.
The two halves: Screen and Violence
The Violence side is a tube-inspired overdrive with three controls: Gain, Voice, and Volume, plus a Violence knob that sets the input volume for the overdrive section13. Old Blood Noise describes this side as delivering tones from gritty boosts through heavy overdrive1. MusicRadar characterized the Violence half as tackling stackable fuzzy, distortion and drive tones4.
The Screen side is a one-knob effect. At different settings it produces delay, reverb, modulation, or a blend of all of them13. MusicRadar summarized Screen as incorporating chorus, reverb and delay4.
| Control | Side | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | Screen | One-knob effect: modulation, delay, reverb, or a mix of all1 |
| Mode toggle | Screen | Two different voices on the Screen side1 |
| Violence | Violence | Input volume for the overdrive section13 |
| Gain | Violence | Sets drive amount, gritty boosts through heavy overdrive1 |
| Voice | Violence | Shapes the overdrive character1 |
| Volume | Violence | Output level of the Violence side1 |
| First toggle | Both | Sets whether Screen runs into Violence, or Violence into Screen1 |
The Mode toggle gives two different voices on the Screen side1. In Guitar.com's review, Jason Mays found that with the switch down you move between three different reverb types, short, medium and long, while the up position feeds multiple delay stages into a chorus2. Delicious Audio likewise describes Mode 1, the up position, as not supporting stereo in and feeding multiple delay stages into a chorus3.
The first toggle is the routing control: it sets whether Screen runs into Violence or Violence runs into Screen, so the overdrive can push the ambience or the ambience can be driven into saturation1.
Stereo operation and Stacked Violence Mode
The pedal runs mono, stereo, or mono-to-stereo through its top-mounted jacks1. In mono-to-mono or mono-to-stereo operation it automatically activates Stacked Violence Mode, where the left and right distortion circuits are stacked on top of each other, so a mono input still gets the benefit of both drive paths3.
Because it handles synths as well as guitar, gearnews.com noted it can also run in stereo as a studio tool5.
Expression control and switching
An expression jack allows external control of the Screen knob, so the one-knob effect can be swept in real time13. Each section has its own soft-touch bypass footswitch, with true bypass and minimal switch noise, and relay bypass for each section13.
Power
The Screen Violence requires a 9V DC center negative power supply with a 2.1mm jack, capable of 110mA, and the supply is not included1. There is no battery option; Guitar.com's review notes it is powered by a nine-volt mains supply only2. Delicious Audio lists the requirement as at least 100mA of 9V DC center negative power3, while the maker's own page specifies 110mA1.
With a 110mA draw and no battery, the Screen Violence needs a dedicated spot on a powered pedalboard rather than a daisy chain shared with low-current analog pedals.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com reviewed the pedal at launch and awarded it 9 out of 106. Reviewer Jason Mays wrote:
"Together, they've designed a pedal with modulated reverb on one side and a whole lot of gain on the other."2
MusicRadar named it among the best new stompboxes of 2022, calling it a versatile multi-fx pedal that provides a shortcut to the dark, cinematic synth and guitar tones of the CHVRCHES album4.
Availability
The Screen Violence launched in 2022 at $279, available from the Old Blood Noise Endeavors website and at CHVRCHES gigs2. The first 200 pedals purchased included a signed card of authenticity3. As of October 2026 the maker's product page lists it as sold out1.
Players looking for other Old Blood Noise reverb options can compare the Dark Star, the Dark Star Stereo, the Procession, or the Sunlight Dynamic Reverb, or browse reverb pedals more broadly.
Videos
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
Emily Hopkins
Questions
What power does the Old Blood Noise Screen Violence need?
It requires a 9V DC center negative power supply with a 2.1mm jack, capable of at least 110mA. The supply is not included, and there is no battery option, so it runs on mains power only. Any standard pedalboard power supply meeting those specs will work.
Does the Screen Violence work in stereo?
Yes. It offers mono, stereo, and mono-to-stereo operation through its top-mounted jacks. In mono-to-mono or mono-to-stereo operation it automatically activates Stacked Violence Mode, where the left and right distortion circuits are stacked on top of each other.
Can you use an expression pedal with the Screen Violence?
Yes. It has an expression jack for external control of the Screen knob, so you can sweep the one-knob effect, which covers modulation, delay, reverb, or a mix of all three, in real time with an expression pedal.
Where was the Screen Violence sold?
It was sold for $279 through the Old Blood Noise Endeavors website, and was also available at CHVRCHES gigs when it launched in 2022. The first 200 pedals purchased included a signed card of authenticity.
Is the Screen Violence still available?
No. The Old Blood Noise Endeavors product page lists it as sold out as of October 2026. It was a collaboration with CHVRCHES, so availability was tied to that run rather than a standing catalog item.
What does the Mode toggle do on the Screen Violence?
The Mode toggle selects between two different voices on the Screen side. According to Guitar.com's review, with the switch down you move between three different reverb types, short, medium and long, while the up position feeds multiple delay stages into a chorus.
Sources (6)
- Old Blood Noise Endeavors, Old Blood Noise Endeavors
- Old Blood Noise Endeavors Screen Violence review: This CHVRCHES signature pedal is a magnificent mashup of reverb and overdrive, Guitar.com, 2022-05-31
- Old Blood Noise Screen Violence Modulated Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2025-07-07
- The essential new stompboxes of 2022, MusicRadar, 2022-06-07
- Old Blood Noise Endeavors & CHVRCHES Screen Violence, gearnews.com, 2022-05-26
- Old Blood Noise Endeavors unveils its first digitally-controlled analogue pedal: Float, Guitar.com, 2022-07-28
