The Siren Pedals Eligos Heavy Metal Distortion is a high-gain distortion pedal from Siren Pedals. It is based on the Boss HM-2, the "Swedish chainsaw" circuit heard in extreme metal, and it offers what Guitar.com describes as "vast quantities of smooth-sounding gain, which can be further shaped with two EQ controls for lows and highs"1. Unlike the original, it comes without a buffer, where the HM-2 had the famous Boss buffer in its circuit2.
What it does to your sound
The Eligos is a heavy metal distortion in the HM-2 mold. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found that "The distortion, while powerful, is smooth, giving you a ton of punch without sacrificing any clarity"3. Guitar.com's writer characterized it the same way: a heavy metal stomper with large amounts of smooth-sounding gain, shaped by a two-band EQ for lows and highs1.
The HM-2 circuit the Eligos draws on has a long history. Guitar.com notes it has "seen use from the likes of Mayhem's Euronymous to Pink Floyd's David Gilmour", with Prince also among the players associated with the original pedal1. The Eligos itself is a new take on that circuit rather than a reissue, and one difference is practical: it comes without a buffer, unlike the original which had the famous Boss buffer in its circuit2.
The controls
The Eligos keeps the original's straightforward layout. There are controls for VOL and DIST, and a 2-band EQ like the original, according to gearnews.com2. Pedal of the Day lists them as Volume, Distortion, Bass and Treble, knobs that "give you an easy-to-use sonic palette to work with"3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level3 |
| Distortion | Sets the amount of gain3 |
| Bass | Low-band EQ1 |
| Treble | High-band EQ1 |
How it differs from the Boss HM-2
Two differences stand out from the reports of the pedal. First, the Eligos does without the buffer: gearnews.com notes that "It also comes without a buffer, unlike the original which had the famous Boss buffer in its circuit"2. Players who rely on a buffer at the front of a large board will want to account for that. Second, it adds practical hardware touches: true-bypass switching and top-mounted jacks, which Guitar.com lists among the pedal's appointments, and which Pedal of the Day says make for "easy insertion onto any pedalboard"3.
The Eligos is true bypass and has no buffer, unlike the Boss HM-2 it is based on. On a long pedalboard chain, that can change how the pedal interacts with the pedals around it.
Where it came from
The Eligos is a new take on the Boss HM-2 circuit rather than a reissue, and it differs from the original in its circuitry: it comes without a buffer, unlike the original which had the famous Boss buffer in its circuit2. Guitar.com's reviewer, looking back at the pedal it draws on, wrote "I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of the Boss HM-2 pedal", having bought and resold them in the late '80s and early '90s2.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day summed the pedal up as "a simple but extremely potent dirt pedal"3. The gearnews.com writer admitted a mixed history with the source circuit, writing, "I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of the Boss HM-2 pedal," having bought and resold them in the late 1980s and early 1990s2. The positive notes across the coverage center on the same things: smooth, punchy gain with clarity retained, and a simple four-knob layout13.
Videos
Ryan Lendt
BUZZBEE TV
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Does the Eligos have a buffer?
No. According to gearnews.com, the Eligos comes without a buffer, unlike the original Boss HM-2, which had what the writer called the famous Boss buffer in its circuit. Players who want the same buffered feel as the HM-2 would need to add a separate buffer pedal elsewhere on the board.
Is the Siren Pedals Eligos true bypass?
Yes. Both Guitar.com and Pedal of the Day report that the Eligos uses true-bypass switching, which Pedal of the Day says keeps your original tone clean and clear when the pedal is off.
Where is the Eligos made?
gearnews.com reports that both the Eligos and its companion overdrive, the Juneau, are hand-made in the USA by Siren Pedals, a Nashville, Tennessee based maker.
How much does the Siren Pedals Eligos cost?
The Eligos was announced at a retail price of $199, a figure reported by both Premier Guitar in June 2020 and Guitar.com in June 2020, available through Siren Pedals' website.
What comes in the box with the Eligos?
Alongside the pedal itself, Guitar.com notes that each pedal includes a collectable trading card featuring the pedal's artwork.
Sources (4)
- Siren Pedals launch the Eligos and Juneau drive pedals, Guitar.com, 2020-06-30
- Siren Pedals takes on the classic Boss HM-2 & BluesBreaker pedals, gearnews.com, 2020-06-30
- Siren Pedals Eligos Heavy Metal Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2020-08-22
- Siren Pedals Introduces Two New Pedals, Premier Guitar, 2020-06-26
