New killer shapeable Black Arts Toneworks BAT Multi-Gain Pedal (BAT BAT) - is available at Joe's Pedals in the UK and Effekt Boutique in Germany

Black Arts Toneworks has been quiet for a while - so it’s heartening to see that it’s back with another banger! A new B.A.T. pedal is often a big event - and this is one of their best releases in a long time.

Controls - Post Gain, Clipping : LED / Silicon, Hi-Cut, Bass Input : II / I / III, Pre Gain, Hi Drive, Lo Drive, Volume, Treble, Bass.

Essentially you get 10 controls to shape the output in every direction - from Boost to Overdrive and onto Distortion. Supposedly it’s excellent as an always on gain-shaper - and at its peak it has so much gain - "that it can collapse under its own weight or roar like a cutting beast."

You have three input voicings all with different bass response, the Pre-Gain element powers the Baxandall 2-Band EQ, you can select either LED or Silicon clipping, and the Hi-Cut sits before the 2nd gain stage. It also has fairly unique High and Low Gain Controls - which gain up specific frequency clusters.

It’s not really the most attractive artwork necessarily - where the Priestess is still by far and away my favourite B.A.T. by looks, in fact all-round probably my favourite from that stable. While this BAT seems to be a major challenger for that accolade - I might have preferred an artwork closer in style to the Priestess.

In any case the BAT is $199 from the B.A.T. Webstore, where it’s £189 from Joe’s Pedals in the UK, and €235 from Effect Boutique in Germany.

I can certainly see one of these in my near future. While alas the budget is already blown for the month - so it will be September at the earliest for me!