OBNE collaborates with CHVRCHES to create the Screen Violence Stereo Saturated Modulated Reverb Pedal - inspired by the album of the same name

There’s no doubting Old Blood Noise Endeavor’s knack for engineering uniquely creative and quirky pedals - well outside the mainstream norms. And this new collaboration is one of their very finest to date - at least in how much it appeals to me!

It was sparked by the fact that Chvrches’ Martin Doherty was using 5 different OBNE pedals to deliver his desired Lo-Fi tones - made to sound like really old over-recorded tape - which is increasingly saturated, smeared, warbly and densely textured.

Martin contacted OBNE to see if they would be willing to collaborate with his band to create an all-in one pedal that combined the unique textures and feel which he had used so many chained pedals to create. The original idea was for a two knob / two footsmwitches pedal - one engaging a sort of modulated delay / reverb, and the other engaging a tape tube preamp style saturation.

Over 2 years of collaboration the current incredibly smart format evolved - which rather needs a decent manual to operate as there is so much to get to grips with here. Eventually the development and iteration process arrived at this current format - which has 8 smart controls and dual footswitches - each of which applies slightly different controls / parameters depending what setup and Mode you are in.

CONTROLS
 
SCREEN Modulation Side - Mix : Dry>Wet [mono] / Stereo Width [stereo], Screen : Variable knob taking you from Slow Chorus / Pitch Vibrato [max Mix] > Doubler > Slapback Delay > Multi-Tap Reverb > Almost ∞ Tails / Smear, Screen Engage Footswitch.

VIOLENCE Saturation Side - Voice [Tone], Volume, Gain : High / Low, Violence : Saturation > Overdrive > Distortion control, Violence Engage Footswitch, Press Screen + Violence Footswitches together to Engage Stacked Distortion Mode (mono only).

UNIVERSAL - Mode : 1] Sum > Stereo / 2] True Through Stereo, First : Violence > Screen / Screen > Violence.

I’ve got a pretty decent remote understanding of the pedal - probably about as good as it can be without any hands-on time or consultation. The left hand SCREEN side is particularly impressive where different positions of the dial introduce ever denser texture and ambience and take you from a Slow Moving Chorus (Pitch Vibrato with Mix at Max), then Doubler, Slapback Delay, Multi-Tap Reverb - onto almost infinite Tails - which I call Smear here. The Reverb voicing is particularly clever in how it combines 3 Reverb Lines - one short and two long - which change in proportion as you turn the dial.

On the Violence Tape Tube Saturation side you essentially get 3 degrees of Gain Structure - High and Low, and a Stacked Distortion Mode (Mono only) when you press and hold both footswitches simultaneously. (Indicated by LED colour change)

Depending on how you set up the pedal - Mono to Mono, Mono to Stereo or Stereo to Stereo you get very different results as some of the parameters as well as how the effects are applied / stacked / sequenced / separated - changes quite significantly.

A short description of this is that it makes for a pretty incredible ultimate Shoegazer style pedal - with that classic combination of Distortion and Modulated Reverb - but there are so many different tones and textures to be found within - it’s a superbly versatile and smart piece of kit. In fact I acquired one very quickly indeed as I really love everything about this.

The fact that I’m a fan of Chvrches too is just icing on the cake really - while I’m pragmatic enough to evaluate the pedal on its own merits - and there’s just so much to love here. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on mine - and seeing what other players do with this. I really love everything about it!

For most people you can only really buy it direct from the OBNE Webstore for $279 - like I did. Chvrches will be selling some at their gigs too - which coming up are - Napa County (27 May), Napa (May 28th), St Petersburg (May 30), Fort Lauderdale (May 31), Lake Buena Vista (June 1), Raleigh (June 2), Charlotte (June 4), Washington DC (June 5t) etc. for USA, then Roskile Denmark (July 1), Mad Cool Madrid (July 6), more USA dates through to the end of the year, then Australia - 3 x Falls Festivals (Dec 29, 30, and Jan 7).

It’s great to watch the origin video first to soak yourself in some of that ambience, then get the detailed overview and move onto the various other creative demo takes.

I must say I’m very keen indeed on this pedal right from the off! Will be interesting to see how excited I am after I’ve had it for a few weeks!

Any of you tempted! Anyone have any further insights for me?