ao link
Filter content by area of interest
Amps
Boost and Overdrive
Delay
Distortion
Fuzz
Guitars
Modulation
Pitch
Reverb
Utility
All
All

World Championship of Heavyweight HM-2 Heavy Metal Brawlers

DistortionElectro-HarmonixKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioMetal DistortionREVV Amplification+-
2023-GPX-Heavy-Metal-Heavy-Weight-Champions-700.jpg

My mood is one of bemusement on considering this matchup - and you will note that I did not feature the REVV Northern Mauler when it was launched last November - as I considered it a slightly lesser rip-off of the Klirrton Grindstein, and now EHX has launched the Hell Melter - a slightly lesser equivalent to the KMA Guardian of the Wurm - all 4 are pictured above, and at the start of this overview I must say I’m somewhat overwhelmingly biased in favour of my own king-sized reigning champions of...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Full Metal Racket! - 32 of the Best Compact High Gain Metal Distortion Pedals - 2022 Ultimate Selection

Abasi ConceptsAbominable ElectronicsAleks K ProductionAmptweakerAMT EffectsAnarchy AudioAura AmpsBardic Audio DevicesBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBossBrown Sound DistortionDistortionDOD EffectsDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveFriedman EffectsHardWire EffectsKeeley EngineeringKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionMidValleyFXMulti-DriveRedbeard EffectsREVV AmplificationSinvertekSolar GuitarsSolar PedalsSoldanoTone InkVictory AmpsWamplerWestminster EffectsXIX Tech FX+-
2022-GPX-32-Best-Metal-Distortions-V6-700.jpg

This article has been such a long time coming - I last did a compact high gain distortion pedal roundup all the way back in 2019 - where only 24 featured. This time around I was determined to have it as comprehensive as possible, and like the recent 32 Overdrive and 32 Mini Fuzz selections - I was determined to have all in my reference collection.

 

I’ve long been a fan of heavier / metal textures and tones, and have always had certain pedal-chain slots dedicated to high gain pedals - in ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

End of Year Pedal-Chain Update - Final Formation - Class of 2021

Ambient EffectsAmp and Cab IR SimAmpliTubeBest in ClassBig Muff Style FuzzBlackhawk AmplifiersBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoCoppersoundDecibelicsDemedash EffectsDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDrunk BeaverDryBell EffectsDual-DriveEarthQuaker DevicesEnvelope Filter and Auto WahFjord FuzzFlangerFlower PedalsFoxpedalFuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGuitar Synth and SequencerIK MultimediaKlirrton ManufakturKlone and Transparent OverdriveKuro Custom AudioMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXOCD Style OverdriveOctaverOpAmp FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPete CornishPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingPlate ReverbPreAmpRack Style ReverbRat Style FuzzRedbeard EffectsReverbReverb WorkstationReverse ReverbRotary SpeakerShimmer ReverbSilicon FuzzSinvertekSpaceman EffectsSpacey ReverbSpiral Electric FXSpring ReverbStrymonTimmyTremoloTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveUni-Vibe and VibeUtilityVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed Wah+-
2021GPXSKPedalChainUpdateDecemberFinal700V2.jpg

2021 was another very significant year for me - and one that signals that I probably need to slow down now - as I picked up well over 200 new pedals during the year - which really is excessive. Storage is starting to become an issue - and I will need to be a lot more prudent and strategic in my acquisitions next year!

 

So more than 200 new ones, and in fact 25 slots were switches up during the year - where only 12 were totally untouched and unchanged. A slew of new gain pedals as always - ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2021 Best of New Boost, Overdrive and Distortion Pedals for the Year

Ananashead EffectsBardic Audio DevicesBecos FXBenson AmpsBest in ClassBlackhawk AmplifiersBlues Breaker Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBrown Sound DistortionCatalinbreadCornerstone Music GearCustom Audio ArtDecibelicsDemedash EffectsDemiurge InstrumentsDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverDual-DriveDumble Style OverdriveElectronic Audio ExperimentsFoxpedalFunny Little BoxesFuzzrociousGreuter AudioKlirrton ManufakturKlone and Transparent OverdriveKMA AudioKuro Custom AudioMarshall Style DistortionMatthews EffectsMetal DistortionMulti-DriveMXROverdrivePete CornishPettyjohn ElectronicsPigtronixPolarbear EffectsRedbeard EffectsSinvertekSpun Loud EffectsTsakalis Audio WorksTubescreamer Style OverdriveTweed Style OverdriveWalrus AudioZander Circuitry+-
2021GPXBestNewBoostODDistforYeat700.jpg

The Boost, Overdrive and Distortion category is the most heavily contested, and indeed the most heavily congested category this year. I started with a Longlist of more than 70 and whittled down to the 39 featured here. Note that for balance I have included Rat pedals in the Fuzz Category already listed. This list features some of the more subtle fuzz-edged / fuzzy-drive varieties - although there will of course be some slight degree of overlap.

 

Featured above and listed here are 39 ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

HM-2 Capsule Collection Goes to 11!

Abominable ElectronicsBardic Audio DevicesBlackhawk AmplifiersBossDecibelicsDistortionKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionXIX Tech FX+-
2021GPXHM2CapsuleCollection11700V2.jpg

2021 has been a magnificent year for the HM-2 Chainsaw / Twin Peaks / Swedish Death Metal Distortion Weapon of Destruction category - punctuated of course by the revival of the OG Boss HM-2 - in the guise of the all-round improved HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza Craft Edition.

 

6 recent HM-2 style pedals / editions entered the collection this year besides the HM-2W - the Abominable Electronics Pedalboard-friendly Chaotic Evil Ned, Bardic Audo Devices HM-Demon, Lone Wolf Audio Left Hand Wrath, ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2021 July Boss Month Pedal-Chain Update - Episode VII - Boss Level Endgame

Bardic Audio DevicesBasic AudioBlackhawk AmplifiersBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossBoss MonthBrown Sound DistortionChorus and VibratoD*A*M EffectsDecibelicsDelayDelay WorkstationDigital DelayDigital ReverbDistortionDriveDrive WorkstationDual-DriveEffects Pedal MakersEnvelope Filter and Auto WahEQFlangerFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzGermanium FuzzHarmonizerInterchange Noise WorksKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLooperMarshall Style DistortionMetal DistortionModulationModulation WorkstationMulti-DriveMulti-FXNoise GateOctave FuzzOctaverOverdrivePedal ChainPhaserPitchPitch-ShiftingReverbReverb WorkstationSilicon FuzzSuper-Fuzz StyleTape DelayTremoloTubescreamer Style OverdriveUtilityVox Style DistortionWah and Fixed Wah+-
2021GPXSKPedalChainUpdateBoss700V3.jpg

So this is the culmination of my first ever ’Boss Month’ concerted focus on everything Boss! I do hope you enjoyed the broad sweep of all those articles - and had some fun with my speculative projections and suggestions. The natural end to all of that is of course to set out the pedal-chain as a Peak Boss implementation - using what I have within my extensive Boss collection. I of course had to add a few more units - but only a handful really. I’m guessing some who don’t read my text ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

The Ever-Expanding Boss HM-2 Twin Peaks Heavy Metal Distortion Capsule Collection

Abominable ElectronicsBardic Audio DevicesBlackhawk AmplifiersBossDecibelicsDistortionKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionXIX Tech FX+-
2021GPXHM2CapsuleCollection700V9.jpg

There’s no doubt that I’m a fan of the HM-2 format - and there are some very fine derivations of that circuit out there in all different shapes and sizes. Much like in many parts of my collection I try to assemble a carefully curated selection of the very best examples out there - and obviously there are plenty of new surprises evolving which keep you on your toes.

 

My original capsule collection was all set to have 7 classic pedals - while there have been a slew of great ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2021GPXKlirrtonGrindstein700.jpg

Readers of this blog will be familiar with my quest to find and collect the very best of HM-2 style twin-peak distortion pedals. The Grindstein is fairly unique in having two complementary channels which you can blend to your own preferences. It’s a unique collaboration between Carsten Pinkle of Klirrton Manufaktur and Metal Producer Kristian Kohle of Kohlkeller Studio fame.

 

The pedal is best approached via 3 distinct sections / rows :

 

CHAINSAW CHANNEL

 

Controls ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

2021 May Pedal-Chain Update - Episode V - Future Phase

Beetronics FXBig Ear PedalsBig Muff Style FuzzBlues Driver Style OverdriveBoostBoost and OverdriveBossChorus and VibratoCrazy Tube CircuitsD*A*M EffectsDemedash EffectsDistortionDrive WorkstationDrunk BeaverEmanating Fist ElectronicsEQFoxpedalFuzzFuzz Face Style FuzzFuzz-Drive and FuzzstortionGated and Velcro FuzzGermanium FuzzHarmonizerJoe GoreKlirrton ManufakturKuro Custom AudioMantic EffectsMarshall Style DistortionModulationMulti-DriveOctave FuzzOpAmp FuzzOscillating FuzzOverdrivePedal ChainPettyjohn ElectronicsPhaserPitchRat Style FuzzSilicon FuzzThird Man RecordsThorpyFXTone Bender Style FuzzTubescreamer Style OverdriveUtility+-
2021GPXSKPedalChainUpdateMayRevised700V4.jpg

May turned out to be another pretty busy month as far as new releases and the overall collection is concerned. I personally acquired around 20 or so new pedals - with some further acquisitions not having landed yet.

 

Obviously a fair amount of new Overdrives and Phasers in particular - while May covered most of the key pedal categories in one way or another. And most of the pedal-chain additions for the month have been reviewed or touched on in some way previously - with the exception of the...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions

Black and Orange HM-2 Style Distortion Target Capsule Collection in honour of the imminent Boss HM-2W Waza Craft Launch

Abominable ElectronicsBossDecibelicsDistortionKlirrton ManufakturKMA AudioLone Wolf AudioMetal DistortionXIX Tech FX+-
2021GPXHM2CapsuleCollection700V4.jpg

Most are aware that the updated and revived Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal is due for imminent release - I believe sometime around June. In order to celebrate that momentous occasion I’ve been building up a sort of capsule collection of some of the very best HM-2 style distortions - specifically in that Black and Orange colourway. Note that I’ve taken liberties with the Klirtonn Grindstein visualisation which is actually currently Black and Red, while I’m going to try to persuade ...

Stefan KarlssonPopularCommentsRSS FeedContent Subscriptions
Profile
Stefan Karlsson
Stefan Karlsson
Guitar Pedal X
News Navigation






















































Paul Smith
9 of the Best Mid-Size Fuzz Face+ Pedals
"Don't know if you would count this, but I "...
7 days ago
Richard kupisz
Oneder Effects' Onederbolt is a beautifully textured distortion with 4 gears of operation
"Stefano, have you considered signing up to one of "...
12 days ago
Paul Smith
Expandora extracts the Forbidden Fuzz Mode for a standalone extended-range Fuzz
"Bit of a bump here, but having just attended to "...
15 days ago
Jet Hasie
Robert Keeley Boss Mods Trifecta
"Hey Stefan, that freak fuzz seems so cool thank "...
17 days ago
Cyril Demaegd
2024 February Pedal-Chain Update - Episode II - Triple Tremolo Flutter
"As usual very inspiring. I'd be curious to "...
18 days ago
Waiting