Designed around the boss of all heavy metal distortion circuits, the Electro-Harmonix Hell Melter dishes out blasphemous quantities of Swedish-flavored, chainsaw-buzz carnage. This red-hot guitar effects pedal takes a tried-and-true formula to new depths, augmenting the classic, in-your-face high-gain sound of an early-'80s stompbox with expanded EQ options, increased output, and a whole horde of new bloodcurdling sonic capabilities. You also get Normal and Burn modes for extended clipping possibilities, a Dry Level control for maintaining clarity under severe circumstances, and a footswitchable boost section for applications that require absolute incineration. To top it off, the Hell Melter includes a built-in noise gate for taming the intermittent artifacts that surface between chugs. If you want to conquer the extreme metal underworld, the EXH Hell Melter is the pedal to do it with.

Electro-Harmonix Hell Melter at a Glance:

• Classic Heavy Metal circuit with expanded controls
• Increased overall output volume
• Active EQ controls expansion with parametric MIDS control
• Noise gate and dry level control
• NORMAL and BURN modes
• Footswitchable boost section
• Independent distortion and level knobs
• 9V power supply included

Built for entombment and dismemberment

The early-'80s distortion pedal that inspired the Hell Melter was capable of all sorts of sonic devastation, so much so that its sound has become synonymous with the Swedish death metal sound. Electro-Harmonix has taken this cult-classic buzzsaw tone to new levels of depravity with expanded controls and new sonic possibilities. For starters, the Hell Melter offers more output than its predecessor. It boasts an active EQ, with a parametric Mids control for precision midrange sculpting (scooping?). Its Normal/Burn switch — our favorite feature here at Music Experience — toggles between the classic chainsaw sound and another that boosts the pedal's internal voltage for increased headroom, less compression, and a heavier attack. A Dry Level control allows for blending your input signal for improved low end under extreme distortion. You also get a footswitchable boost section, plus a built-in noise gate for eradicating the hiss inherent in high-gain situations.

What Electro-Harmonix Says...

With its take on the cult-classic, chainsaw distortion pedal, the EHX Hell Melter takes distortion to its extremes. The Hell Melter features expanded controls and tonal capabilities, allowing the already in-your-face sound of the pedal to broaden by switching to more open clipping options and boosting the internal voltage for increased headroom, less compression, and more attack. Originally designed as the ultimate in high-gain tone, this world-famous distortion circuit is known for the death metal sounds of Sweden’s Entombed and the shoegaze wash of My Bloody Valentine. It’s even found a home in the rig of David Gilmour! The EHX Hell Melter’s expanded control set includes Gain and Level controls, and a powerful active EQ featuring with parametric mids for improved versatility. The Dry level control allows for blending your input signal for improved low-end when used with a bass or even blending in other distorted tones. Boost Footswitch engages an input gain boost and volume boost which is internally adjustable. The Normal/Burn switch toggles between the classic chainsaw sound and the more open clipping option.