Sweden is a land of beauty, replete with lush green forests, awe-inspiring bodies of water…and unrelenting, in-your-face death metal! For '90s Swedish death metal royalty like Entombed, Dismember, and At the Gates, the core of their sound came from a grossly underappreciated pedal: the BOSS HM-2. BOSS has taken this sleeper stompbox and gave it the full Waza Craft treatment, resulting in the HM-2W Waza Craft Heavy Metal distortion pedal. Taking cues from its older sibling, the HM-2W boasts onboard controls for Level, Low/High Color Mix, and Distortion. Don't let its simple layout fool you — this searing pedal pumps out walls of axe-grinding, gut-punching chainsaw sounds while cleanly cutting through mixes. The HM-2W works equally as well in clean and dirty channels, with a handy toggle for switching between modes for even greater versatility. Need to add a bit of girth and roundness to your barre chords and chugs? Switch on over to Custom mode for an instant injection of additional gain and more pronounced lows and mids. Music Experience's many discerning metallers were amazed by the HM-2W's icepick-like attack while tremolo picking, and when it came time to test those classic death metal riffs, diming all the controls delivered instant Slaughter of the Soul–esque aggression. For death metal die-hards and anyone looking to conjure metal's Swedish origins, the BOSS HM-2W Waza Craft Heavy Metal distortion pedal is an instant classic.
The Japanese word "waza" means art and technique, an appropriate name for BOSS's premium line of redesigned guitar effects pedals. You see, the pedal collectors here at Music Experience have seen more than enough special-edition stompboxes that are only a paint job away from the originals, which is why we're so blown away by what BOSS has done with the Waza Craft series. Even in their Standard modes, Waza Craft pedals sound like idealized versions of the originals, offering the same sonic character that made them iconic but with less noise and a more consistent tone. And when you A/B the Standard mode with the Custom, the contrast is nothing short of astonishing.
More than 10,000,000 BOSS guitar and bass effects pedals have been sold to players worldwide, including such top players as Yngie Malmsteen, Dave Navarro, John Petrucci, Marty Friedman, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani. You've also no doubt heard BOSS pedals recorded and onstage beneath the feet of bands of all genres, including Muse, The Killers, and Silversun Pickups. The reason for the success is clear: not only do BOSS effects pedals sound great - but they're also built like tanks and designed with serious use in mind. Each BOSS pedal is housed in a stomp-ready metal box and features a rubberized stomp area and base, to help safeguard against slipping. So, whether you're a fresh-out-of-the-gate beginner, an axe-veteran designing your dream pedalboard, or anywhere in between, you can depend on BOSS's proven line of pedals to craft your tone.
Produced from 1983 to 1991, the BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal is a true legend in the history of distortion pedals. Its signature “chainsaw tone” with all knobs maxed is the defining voice of Swedish death metal, and the slightly milder sides of its personality can be heard on tracks from mainstream to shoegaze. After years of requests from hardcore HM-2 fans, the iconic stomp is now reborn three decades later in a special Waza Craft edition. The HM-2W delivers the authentic analog sound of the original in all its glory, coupled with lots of modern refinements for enhanced performance.
When introduced in 1983, the HM-2 was one of the first “amp in a box” pedals ever, using an innovative BOSS circuit to replicate the sound of early ’80s British stack amps favored in the rapidly growing heavy metal genre. Near the end of its production run, seminal Swedish death metal bands adopted the HM-2 for their primary guitar tones, and its uniquely aggressive sound and focused midrange became highly sought after by a new generation of players. The pedal’s vast influence and popularity led to ongoing calls for BOSS to bring it back, and we’re pleased to present the HM-2W to all those devoted fans around the world.
When the HM-2W is in Standard mode, the tone and response of the original HM-2 pedal is reproduced with 100-percent authenticity. We were also able to add some modern improvements without affecting the sound, including reducing the noise floor and expanding the maximum level by 3 dB. And with the premium Waza Craft buffer on board, the sound is improved when the pedal is bypassed. Cranking every knob all the way up is the sound of Swedish death metal, and you can conjure a wide range of tones for other styles with the sensitive distortion and color controls.
The HM-2W’s Custom mode offers a similar sound character to Standard mode, but with just a little more of everything. The drive stage has a bit more gain and includes more of the fundamental guitar sound for extra attack and sharpness. In addition, the low and high-mid characteristics have been tweaked to provide increased fullness and definition.
Along with the original HM-2 sound, we made every effort to capture the pedal’s distinctive orange and black appearance, right down to the size and position of lettering on the panel. Every Waza Craft pedal features a mode switch for extended range, and it’s been moved to the top on the HM-2W to preserve the authentic control layout of the HM-2.
Since the beginning, the engineers at BOSS have been committed to achieving the finest guitar tones using any technology necessary, from old-school analog circuits to high-tech DSP. This enthusiastic spirit continues on with the Waza Craft series, bringing you exceptional tone and touch response through carefully selected analog components, refined circuitry, and meticulous attention to detail. In Japan, “Waza” is the term for art and technique, and these special edition pedals proudly carry the Waza symbol to represent the pinnacle of BOSS design and craftsmanship.
| Pedal Type |
Distortion |
|---|---|
| Analog/Digital | Digital |
| Inputs | 1 x 1/4" (instrument) |
| Outputs | 1 x 1/4" |
| Bypass Switching |
Buffered |
| EQ | High/Low Color Mix |
| Power Source | 9V DC power supply required (sold separately) |
| Batteries | 1 x 9V |
| Power Usage | 30mA |
| Height | 2.37" |
| Width | 2.87" |
| Depth | 5.12" |
| Weight | 1.0 lbs |
| Manufacturer Part Number | HM2W |
