Heavy Pedal

Name: Heavy Pedal
Price: 29 USD
Author: Audiority

by Audiority · Distortion · HM-2 chainsaw distortion model

Not rated yet

Heavy Pedal is an analog modeled distortion based on the Boss HM-2, the mid-80s 'Swedish chainsaw' pedal.

It offers 9 circuit types, a noise gate and a distortion bypass, for $29.

Best for: Guitars, Bass. Genres: Metal, Rock & Indie.

Keywords: 80s, electric guitar, heavy, built-in mix knob, utility, analog-sounding, bass, corrective, hi-fi, mixing, resizable UI, single-band.

What it does

Heavy Pedal is Audiority's "Analog Modeled Vintage Distortion", based on the Boss HM-2, the "Swedish Chainsaw" stompbox of the mid-1980s. Audiority modeled it from a 1984 Japanese unit in pristine condition.

Pedal controls: independent Low and High tone controls, Distortion and Level, as on the original.
9 circuit types: nine circuit models, giving variations on the HM-2 sound.
Distortion bypass: switch off the distortion to use the tone section on its own as an EQ.
Gain staging: pre and post gain controls to drive the circuit harder or tame its output.
Utilities: a noise gate, a mix control for blending in the clean signal, and a resizable interface.

The current version is 2.2 (January 2024). A demo is available; in demo mode the plugin outputs 3 seconds of silence every minute.

Source: Audiority product page

When to use it

Heavy Pedal has one job: the scooped, saw-toothed HM-2 tone of Swedish death metal, and it is meant to sit in front of an amp sim. That makes it narrower than the rated distortions, such as Saturn 2, Devil-Loc Deluxe and CrushStation, which are general or creative drives for any source. Audiority's own Klirrton Grindstein goes further, with two blendable channels, a boost, gate, EQ and cabs, and reviewers found it more authentic, but it costs more than three times as much. Heavy Pedal is the cheap, simple way to get the HM-2 sound. Its nine circuit types and mix control give some range without leaving that style.

Best for: Swedish death metal and crust guitar tones in front of an amp sim.
Genres: death metal, crust punk and hardcore.
Look elsewhere if: you want a complete death metal rig (Klirrton Grindstein), more than one fuzz or chainsaw flavour (Doomagorgon pairs this sound with an octave fuzz), or a general distortion for mixing (Saturn 2).

What producers say

Popular with buyers, though it has had little press coverage.

Plugin Boutique buyers rate it 4.7 out of 5 from 314 ratings (listed there as Heavy Pedal mkII).
Audio Plugin Guy in its Klirrton Grindstein review, found Grindstein the more authentic take on the chainsaw sound than Heavy Pedal.

Where to buy

Audiority: $29

Tutorials and reviews

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