The 5 best distortion pedals for metal

Boss DS-1X Distortion

<p>The Boss DS-1 is one of the most iconic pedals of all time, but let’s be clear: this isn’t the DS-1 mark II; the DS-1X is very much its own beast. <p>As well as the gleaming panel and array of knobs (level, low, high and dist), this pedal packs Boss’s Multi-Dimensional Processing (MDP), which promises ‘ideal distortion tones in every register’. <p>The guitar world is saturated with distortion pedals, and this is by no means cheap, but if you’re constantly switching between rhythm and lead and can’t settle on a middle ground, the DS-1X could be just the pedal you’re looking for.

Mesa/Boogie Throttle Box EQ

<p>Mesa is famed primarily for two things: gain and five-band EQ, usually in a metal-approved V shape. Back in 2012, four stompboxes brought the dirt; but three new pedals add the EQ from amps such as the Mark Five, and the Throttle Box EQ is the gainiest and most flexible of the lot. <p>Aside from the extra five-band, the core circuit of the Throttle Box EQ is the same as its predecessor, but with more flexibility: the hi/lo footswitch toggles between more and less gain, with volume knobs for each mode; the boost switch – for extra low-end and dirt – is easily accessible, and you can also deactivate the EQ on the hi or lo modes.

Wampler Triple Wreck

<p>This unashamedly high-gain distortion has a tremendous amount of gain and low-end response, not to mention an extremely powerful EQ section to take you from dark and thuddy to the most mean-sounding, aggressive slam. <p>There’s a vintage/modern switch for more classic hard rock or modern metal responses respectively, plus an additional boost with its own contour control. Plug in and wail.

Ogre Thunderclap Distortion

<p>The Thunderclap is a high-gain distortion with a hand-crafted, heavyweight die-cast enclosure from Korean brand Ogre. <p>Each of its four horns controls a parameter – level, bass, treble and gain – while to activate the Thunderclap, you have to stomp down on the poor devil’s jaw. And yes, its eyes are the status LEDs.

Blackstar LT METAL

<p>Riding in on the back of the remarkable success of its HT tube pedal range, Blackstar's LT series don't have valves but boast a similar dynamic response to the HT series, thanks to a patent-applied-for clipping circuit. <p>You already know what this pedal is going to deliver: all-out aggressive gain, and loads of it. What you might not expect is just how good it sounds - every tone is well defined, with a huge bottom end, making it ideal for seven- and eight-string players.