Electro-Harmonix Hell Melter Advanced Metal Distortion

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 Sweetwater — 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.