A Metal Legend Returns
The HM-2 Heavy Metal was produced from 1983 to 1991 and is a true legend in distortion pedal history. Its signature "chainsaw sound" with all knobs on max is the signature voice of Swedish death metal, and the slightly softer 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, combined with plenty of modern enhancements for enhanced performance.
Death metal legend
When introduced in 1983, the HM-2 was one of the first ever "amp in a box" pedals, using an innovative BOSS circuit to replicate the sound of early 80's UK stack amps favored in the rapidly growing heavy metal genre. Near the end of the production run, Swedish death metal bands adopted the HM-2 as their primary guitar sound, and its uniquely aggressive sound and focused midrange became highly sought after by a new generation of musicians. The pedal's great influence and popularity led to ongoing calls for BOSS to bring it back, and we are delighted to present the HM-2W to all the devoted fans around the world.
Standard Mode provides the original HM-2 sound
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 enhanced when the pedal is in bypass. Turn each knob all the way up and you have the sound of Swedish death metal, but you can conjure up a wide range of tones for other styles with the sensitive distortion and color controls.
Get even more aggressive with custom mode
The HM-2W's custom mode offers a similar sound quality to Standard mode, but with just a little more of everything. Drive provides a little more gain and includes more of the basic guitar sound for extra attack and sharpness. In addition, the low and high mids have been adjusted to provide increased fullness and definition.
Orange and Black are Back
Along with the original HM-2 sound, we made every effort to capture the signature orange and black look of the pedal, right down to the size and placement of the letters on the panel. Each Waza Craft pedal has a mode switch for extended reach, and it has been moved to the top of the HM-2W to retain the authentic control layout of the HM-2.
Waza Craft: The art of creating sound at a higher level
Since the beginning, the engineers at BOSS have dedicated themselves to achieving the finest guitar effects with the technology available, from old school analog circuitry to high-tech DSP. This enthusiastic spirit continues in the Waza Craft series, giving you exceptional sound and sensitive response through carefully selected analog components, refined circuitry and a meticulous attention to detail. In Japan, "Waza" is the term for art and engineering, and these "special edition" pedals proudly bear the Waza symbol and represent the pinnacle of BOSS design and craftsmanship.
