Its ‘broken’ sludgy sound is what makes this pedal great. We have too much ‘sanitised’ tones and productions these days. This pedal just harkens back to plain dirty, disgusting riffage. And chainsaw setting just sounds evil
A lot of sims that try to replicate that broken sound tend to also introduce a lot of weird noise that fatigue my ears really really fast. This doesn’t. It’s super easy to listen to. Just that first little bit of riffing Rabea did before he said that was enough to settle it for me: I’m going to have to get one.
At the Gates were using Hm2s going into Peavey Bandits for their first few recordings, but Entombed/Dismember are probably the bands most connected with this pedal. Basically max the settings, play a big low turned crossover thrash riff and throw a D-beat over it.
IMO the best way to sum up this pedal is : "it makes your brain cells slowly melt, leaving you with nothing but a desperate urge to play dumb filthy and groovy riffs forever"
It still sounds wicked and still has it's place. The broken up ripped tone is a part of the charm and the custom switch is an added addition to a classic. Sold mine about 100 years ago but wouldn't mind having one of these.
It's a pretty niche thing, and does not sound tonally "good" by any stretch of the imagination. But in the mix and with the right riffs it will remove paint from the walls. Same argument can be made about Dimebag's tone IMO. I have one on order, obviously. Entombed's Clandestine was one of the first death metal albums I bought back in the day and I still love it.
Haven't played one yet, but Ive been pretty disappointed with all the reviews. It seems more like run of the mill clone. Its too thick in the low-mid and the gain is a lot fuzzier. The HM2 was very unique. This is not.
@@springbloom5940 i would have to agree with you im slightly disappointed with it as well, it could sound alot tighter. sure you could always plug in an EQ pedal to shape the tone more, but i was hoping that BOSS would refine the tone for the new custom mode more so we could have the option to switch between the unique nasty tone of the original, to a much tighter more refined new custom tone. at the price they are selling it here in Canada (which is like $100 more than the U.S. price), i sadly won’t be picking up this pedal.
@@rubysoffner4557 yes i know, it’s made for the low tuned swedish death metal chainsaw tone that bands like Bloodbath, Dissection, Entombed and Grave use, i love that tone and i use it as well, i was just saying i don’t think BOSS did a very good job shaping the tone of the custom mode, in my opinion it should be tighter in the mids and less thick so your notes can be heard through the fuzz, especially if your tuning low to drop b or drop a.
Love this! I started playing guitar back in 1992 and my parents got me a cheap, used Ibanez with a single humbucker and a low-wattage, clean, solid-state amp. I started trying to play and just couldn't figure out how to get those broken up tones I always associated with electric guitar. My parents took me back to the guitar store, and the guy at the counter told me I needed a distortion pedal. He asked what type of music I was into and then recommended an HM-2. I spent a few days nagging my parents about getting it (I was a little brat) and my mom eventually gave in and bought it. I sold it a few years later to help pay for a new amp with an overdrive channel, but I've always looked back at the HM-2 fondly. I may just need to pick one of these up!
The most prolific version of HM-2 tone is from early Dismember records and live performances. There were NO SOLID STATES in that version. The pedal was placed in front of JCM 900, and they literally just turned EVERYTHING ALL THE WAY UP (on the heads and the pedals). I actually witnessed it. It's insane. But when you do it, you almost have to write riffs in that particular genre. It's one of the rare cases where the tone influences the genre, rather than visa versa.
Erm, no, the tone was originally discovered by Leif Cuzner in Nihilist into a Peavey Bandit, Nicke heard it and realised it was the sound they wanted and it went from there. Tomas Skogburg @ Sunlight Studio then produced Nihilist and then Entombed and Carnage then Dismember who picked up the tone through this path, All the member of these groups crossed over Johnny Dordevic played bass in Carnage and stood in on vocals in Entombed etc. These days, Lik, Entrails, Endseeker, Implore are just 4 bands of the top of my head who all use the HM2 chainsaw these days.
@@technocracylao I didn'tt say "original". I know how it happened "originally" and how the tone evolved. That was not my point. My point is that I like Dismember's version better, and I assure you, my description of how they delivered it was quite accurate, having seen it with my own eyes live, spoken to David Blomqvist about it while he was still wrapping his cables up, and having been friends with Fred Estby for years now. The other bands used the Bandit and played with settings. Dismember ran through their JCM heads and put EVERYTHING on TEN on the heads AND on the pedal. And in my opinion, the Dismember sound is the superior version.
@@tommygunrva Yes their live sound is a JCM 900, but Like an Ever Flowing Stream was recorded on a Peavey Studio Pro 40 that they borrowed from Nicke Andersson of Entombed, presumably because of lack of funds. They started using Marshalls when they actually started touring and the first album those amps appeared on was the 1993 Indecent & Obscene, so you're only partially right that the sound of the early Dismember records is a JCM 900 with everything on 10 (which I think is a lie, the treble on those things would shave you).
Hi Rabea, I havent really watched much guitar youtube since I was in high school (2013-2015 was my most active era) and I just got a recommendation on this video. Man, you are looking good! Also loving the content, went back and watched some popular videos. Just good to see you are doing well and that youre still a kickass guitar player
There are 2 ways to get the chainsaw sound: Everything cranked into clean channel or everything cranked but gain on 0 using it as a boost on your regular high gain amp to get more contemporary version of that sound. You didn't actually achieve any chainsaw sounds in this video, close on the od channel but still not quite. BUT: that's actually great, cause it can do more than that and showed some pretty cool sounds for other type of filthy riffing that most others who'll demos this won't even bother with. Great demo!
I found the best hm-2 settings for myself. Lows and highs at maximum, gain at 0. All this goes into a well-tuned distortion pedal or dirty channel of the amp. The volume on the pedal can be adjusted according to the situation. More volume means more bottom end, less volume means more itchy top end. The output produces quite little noise with that same chainsawish sound
This is a great perspective on this pedal and I love how you talked about how you needed a bit of time to understand this very different tone. You also showed that the pedal can far exceed it's pigeonholed reputation and inspire new creativity. The so called chainsaw setting is to set the treble control above where you avoided in the video because it sounded weird. You have to get your brain to see that such a filthy sound is the point and like you started to get, that it inspires you to write riffs that go with it, and letting the gear take you to new territory. Great perspective on the pedal it really is one of the most interesting distortions out there
Good review Rebea! It's great to hear this pedal demoed by a guitarist who plays with a more modern style, and with the knobs not all at 11. I do really like the Swedish Chainsaw sound don't get me wrong, but nice to hear what this pedal can do. Cheers!
Still got my original HM-2 from the 80's, came with a brass plaque stating that it was the 3 millionth unit ever made. Still have it on key chain. love my Boss pedals. Ever done a demo on the RT-20?
i got my hands on one of these finally! its so badass infront of a crunchy amp as a boost with the distortion ctrl really low or even off, its really tight but gnarly still, its more of a fuzz than a distortion really, it actually loves single coils! the best pedal ever imo
Definitely wanna say: 1. Another great video even if you don't know everything about the genre! Was awesome to see a video of someone playing a different style instead of just playing death metal riffs haha! 2. This pedal is a MONSTER for layering guitars! Do not sleep on it if you're adding big guitar layers or sort of Pads or Big Chords to your songs and riffs! It fills those roles specifically well for production and would love to hear it used in some of your future projects!!!
do you mean to use the HM-2 for the over-layer to a primary guitar track with a different high gain sound - or do you mean layering Hm-2 tracks over each over?
Your reaction was telling. Glad you shared your honest view. Amazing how eq shaping and mic placement can make such a difference. Never heard a great tone, but it was instructive to see you try to tweak it.
David Gilmour used a HM-2 a lot in the 80's and 90's. I know its known and loved for that Swedish Metal tone, but hearing Gilmour coax out some crazy tones with that thing is awesome!
10:40 onward sounds awesome. Love the odd incorporation of minor notes where I don't expect them. Your licks are always really cool and imo innovative.
Run it into a medium gain el34 amp, turn everything up full on the pedal then find the sweet spot on the Dist control and you'll find out why it's such a satisfying tone to play through
Your riff at 14:14 further boosts my motivation to continue to try and teach myself to play on my electric guitar. Do you have any tips to learning? How did you go about learning?
Secret to the Heartwork tone is two cabs back to back held together as airtight as possible, mic both. Sounds huge. But yeah, Guvnor into 5150, no HM-2.
The gnarliness of it actually sounds great for the lead tones. And it's not so messy that you can't make pinch harmonics pop out. Sounds great with a crunch too.
Surprisingly good lead tone! I've always hated the sound of this pedal on distorted chords, but I can hear where in a mix, it could help out for sections
The trick with the HM2 to get the Swedish DM chainsaw sound is to crank both low and hi controls all the way up then set the gain and volume accordingly.
I still have my original HM-2 from back when they were first released, it’s in mint condition and I always ran it into the front of a Gunn 100 watt amp and quad box (NZ built Marshall Clone), which I also still have and now I just wanna get it all out and set it up and play it loud!! It sounds just like your rig Rabea 🤘🤘 and yeah, that makes me old! 🤣😂
Great to hear the Treble rolled off in this demo, that was my sound 25 years ago, I'd never heard of Entombed, didn't care for them then either, but I got a Shredmaster instead after my HM2 was nicked by some entombed fan.... Can't wait to get this pedal in August and get my old tone back. SCOOOOOOOOOPPPP
The first studio demo I ever did in about ‘86, I used my HM-2 into a Roland JC-50. I still have the demo and the guitar sound holds up. Funny thing is, I never thought the HM-2 sounded very good through other amps. Maybe they partially developed it with the JC amps, because it sure worked well
I definitely liked it with the crunch channel, compressed the harsh top end and flabby bottom . I 'll try out as always thanks for your review and your "honesty" it's much appreciated at my end!
Boost (TS-9, SD-1, ect.) into HM-2 (Level 10, Low 8, High 6-7, Gain to taste) into dirt channel of marshall style amp (Gain 4-6, Low 7-8, Mid 5, Treble 5-6, Presence 6-7). With those I got modern marshall's high gain tone that marshall (company) never gave us. Sounds a lot like modded JCM or Fortin's Cali or even Evil Pumpkin if you dial it right on you specific amp
I dig that you are humble, but you shouldn't apologize. You have a style of your own that people like myself respect. Own it! You have brought yourself to a point where you dont have to follow any more.
Dismember is a far better example of Swedish death over entombed. Also, don't run the hm2 into your clean channel, run it thru the dirty channel with the pedal knobs maxed and the amp gain at about 15%. THAT'S the way you get the chainsaw sound.
Definitely would have liked to hear it in the context of a full mix. It's probably one of those things that sounds a little too dirty until drums and bass are mixed in.
The only way you can get the most out of this pedal is setting all 4 knobs at 100% and hook it into a dirt channel amp with a slightly distorted tone. Then you get the killer swedish chainsaw sound. It helps if you tune your guitar to B standard.
Remember, this was meant to be a versatile pedal on release! Add some fuzz, add some sludge, some grit, to whatever tone you wished - and often, not that much. The absolute broken chaos you get when you turn it to PlusUltra is practically a mistake - but a glorious one.
its kinda telling that every tone in this video might just be the best tone I've ever heard from Rabea. That being said, I, contrary to him, am very much a extreme metal guy.
Ahhh one of the infamous haha, this pedal (gift from a friend) with a Danelectro T-Bone distortion were my first two pedals, paired with an Ibanez practice amp/guitar and a masterclass of Andy Timmons on VHS, was how I started learning guitar back in the late 90's early 00's. By the way at 14:31 you nailed the only EQ setting allowed for this pedal.
I've been waiting so long to get this pedal, I sold my original way back in 1996 and absolutely regretted selling it. I always ran it through my Carvin X50B with 4x12 cab, it's a tube amp and sounds awesome, so for whom ever said it should be for a solid state I don't believe them lol. I can't wait to get this little monster, it just takes time to dial it in for your gear is all!
The thing is that a straight 5150 distorted/OD tone by itself is... better. I like metal, but maybe I like a different mind of metal than what this pedal does lol
It's amusing to think that this single pedal from the 80s became the core sound of much of an entire genre, at least one of the most recognisable tones within it. I can just imagine the engineer who designed this is simulataneously horrified yet amazed of what became of his creation (also probably not entirely impressed that most people just max the controls and go), to the point where it was redesigned for the modern market almost 40 years later. Definitely an acquired taste but a true classic.
DUDE, you have been doing some work and it shows! You look amazing mate, stay healthy, happy and keep rocking! BTW Still have my 90's HM that back in the day, would be running straight into the front end of a GK 112 combo amp. Could clear any garage practice room, so fucking loud and shrill, I loved it but nobody wanted to play with me with that set up :( cheers brother!
I don't think there's anything out there that you (Bea) couldn't make sound amazing! Whatever the gear, it always sounds stellar when you're "just messing around"!
The standard mode sounds better. Didn't like this pedal but I changed my mind after watch this. It's in my wishlist now because of you. It's all your fault. 😂 You just make a new movement on buzz crunch on the standard mode. That sound can be accepted by many people out there. Thank you. 🙏🏽 You're a genius in tone sculpture. ✊🏽
I’ve been on a huge melodic deathcore, melodic metalcore, and melodeath kick lately with some hints of stoner doom and doomy thrash metal and even traditional doom. I’ve been looking at pedals that can give that “sanitized” yet sort of grindy tone with some growl to it that I’ve found that stoner doom and melodeath have some similarity between. I think this pedal, obviously with an additional EQ pedal, will probably provide the tone I’m looking for. Thanks dude! Cheers!
Thx for testing this. I also bought it without testing just heared that it creates the old sound from the swedish Death Metal . This Sound is like this Song (Entombed - Drowned) check it out . Wonderful for some who like the good old swedish Death Metal its amazing
At 6:19 when you said "to the point when it sounds horrible", that was the only time in the video that you got the HM-2 Chainsaw tone. If you listen to something like Feast of the Damned by Black breath you'll hear the signature hm-2 sound
This is how you play this pedals: turn all knobs all the way to the right, then apply 5 min epoxy to knobs so they never move again.
All of this…
ThAats find funny!
I secretly hoped the custom switch would just engage an all on 10 mode.
@@GartenhausLP fdwsdqSaa❤wawa ❤Az4ry
Yeah. What I would like to do just for fun is to find a really cheap one and then remove the pots altogether.
Its ‘broken’ sludgy sound is what makes this pedal great. We have too much ‘sanitised’ tones and productions these days. This pedal just harkens back to plain dirty, disgusting riffage. And chainsaw setting just sounds evil
A lot of sims that try to replicate that broken sound tend to also introduce a lot of weird noise that fatigue my ears really really fast.
This doesn’t. It’s super easy to listen to.
Just that first little bit of riffing Rabea did before he said that was enough to settle it for me: I’m going to have to get one.
This pedal came at the right time because I’ve been in a death and black metal kick so I needed this
But I also love Shoegaze so this will be perfect
At the Gates were using Hm2s going into Peavey Bandits for their first few recordings, but Entombed/Dismember are probably the bands most connected with this pedal. Basically max the settings, play a big low turned crossover thrash riff and throw a D-beat over it.
IMO the best way to sum up this pedal is : "it makes your brain cells slowly melt, leaving you with nothing but a desperate urge to play dumb filthy and groovy riffs forever"
YEEEAHH at 13:02 you have it :D
great
HM2 (everything on 10) into Peavey Bandit = the original chainsaw - discovered by Leif Cuzner in Nihilist, later to become Entombed.
Was on an Hangström amp first then on a Peavey Studio Pro 40 for Left Hand Path
"...to the point it sounds horrible" ...right as it start to sound perfect.
It still sounds wicked and still has it's place. The broken up ripped tone is a part of the charm and the custom switch is an added addition to a classic. Sold mine about 100 years ago but wouldn't mind having one of these.
The number one rule on the HM-2. All knobs maxed out.
Please shut up
It's a pretty niche thing, and does not sound tonally "good" by any stretch of the imagination. But in the mix and with the right riffs it will remove paint from the walls. Same argument can be made about Dimebag's tone IMO.
I have one on order, obviously. Entombed's Clandestine was one of the first death metal albums I bought back in the day and I still love it.
@luke lacheta-widdicombe Pantera sucks balls.
It’s like a fuzz with “tight” controls and a boost.
Haven't played one yet, but Ive been pretty disappointed with all the reviews. It seems more like run of the mill clone. Its too thick in the low-mid and the gain is a lot fuzzier. The HM2 was very unique. This is not.
@@springbloom5940 i would have to agree with you im slightly disappointed with it as well, it could sound alot tighter. sure you could always plug in an EQ pedal to shape the tone more, but i was hoping that BOSS would refine the tone for the new custom mode more so we could have the option to switch between the unique nasty tone of the original, to a much tighter more refined new custom tone. at the price they are selling it here in Canada (which is like $100 more than the U.S. price), i sadly won’t be picking up this pedal.
@@lordcuddlebuttz3336 from what I understand, the custom mode is more tailored to heavily downtuned riffing( B or lower)
@@rubysoffner4557 yes i know, it’s made for the low tuned swedish death metal chainsaw tone that bands like Bloodbath, Dissection, Entombed and Grave use, i love that tone and i use it as well, i was just saying i don’t think BOSS did a very good job shaping the tone of the custom mode, in my opinion it should be tighter in the mids and less thick so your notes can be heard through the fuzz, especially if your tuning low to drop b or drop a.
This is THE sound I was looking for. Sludgy and gnarly..
Love this! I started playing guitar back in 1992 and my parents got me a cheap, used Ibanez with a single humbucker and a low-wattage, clean, solid-state amp. I started trying to play and just couldn't figure out how to get those broken up tones I always associated with electric guitar. My parents took me back to the guitar store, and the guy at the counter told me I needed a distortion pedal. He asked what type of music I was into and then recommended an HM-2. I spent a few days nagging my parents about getting it (I was a little brat) and my mom eventually gave in and bought it. I sold it a few years later to help pay for a new amp with an overdrive channel, but I've always looked back at the HM-2 fondly. I may just need to pick one of these up!
The most prolific version of HM-2 tone is from early Dismember records and live performances. There were NO SOLID STATES in that version. The pedal was placed in front of JCM 900, and they literally just turned EVERYTHING ALL THE WAY UP (on the heads and the pedals). I actually witnessed it. It's insane. But when you do it, you almost have to write riffs in that particular genre. It's one of the rare cases where the tone influences the genre, rather than visa versa.
Erm, no, the tone was originally discovered by Leif Cuzner in Nihilist into a Peavey Bandit, Nicke heard it and realised it was the sound they wanted and it went from there. Tomas Skogburg @ Sunlight Studio then produced Nihilist and then Entombed and Carnage then Dismember who picked up the tone through this path, All the member of these groups crossed over Johnny Dordevic played bass in Carnage and stood in on vocals in Entombed etc.
These days, Lik, Entrails, Endseeker, Implore are just 4 bands of the top of my head who all use the HM2 chainsaw these days.
@@technocracylao I didn'tt say "original". I know how it happened "originally" and how the tone evolved. That was not my point. My point is that I like Dismember's version better, and I assure you, my description of how they delivered it was quite accurate, having seen it with my own eyes live, spoken to David Blomqvist about it while he was still wrapping his cables up, and having been friends with Fred Estby for years now. The other bands used the Bandit and played with settings. Dismember ran through their JCM heads and put EVERYTHING on TEN on the heads AND on the pedal. And in my opinion, the Dismember sound is the superior version.
this comment makes literally 0 sense at all
@@tommygunrva Yes their live sound is a JCM 900, but Like an Ever Flowing Stream was recorded on a Peavey Studio Pro 40 that they borrowed from Nicke Andersson of Entombed, presumably because of lack of funds. They started using Marshalls when they actually started touring and the first album those amps appeared on was the 1993 Indecent & Obscene, so you're only partially right that the sound of the early Dismember records is a JCM 900 with everything on 10 (which I think is a lie, the treble on those things would shave you).
@@technocracylaothe best Boss age Hm2 Sound in last years. Have "Skin her Alive" on the Track " With Thorns in my eyes"
Hi Rabea, I havent really watched much guitar youtube since I was in high school (2013-2015 was my most active era) and I just got a recommendation on this video. Man, you are looking good! Also loving the content, went back and watched some popular videos. Just good to see you are doing well and that youre still a kickass guitar player
in my opinion i think it adds a whole other level to your playing. it makes your riffs more chaotic sounding i love it dude, keep up the sauce playing
There are 2 ways to get the chainsaw sound: Everything cranked into clean channel or everything cranked but gain on 0 using it as a boost on your regular high gain amp to get more contemporary version of that sound. You didn't actually achieve any chainsaw sounds in this video, close on the od channel but still not quite. BUT: that's actually great, cause it can do more than that and showed some pretty cool sounds for other type of filthy riffing that most others who'll demos this won't even bother with. Great demo!
this is a pretty big pt that people usually miss with the hm2. good comment.
There's only one setting on this pedal: everything on MAX.
Exactly. All dimed all the time.
Turn it to eleven. :P
Thats a meme and why everyone's tone sucks.
@@springbloom5940 That’s not a meme it’s the signature sound of Swedish Death Metal. Just search RUclips and you will see
@@KillingMachine44
🤦
I found the best hm-2 settings for myself. Lows and highs at maximum, gain at 0. All this goes into a well-tuned distortion pedal or dirty channel of the amp. The volume on the pedal can be adjusted according to the situation. More volume means more bottom end, less volume means more itchy top end. The output produces quite little noise with that same chainsawish sound
This is a great perspective on this pedal and I love how you talked about how you needed a bit of time to understand this very different tone. You also showed that the pedal can far exceed it's pigeonholed reputation and inspire new creativity. The so called chainsaw setting is to set the treble control above where you avoided in the video because it sounded weird. You have to get your brain to see that such a filthy sound is the point and like you started to get, that it inspires you to write riffs that go with it, and letting the gear take you to new territory. Great perspective on the pedal it really is one of the most interesting distortions out there
Good review Rebea! It's great to hear this pedal demoed by a guitarist who plays with a more modern style, and with the knobs not all at 11. I do really like the Swedish Chainsaw sound don't get me wrong, but nice to hear what this pedal can do. Cheers!
Still got my original HM-2 from the 80's, came with a brass plaque stating that it was the 3 millionth unit ever made. Still have it on key chain. love my Boss pedals. Ever done a demo on the RT-20?
The "terrible," sound you refer to when you turn the highs up is the "chainsaw," sound
as soon as he got it right he said it sounded horrible. hahahaa
@@miahmcbride5415 same thought I had
i got my hands on one of these finally! its so badass infront of a crunchy amp as a boost with the distortion ctrl really low or even off, its really tight but gnarly still, its more of a fuzz than a distortion really, it actually loves single coils! the best pedal ever imo
Definitely wanna say:
1. Another great video even if you don't know everything about the genre! Was awesome to see a video of someone playing a different style instead of just playing death metal riffs haha!
2. This pedal is a MONSTER for layering guitars! Do not sleep on it if you're adding big guitar layers or sort of Pads or Big Chords to your songs and riffs! It fills those roles specifically well for production and would love to hear it used in some of your future projects!!!
do you mean to use the HM-2 for the over-layer to a primary guitar track with a different high gain sound - or do you mean layering Hm-2 tracks over each over?
Your reaction was telling. Glad you shared your honest view. Amazing how eq shaping and mic placement can make such a difference. Never heard a great tone, but it was instructive to see you try to tweak it.
David Gilmour used a HM-2 a lot in the 80's and 90's. I know its known and loved for that Swedish Metal tone, but hearing Gilmour coax out some crazy tones with that thing is awesome!
Gilmours settings were all knobs at two oclock.
10:40 onward sounds awesome. Love the odd incorporation of minor notes where I don't expect them. Your licks are always really cool and imo innovative.
Run it into a medium gain el34 amp, turn everything up full on the pedal then find the sweet spot on the Dist control and you'll find out why it's such a satisfying tone to play through
Yes, @Nathan Harlow, knows how to properly get the “Chainsaw!” Crank the knobs and use it to push a dirty channel!
Your riff at 14:14 further boosts my motivation to continue to try and teach myself to play on my electric guitar. Do you have any tips to learning? How did you go about learning?
Groove, sludge, and upbeat skank riffs, sound so classic and raw this! I like how it opened up in standard mode on the crunch channel
Dude -
Listen to Entombed - Wolverine Blues as a starting point
Carcass - Heartwork
Also I love Lik - they are awesome
carcass used a marshall guv into a 5150 on heartwork
Yeah, no HM-2 on Heartwork. Incredible album though!
Secret to the Heartwork tone is two cabs back to back held together as airtight as possible, mic both. Sounds huge.
But yeah, Guvnor into 5150, no HM-2.
@@jackdevanney1193 oh yes the frankencab
As the 'that pedal show's guys say... "it's a sound"
I mean, the HM-2 is supposed to sound harsh and disgusting. I like it.
The gnarliness of it actually sounds great for the lead tones. And it's not so messy that you can't make pinch harmonics pop out. Sounds great with a crunch too.
Surprisingly good lead tone! I've always hated the sound of this pedal on distorted chords, but I can hear where in a mix, it could help out for sections
The trick with the HM2 to get the Swedish DM chainsaw sound is to crank both low and hi controls all the way up then set the gain and volume accordingly.
I still have my original HM-2 from back when they were first released, it’s in mint condition and I always ran it into the front of a Gunn 100 watt amp and quad box (NZ built Marshall Clone), which I also still have and now I just wanna get it all out and set it up and play it loud!! It sounds just like your rig Rabea 🤘🤘 and yeah, that makes me old! 🤣😂
Nice t-shirt 👀
13:13 that face. He could feel the evil :D
Putting it on the crunch channel was the right move, the way the Kraken shaped the distortion was awesome.
When scooped it kind of sounds like Bolt thrower, although they're not Swedish or Black metal.
Buuuuut, Bolt Thrower rules!
Don't bring a chainsaw to a tank fight! 👈
YES! I want want want this pedal. Thank you for demoing it !!!!! ❤️🎸❤️
Great to hear the Treble rolled off in this demo, that was my sound 25 years ago, I'd never heard of Entombed, didn't care for them then either, but I got a Shredmaster instead after my HM2 was nicked by some entombed fan.... Can't wait to get this pedal in August and get my old tone back. SCOOOOOOOOOPPPP
That neck looks so good with the body , they go together so great ... really one of the nicest guitars I've seen done with that kinda top.
Mines been on preorder I can't waitttt
The first studio demo I ever did in about ‘86, I used my HM-2 into a Roland JC-50. I still have the demo and the guitar sound holds up. Funny thing is, I never thought the HM-2 sounded very good through other amps. Maybe they partially developed it with the JC amps, because it sure worked well
this demo i'd like to hear! i got both pedal and jc50 too!
I definitely liked it with the crunch channel, compressed the harsh top end and flabby bottom . I 'll try out as always thanks for your review and your "honesty" it's much appreciated at my end!
Boost (TS-9, SD-1, ect.) into HM-2 (Level 10, Low 8, High 6-7, Gain to taste) into dirt channel of marshall style amp (Gain 4-6, Low 7-8, Mid 5, Treble 5-6, Presence 6-7). With those I got modern marshall's high gain tone that marshall (company) never gave us. Sounds a lot like modded JCM or Fortin's Cali or even Evil Pumpkin if you dial it right on you specific amp
I dig that you are humble, but you shouldn't apologize. You have a style of your own that people like myself respect. Own it! You have brought yourself to a point where you dont have to follow any more.
And if you're on a budget get the Behringer HM300 for £20.00
It's a clone of the HM2.
10:26 That's how Blade Runner soundtrack could sound like if Vangelis was a metal fan.
I love your playing Rabea! And this sound is pure madness in pretty a good way.
Dismember is a far better example of Swedish death over entombed. Also, don't run the hm2 into your clean channel, run it thru the dirty channel with the pedal knobs maxed and the amp gain at about 15%. THAT'S the way you get the chainsaw sound.
Good god that’s heavy. Sounds amazing man. Always one of my favorite RUclipsrs.
Definitely would have liked to hear it in the context of a full mix. It's probably one of those things that sounds a little too dirty until drums and bass are mixed in.
I am waiting for mine. I've had one since the 80's. My music is Blues based rock and I use this a LOT for that.
Right on! Sounds pretty dang good from here
Can't speak for the pedal 😆😅
The metal zone actually sounds awesome when run through the effects loop. But its old news
Old news bruv
Shame that's not the featured pedal.
Siiiick!
Backbone of the "Entombed" sound.
The true Swedish EQ mode for that HM-2w pedal would be that all the knobs are cranked up to max to get that filthy chainsaw-like sound.
Rabea, you're the best man, that's literally the whole comment, what a player and an inspiration.
The only way you can get the most out of this pedal is setting all 4 knobs at 100% and hook it into a dirt channel amp with a slightly distorted tone. Then you get the killer swedish chainsaw sound. It helps if you tune your guitar to B standard.
Remember, this was meant to be a versatile pedal on release! Add some fuzz, add some sludge, some grit, to whatever tone you wished - and often, not that much. The absolute broken chaos you get when you turn it to PlusUltra is practically a mistake - but a glorious one.
The standard scooped setting was reminiscent of some 90’s metal to me. I am curious to hear it in front of a solid state like you said.
its kinda telling that every tone in this video might just be the best tone I've ever heard from Rabea. That being said, I, contrary to him, am very much a extreme metal guy.
Well that's pleasantly surprising. Wish I had this when I just started back in the day. Would've been perfect back then. Awesome as always bud.
Ahhh one of the infamous haha, this pedal (gift from a friend) with a Danelectro T-Bone distortion were my first two pedals, paired with an Ibanez practice amp/guitar and a masterclass of Andy Timmons on VHS, was how I started learning guitar back in the late 90's early 00's. By the way at 14:31 you nailed the only EQ setting allowed for this pedal.
I've been waiting so long to get this pedal, I sold my original way back in 1996 and absolutely regretted selling it. I always ran it through my Carvin X50B with 4x12 cab, it's a tube amp and sounds awesome, so for whom ever said it should be for a solid state I don't believe them lol. I can't wait to get this little monster, it just takes time to dial it in for your gear is all!
I agree that the tone in and of itself isn't great, but I imagine mixed with a normal tight 5150 or Rectifier tone it would sound massive.
The thing is that a straight 5150 distorted/OD tone by itself is... better.
I like metal, but maybe I like a different mind of metal than what this pedal does lol
Wicked!!!
I still have my original HM-2 from 1986 and it's still working
Every knob must be turned all the way up. That’s the way you’ll get the Swedish chainsaw sound. It’s the best fucking sound you can get.
The guys in Cannibal Corpse used to use it to boost the front end of duel rectifiers for the most brutal chunky death metal tone.
Sounds like hell. Which is spot on, actually! Lol
It's getting the right riffs out of you anyway. More like this, please Rabea!
I like it.
Love the 'sludgy' vibe of this pedal.
It's amusing to think that this single pedal from the 80s became the core sound of much of an entire genre, at least one of the most recognisable tones within it. I can just imagine the engineer who designed this is simulataneously horrified yet amazed of what became of his creation (also probably not entirely impressed that most people just max the controls and go), to the point where it was redesigned for the modern market almost 40 years later. Definitely an acquired taste but a true classic.
There, man. I just ordered one! Cheers.
Old School Swedish Death Metal!!!!!
The first sound test before you tried to fix the volume sounded great
I'm just here for those sweet, sweet riffs bro.
Funny enough, this pedal is really awesome for shoegazers like us, famously used by My Bloody Valentine
DUDE, you have been doing some work and it shows! You look amazing mate, stay healthy, happy and keep rocking! BTW Still have my 90's HM that back in the day, would be running straight into the front end of a GK 112 combo amp. Could clear any garage practice room, so fucking loud and shrill, I loved it but nobody wanted to play with me with that set up :(
cheers brother!
Used the original HM-2 with a solid state 30W Marshall back in the 80's, and it sounded pretty awesome :-)
Watching Rabea accidentally play death metal riffs makes me happy. Cheers dude!
I don't think there's anything out there that you (Bea) couldn't make sound amazing! Whatever the gear, it always sounds stellar when you're "just messing around"!
This Pedal belongs in front of a 5150's cranked High-Gain Channel. Swedish Chainsaw reference sound is Slaughter of the Soul by At the Gates.
Clandestine is the reference tone.
Very much along the veins of a Maxon Fuzz Elements Void with that busted speaker sound. Would be cool for fills, breakdowns or lead parts.
Ola Englund plugged it in the effects loop... and it was a m a z i n g.
ENTOMBED baby!!! all knobs at MAX!! ;)
The standard mode sounds better.
Didn't like this pedal but I changed my mind after watch this. It's in my wishlist now because of you. It's all your fault. 😂
You just make a new movement on buzz crunch on the standard mode. That sound can be accepted by many people out there. Thank you. 🙏🏽
You're a genius in tone sculpture. ✊🏽
Nice
Yeah, I want one again \,,/
I’ve been on a huge melodic deathcore, melodic metalcore, and melodeath kick lately with some hints of stoner doom and doomy thrash metal and even traditional doom. I’ve been looking at pedals that can give that “sanitized” yet sort of grindy tone with some growl to it that I’ve found that stoner doom and melodeath have some similarity between. I think this pedal, obviously with an additional EQ pedal, will probably provide the tone I’m looking for. Thanks dude! Cheers!
Thx for testing this. I also bought it without testing just heared that it creates the old sound from the swedish Death Metal . This Sound is like this Song (Entombed - Drowned) check it out . Wonderful for some who like the good old swedish Death Metal its amazing
My favourite Swedish band is Entombed! They loved the HM2 pedal
R.I.P L.G Petrov.
Yep, crazy thing is they run it with the DS-1
Looking and sounding good man
At 6:19 when you said "to the point when it sounds horrible", that was the only time in the video that you got the HM-2 Chainsaw tone. If you listen to something like Feast of the Damned by Black breath you'll hear the signature hm-2 sound