Distortion is intrinsic to hard rock and metal. It’s a fundamental building block of the genre and a distinguishing characteristic of a sound that’s detested by some and beloved by so many others. There are countless subgenres of metal with their own identifying traits, but a high-gain guitar tone permeates them all. The best distortion pedals for metal will turn any amplifier into a bludgeoning brute, letting you explore extreme styles of self-expression.

Lest we forget where we came from, pioneering legends Black Sabbath are frequently credited as the godfathers of metal. Tony Iommi’s down-tuned guitar and heavily saturated tube amp surely set a precedent from which an entirely new musical style could evolve. At the same time, groundbreaking contemporaries like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple helped further the sound of rock ’n’ roll, priming it for an explosion of heavier artists in the subsequent years and decades.

Pictured: BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone Distortion Effects Pedal

From the mid ’70s into the ’80s and beyond, pivotal movements and emergent scenes included the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM); the development of thrash, glam, death and black metal; the melting pot of influences that became nu metal; boundary-pushing progressive metal and “djent”; and innumerable offshoots and evolutions therein.

Current hard rock and metal scenes continue to flourish and innovate, with bands like Periphery and Animals as Leaders spearheading a subsection of an always-growing community of headbangers.

For today’s aspiring metal guitar players, access to soul-rupturing high-gain tones has never been easier, as shown by our curated selection of some of the best distortion pedals for mind-melting metal.

Table of Contents

Where Does a Distortion Pedal Go in My Signal Chain?
Comparing the Best Distortion Pedals for Metal
The Best Distortion Pedals for Metal
   BOSS DS-1 Distortion Effects Pedal
   BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone Effects Pedal
   BOSS HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza Craft Distortion Effects Pedal
   Behringer UM300 Ultra Metal Distortion Effects Pedal
   Electro-Harmonix Nano Metal Muff Distortion Effects Pedal
   GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion Effects Pedal
   JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion Effects Pedal
   Maestro Invader Distortion Effects Pedal
   MXR M69P Prime Distortion Effects Pedal
   MXR M86 Classic Distortion Effects Pedal
   ProCo RAT2 Distortion Effects Pedal
   Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Effects Pedal
   TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Effects Pedal
   Wampler Mofetta Overdrive and Distortion Effects Pedal
Unleash the Beast With the Best Distortion Pedals for Metal

Where Does a Distortion Pedal Go in My Signal Chain?

Distortion pedals are classified as a gain stage and typically go somewhere near the middle of your effects chain. Your tuner, volume pedal, wah, compressor and octaver/pitch shifter mark the beginning, after which comes distortion. This order works well because it gives the preceding pedals the purest signal to process, after which you can mangle it up with a drastic effect like distortion.

If you also have an overdrive pedal and plan to stack gain-based effects, the overdrive will normally come before the distortion, boosting into it for tighter, more aggressive sonics. Remaining effects—modulation, reverb and delay—comprise the end of the signal chain, trailing distortion. At this point in the signal path, the majority of your tone has been processed, and you can then “sweeten” it with effects like phasing, flanging, reverberation and others, on top of the primary sound. For more, check out our in-depth guide on guitar pedal order.

Pictured: ProCo RAT2 Distortion Effects Pedal

Once you’ve rigged up your board with a spicy new dirt pedal, take a little time to dial in the proper gain-staging balance between the distortion and your amplifier, as well as between the pedals before and after your drive. You typically wouldn’t want to overload any of these cascading inputs, so it’s wise to maintain best gain-staging practices for the clearest, cleanest version of your signal. Well, maybe not so clean—we’re talking distortion for metal, after all.

Comparing the Best Distortion Pedals for Metal

Model	Tonal Characteristics	Controls	Power Draw
BOSS DS-1	Warm and rich to bright and articulate crunch	Tone, Level, Distortion	9VDC, 10mA
BOSS MT-2	Monstrous high gain with assertive midrange grind	Level, High, Low, Middle, Mid Freq, Distortion	9VDC, 30mA
BOSS HM-2W	Buzzing “chainsaw” distortion associated with ’90s Swedish death metal	Level, Low, High, Distortion	9VDC, 30mA
Behringer UM300	Thick, extreme, tube-like distortion inspired by the MT-2	Distortion, Low, High, Mid, Mid Freq, Level	9VDC, 30mA
Electro-Harmonix Nano Metal Muff	Hard-hitting high gain with an intense, aggressive character	Volume, Gate, Distortion, Treble, Mid, Bass	9VDC, 24mA
GAMMA Hades	Versatile textures suited to everything from black metal to classic British crunch	Level, Drive, Bass, Mid, Treble	9VDC, 30mA
JHS Hard Drive	Modern-voiced high gain with tube-like sound and feel	Volume, Mid Freq, Drive, Bass, Middle, Treble	9VDC, 78mA
Maestro Invader	Contemporary all-analog dirt with a heavy, aggressive character	Gain, Tone, Level, Gate On/Off	9VDC, 57mA
MXR Prime Distortion	’80s-style hard clipping suited to glam metal and more	Output, Tone, Distortion	9VDC, 4mA
MXR Classic Distortion	Versatile, transparent and responsive style of saturation	Output, Tone, Distortion	9VDC, 2mA
ProCo RAT2	Tight, gritty tonality with ample gain for overdrive, distortion and fuzz	Distortion, Filter, Volume	9VDC, 2mA
Soldano Super Lead Overdrive	Luscious, liquid distortion with incredible detail	Volume, Presence, Gain, Treble, Middle, Bass, Deep	9VDC, 32mA
TC Electronic Dark Matter	Classic Plexi-style gain offering timeless crunch	Gain, Level, Bass, Treble, Voice	9VDC, unavailable
Wampler Mofetta	Smooth, fiery overdrive and distortion with MOSFET clipping	Bass, Mids, Treble, Level, Texture, Gain	9VDC, 10mA

The Best Distortion Pedals for Metal

Pictured: GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion and Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedals

BOSS DS-1 Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: The DS-1 Distortion is the best-selling BOSS pedal of all time, used by cross-genre legends like Kurt Cobain, Steve Vai and John Frusciante.

Things to Consider:

• Versatile enough for everything from indie to hard rock to metal
• Rugged and reliable for years of use
• Simple control layout is easy to dial in

 

Shop Now: BOSS DS-1 Distortion Effects Pedal

Released in 1978, the BOSS DS-1 has been a go-to distortion pedal for almost 50 years. At the time, it was one of only a handful of hard-clipping distortion effects in a sea of fuzz pedals, and its introduction coincided with emerging punk rock and metal scenes, appealing to guitarists seeking more aggressive sounds. Using the onboard Tone control, the BOSS DS-1 goes from full and round to bright and cutting at the twist of a knob. For more modern flavors of metal, we’d recommend stacking this distortion pedal with an overdrive, similar to how you’d hit the preamp of a high-gain amplifier for tight, articulate tones.

The iconic BOSS DS-1 is also available as a made-in-Japan Waza Craft version, and there’s a limited-edition white colorway if you prefer to stand out from the pack. Accumulating 300+ reviews, Guitar Center customers give the DS-1 4.55/5 stars.

BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: Since 1991, the BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone has been a standout choice for high-gain, midrange-focused sounds that are a staple of heavy music.   

Things to Consider:

• Innovative dual-stage gain circuit
• 3-band EQ with semi-parametric midrange
• Full-on saturated bliss at virtually any volume

Shop Now: BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone Effects Pedal

With a roster of notable users, including Prince (yes, really), metalcore/hardcore punk titan Kurt Ballou (Converge), Swedish death metal icons At the Gates, and the formidable Cannibal Corpse, the BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone is one of the most influential high-gain distortion pedals ever produced. From scorching-hot riffs to searing solos, the MT-2’s mid-forward voice and seemingly endless amount of gain is perfectly suited to extreme metal. Impressively versatile, “You can play anything from Sabbath to Slayer to Pantera on this one pedal,” according to a Guitar Center reviewer. There’s also a Waza Craft version, which features an additional voice to better take on contemporary styles—particularly those relying on extended-range instruments.

The best-selling BOSS Metal Zone distortion pedal rightfully earns an overall rating of 4.8/5 based on nearly 200 reviews, with 94% of users recommending it to a friend in pursuit of face-melting high gain.

BOSS HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza Craft Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: Another legendary entry in the BOSS distortion catalog, the HM-2W Heavy Metal is the culprit behind the classic “chainsaw” tone that defined Swedish death metal in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Things to Consider:

• Waza Craft reissue of an underground favorite
• One of the first “amp in a box” pedals of its kind
• Distinctive orange and black aesthetic

Shop Now: BOSS HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza Craft Distortion Effects Pedal

The original BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal distortion pedal had a short-lived run from 1983–1991, and it was a relatively rare piece of kit prior to being reissued as the HM-2W Waza Craft edition in 2021. In 1990, Sweden’s Entombed famously released their seminal debut album Left Hand Path, which prominently featured the HM-2’s signature “buzzsaw” sound that defined death metal of the era. Conceived as an “amp in a box” pedal, the Heavy Metal’s sound is based on a pushed Marshall stack, which is frequently the basis for metal tones to this day. The rereleased Waza Craft version incorporates modern refinements—such as lower noise and increased level—for better performance without sacrificing the inimitable character of the original.

Behringer UM300 Ultra Metal Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: For the price of several cups of coffee, the Behringer UM300 Ultra Metal distortion pedal unleashes bold, tube-like saturation suited to extreme styles of music.

Things to Consider:

• 3-band EQ with semi-parametric midrange
• Achieves traditional and modern metal sounds with ease
• Inspired by the BOSS Metal Zone

Shop Now: Behringer UM300 Ultra Metal Distortion Effects Pedal

Behringer brings top-notch tone to budget-minded guitar players with the UM300 Ultra Metal distortion pedal. Thick saturation is inherent, and a semi-parametric midrange band lets you target a specific frequency between 200Hz and 5kHz, then boost or cut it by up to 15dB. This inclusion is critical to dialing in the ideal high-gain tone, from old-school scooped mids to the fuller, more assertive guitar voicings heard in modern metal.

Garnering 4.64 stars from 25+ ratings, the Behringer UM300 is easy to use, and it’s incredibly affordable. One Guitar Center reviewer described it as such: “Despite its low price, this little guy is amazing—sounds great and can take a beating. I’ve had no problems whatsoever and would definitely recommend this for the musician on a budget.”

Electro-Harmonix Nano Metal Muff Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: The Electro-Harmonix Nano Metal Muff packs all the punch of its full-size counterpart into a scaled-down chassis for bone-crushing tones on the go.

Things to Consider:

• Pedalboard-friendly size
• Roadworthy construction
• Includes a 9V battery (power supply optional)

Shop Now: Electro-Harmonix Nano Metal Muff Distortion Effects Pedal

Electro-Harmonix’s Nano Metal Muff distortion pedal goes from mild to wild at the turn of a dial. Loosely inspired by the MT-2 Metal Zone but with its own personality, this hard-hitting saturation stompbox sports a massive range of useable distortion for everything from doom and sludge to technical death metal and djent. Its onboard 3-band EQ comes in clutch for sculpting the sound in your head, while a nifty built-in gate keeps extraneous noise at bay. The EHX Nano Metal Muff is powerful, physically unobtrusive and ready to be the centerpiece of a monstrous metal rig.

GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: The GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion evokes visions of the nether realm with its barbarous brand of high gain.

Things to Consider:

• GAMMA pedals are exclusive to Guitar Center
• Clear, articulate gain structure plays well with other pedals
• Bass, mid and treble tone controls

Shop Now: GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion Effects Pedal

Named after the king of the underworld in Greek mythology, the Hades Metal Distortion pedal by GAMMA conjures hellish high gain for black metal, old-school hard rock, industrial and more. Boasting Level and Drive controls with a 3-band equalizer, the control layout is dead simple to navigate. Hades’ gain structure is voiced so that it remains articulate as distortion increases, and the midrange EQ band does a lot of the tonal heavy lifting for a huge variety of sounds. The top-rated GAMMA Hades Metal Distortion pedal currently sits at 4.74/5 with 35+ reviews.

JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: Featuring a proprietary circuit designed completely from scratch, the JHS Hard Drive distortion pedal is a wholly original take on modern saturation.

Things to Consider:

• Tones range from tube-like crunch to impenetrable walls of distortion
• Sweepable midrange frequency selector
• Not “based on” or “inspired by” any existing classics

Shop Now: JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion Effects Pedal

In 2016, JHS Pedals founder Joshua Heath Scott set out to develop a circuit capturing the best high-gain tones of the ’90s and early 2000s. After extensive research and testing, JHS took a left turn and began building a 100% original distortion circuit from scratch. The JHS Hard Drive distortion pedal is the result, embodying JHS’ late head engineer Cliff Smith’s passion for high gain and making solid-state electronics sound and feel like tube-based tech. It was his final project, holds a special place in the company’s history and, of course, sounds incredible for metal.

Maestro Invader Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: The streamlined Invader Distortion by Maestro has an aggressive, heavy sonic signature rich in harmonic overtones.

Things to Consider:

• Built-in noise gate with internal threshold trim pot
• Simplified Tone control tweaks the overall EQ profile
• All-analog circuitry

Shop Now: Maestro Invader Distortion Effects Pedal

Dominate high-gain metal tones with the Maestro Invader Distortion pedal, featuring three easy-to-use parameters and a toggleable noise gate for tight, crisp saturation with any pickups at any volume. The Invader can produce a wide range of tones, from British crunch to modern metal, and it even pushes into fuzz-inspired territory. Aggressively articulate and capable of cutting through the mix, the Maestro Invader Distortion is a flexible high-gain distortion pedal.

MXR M69P Prime Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: MXR’s Prime Distortion is a no-nonsense, vintage-inspired drive pedal recreating the timeless sound of old-school hard-clipping stompboxes.

Things to Consider:

• Intuitive control layout
• Great sound is quick to dial in
• Exclusive to Guitar Center

Shop Now: MXR M69P Prime Distortion Effects Pedal

The MXR Prime Distortion pedal captures vintage growl and crunch with unique, amp-like sensitivity that preserves pick attack and the nuanced intricacies of your technique. For metal, there’s enough gain on tap to achieve full-blown distorted chaos, but it’s also a great pedal to run at more modest settings for overdriven rock, alternative and more. A Guitar Center exclusive, you won’t find the MXR Prime Distortion anywhere else. Customers have rated it a perfect 5/5.

MXR M86 Classic Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: The Classic Distortion by MXR delivers searing high-gain tone in spades, but it does so transparently, allowing your guitar’s natural voice to shine through.

Things to Consider:

• Streamlined control layout
• Fast and intuitive operation
• Exclusive to Guitar Center

Shop Now: MXR M86 Classic Distortion Effects Pedal

Another MXR pedal only available at Guitar Center, the Classic Distortion offers a colorful palette of hard-clipped tones, ranging from mildly gritty to intensely saturated. With a natural, amp-like style of breakup, your guitar’s voice is always present, even as you begin to crank the distortion for hard rock and metal. Use the Classic Distortion on your amp’s clean channel for all your gain needs or push the front of a dirty channel—overdrive style—at moderate settings.

ProCo RAT2 Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: One of the most renowned distortion pedals of all time, the ubiquitous ProCo RAT has long been the benchmark by which other dirt boxes are measured.

Things to Consider:

• All-analog signal path
• Reliably durable steel enclosure
• 9V battery compartment requires no tools to access (power supply optional)

Shop Now: ProCo RAT2 Distortion Effects Pedal

The best-selling ProCo RAT2 distortion pedal is a certified classic. Since its debut in 1978, the RAT has found its way onto the pedalboards of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Nuno Bettencourt, Jeff Beck, Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, David Gilmour, Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl, Joe Perry, Graham Coxon and countless others. The ProCo RAT2 is remarkably versatile for such a stripped-down design and can be used for lightly overdriven tones, rich, tube-like saturation and even fizzed-out fuzz.

Scoring 4.4/5 with 60+ reviews, the RAT2 remains a player favorite. Cop the limited-edition, Guitar Center-exclusive white finish for extra style points.

Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: Mike Soldano’s legendary Super Lead Overdrive (SLO) amp is one of the finest boutique high-gain heads around, and now you can enjoy its coveted sound in pedal form.  

Things to Consider:

• Cascading gain stages for sounds from crunch to high gain
• Deep switch adjusts the overall low-end output
• Classic Soldano 3-band equalization

Shop Now: Soldano Super Lead Overdrive Effects Pedal

Released in 1987, the Soldano Super Lead Overdrive became an instant classic for contemporary high gain. Its drive channel was embraced my Mick Mars and Warren de Martini, and its crunch channel was favored by nonmetal titans Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton, to name a few. The Soldano Super Lead Overdrive distortion pedal recreates the iconic amp’s magical, exceptionally detailed saturation for liquid leads and roaring riffs. Dial it back for satisfying crunch, or let it rip for all your hard rock and metal needs.

TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: The TC Electronic Dark Matter is a vintage-voiced distortion pedal with extreme dynamic range.

Things to Consider:

• Plexi-esque tonality with a slightly modern edge
• 2-band equalization (bass and treble)
• 2-way voicing switch toggles extra bass

Shop Now: TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion Effects Pedal

TC Electronic’s Dark Matter distortion pedal features an all-analog drive circuit recalling timeless Marshall Plexi tones with the ability to tweak the sound for modern applications. Dark Matter’s flavor of gain offers minimal compression and a wide dynamic range, so it’s a lively, responsive pedal that reacts to your playing in a satisfying, amp-like way. The four-knob interface removes any guesswork involved with finding your sound, while a 2-way voicing switch can engage extra low end for a fatter, more contemporary metal tone.

Wampler Mofetta Overdrive and Distortion Effects Pedal

Why It’s Cool: Wampler’s Mofetta overdrive/distortion is a tribute to the rare Ibanez MT10 Mostortion pedal from the ’90s.

Things to Consider:

• Classic, amp-like overdrive with ample headroom
• Texture switch engages MOSFETs for bolder, more fiery saturation
• Stacks well with other gain stages

Shop Now: Wampler Mofetta Overdrive and Distortion Effects Pedal

The Wampler Mofetta overdrive/distortion pedal boasts a gorgeous, rich mid-gain voice the original Mostortion pedal is best known for, and ups the ante with true MOSFET clipping via the Texture switch for louder, tighter, more aggressive gain. While not considered a brutal high-gain monster, the Mofetta has a wide range of usable overdriven and distorted sounds, which are all highly responsive and articulate. This pedal’s flexibility means you can run it as a standalone gain circuit, use it to push the front of your amp or even stack it with another dirt pedal.

Unleash the Beast With the Best Distortion Pedals for Metal

There’s a lot to be said for pairing distortion stompboxes with a pedal-platform amplifier, as opposed to committing to a singular sound with a high-gain tube head or combo. Namely, you can sample many different flavors of distortion more affordably, taking the time to pinpoint the same exact tone you’re chasing. From vintage-style tube breakup to bold, blistering saturation, our list covers a lot of ground, but feel free to browse Guitar Center’s extended selection of pedals for more.

Pictured: JHS Pedals Hard Drive Distortion Effects Pedal

Also, check out our guide to the Best Distortion Pedals of 2024, showcasing a variety of dirt stompboxes for rock, hard rock and metal. Have any questions? Our expert Gear Advisers offer an individualized shopping experience to help find the right pedal for your board. You can also visit the pedal table at your local Guitar Center and put some of these distortion devices through their paces.