Engaging the MT-2W’s Custom mode voices the pedal for a huge, wide-ranging sound, making it ideal for nearly any current heavy style. The tone is natural and open, with increased dynamics and rounder lower mids than Standard mode. Even at the highest gain settings, the low end remains full yet tight, focused, and well-defined, perfect for chugging out low-tuned riffs. The sound also cleans up very nicely when reducing your guitar’s volume, putting an extremely balanced range of tones under your fingers. Waza Craft: The Art of Superior Tone

Ikegami believes that this flurry of YouTube content, not to mention the endless online chatter, has cemented the MT-2’s standing.

Cookies

More recently, tech metal bands have leaned on modelling units like the Axe-FX series. Even so, many of the models used, like the FAS Modern, are simply hot-rodded emulations of classic metal amps, often with a boost in front. Choose between the original gain circuitand a brand new modern setting in the MT-2W. The first has been overhauled to widen its range. By updating the first circuit with discrete components, Waza Craft have increased the expression and tone density. AC adaptor (PSA series: sold separately) Current Draw 30 mA Expected battery life under continuous use Carbon: Approx. 12.5 hours The MT-2 has a dual-stage gain circuit to get a decent amount of distortion,” says Ikegami. “But if this circuit [is] only boosting the gain, it will make the distortion sound from an amp muddy and not smooth. Simon Neil, Biffy Clyro (below)– the inked Scotsman has used his Metal Zone on every Biffy record to date. In a video interview with That Pedal Show, he professed that he still uses one alongside his MD-2 Mega Distortion in his live rig. Mega indeed.

By the dawn of the ‘90s, the options for high-gain guitar amps were limited, especially for the grassroots players, and yet demand for more extreme guitar tones were needed to take the art form further was spiking. Those looking to follow in the footsteps of Carcass, Morbid Angel, Entombed, Napalm Death, Obituary et al needed something extra. Enter Boss… Specifications Nominal Input Level -20 dBu Input Impedance 1 M ohm Nominal Output Level -20 dBu Output Impedance 1 k ohm Recommended Load Impedance 10 k ohms or greater Bypass Buffered bypass Controls DIST knob

Downloads

During a visit to “ That Pedal Show,” Simon Neil professed that “every millimeter on this thing counts.” Indeed, “little tweaks” on the MT-2 constitute the secret sauce of his tone, which he conjures by pairing the pedal with “the clarity and the punch” of a Fender Strat. At the Gates, whose seminal 1995 album Slaughter of the Soul featured extensive use of the Boss MT-2 Metal Zone (Image credit: Gary Wolstenholme/Redferns) We have seen tons of videos, comments, discussion, [and] even memes. I feel this is a bit of evidence that shows the MT-2 is loved by a lot of players,” he says. “[Its] unique characteristics and features make the MT-2 a high-gain icon that has continued to capture the hearts of many guitarists for three decades.” Become Part of the Metal Zone Legend So in short: having an MT-2 on your pedalboard will give you a stronger signal, even if it’s switched off. Who’d have thought? 3: Modding the Metal Zone

Kurt Ballou is a producer at GodCity studios in Salem, Massachusetts as well as a guitarist with Converge, and he's a master architect of heavy tones who knows gear better than most. He even makes his own pedals and guitars under God City Instruments name. While he's an aficionado of the Boss HM-2, for a while he used the MT-2 and like other heavyweight players on our list, he utilised it as a boost. Many guitarists may think the MT-2 Metal Zone creates only heavy and aggressive sound that match to metal music due to its name,” says Ikegami. However, the MT-2 covers a quite wide range of tones, from crunchy overdrive to deep, high-gain sounds. Interestingly, I heard there are many jazz or blues guitarists who use the MT-2 as a preamp and EQ pedal to get silky and cut-through tone. They boost midrange with low gain, then cut high and low range to [add] focus to its midrange.”

Is the Boss Metal Zone any good?

I tried every distortion pedal on the market and every time I heard the sound that excited me, it was the Metal Zone! Simon Neil, Biffy Clyro