Best Distortion Pedals for Death Metal

5 Best Distortion Pedals for Death Metal

When it comes to finding the right type of pedal for whatever genre you prefer jamming to, it can be frustrating to sift through all the possibilities and options. This is especially true when it comes to finding distortion pedals for death metal.

If you’re a fan of death metal music, then you obviously already know that it has a gritty, fuzzy, and heavy tone to it.

This makes having a distortion pedal almost a requirement if you’re trying to mimic the sounds of Obituary, Napalm Death, Morbid Angel, or any of the hundreds of other death metal bands across the globe. 

In this buyer’s guide, we will try to lead you in the right direction when it comes to finding the right distortion pedal for your needs. And as you’ll be able to see, you don’t need a lot of money to find a pedal that will make your tone sound like extreme death metal.

The Ex-Inferno metal distortion pedal is one of the best and most affordable pedals that you will ever find for playing death metal. 

If you’re looking for some cool death metal tones like Deicide, Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, or Morbid Angel, look no further than this pedal. It was made specifically for death metal guitarists.

With its sturdy die-cast casing and basic controls, you can be sure that this pedal can handle any wear and tear, while also being extremely easy to use with your setup.

EX Inferno Death Metal Distortion Guitar Pedal, High-Gain Electric Guitar Effects Mini Pedal, with 3-Mode Boost Switch, True Bypass
  • 【Extreme Metal Tone】 Extreme metal distortion pedal is designed for metal & hard rock guitarists.
  • 【3 Distortion Modes】Take full control of your sound with the powerful 3-mode toggle switch. Choose between Raw, Brutal, or Inferno modes to dial in searing solos, growling lows, and massive rhythm tones.
  • 【Precision Tone】Level, Tone, and Distortion knobs let you fine-tune every aspect of your sound. Whether you want tight, punchy distortion or screaming high-gain chaos, the EX Inferno has your back.
  • 【True-Bypass & Rugged Build】Features rugged die-cast construction and true‑bypass analog circuitry for zero tone loss. Top-mounted 1/4 inch jacks and DC power input make it perfect for tight pedalboards and live gigs.
  • 【Kind Reminder】Runs on a 9V DC negative-tip power supply (Adapter NOT included). Compatible with daisy chains so you can power multiple pedals with ease.

Last update on 2025-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff with Top Boost

The Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff Metal Distortion Pedal gives players a lot of options for different distortion tones! You don’t even have to be a metal fan to enjoy what this pedal puts out.

The clarity and definition are great which means you will never lose any of the treble or bass even in the hardest, heaviest settings!

With this pedal, it’s all about flexibility as well as versatility – from those beautiful crunchy fuzz tones to the more growly kind of sounds that most pedals can’t give you. It can handle anything with no problems at all, so whether you play metal or not I urge you to give this pedal a try.

Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff with Top Boost Distortion Pedal
  • Output volume and master drive controls
  • 3-Band EQ: bass, mid and treble
  • Footswitchable Top Boost with separate control knob
  • Tough and compact die-cast chassis
  • 9-volt battery included

Last update on 2025-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pro Co Rat2 Distortion

The Pro Co RAT2 distortion pedal is a blast from the past that still holds its own to this day. Built like a tank with some of the most basic components, it has as much fat tone and versatility you could ask for.

You can go from ramping up your tube amp’s distortion just enough to get those rich tones in between all of your pedals on stage or turning the volume knob down all the way to creating raunchy fuzz effects!

With a knob for volume, filter, and distortion at your disposal, you’ll be able to create any tone of voice. Perfect pedal for any type of metal that suits you!

Pro Co RAT2 Distortion Pedal
  • Used as a primary distortion, it excels at arena rock rhythm tones and soaring leads
  • Nails that sweet spot where a tube amp goes from sparkly clean to warm overdrive
  • Use the RAT 2 as a boost for solos and get the extra kick you need

Last update on 2025-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

JOYO Uzi Distortion Pedal

For hard rock and metal musicians, the UZI’s high-gain distortion tone is a potent weapon in your arsenal. The power of this pedal is amplified by its tone stack to give you more volume without sacrificing clarity or articulation.

The JOYO UZI Distortion Pedal is a masterful distortion pedal with an onboard 3-band EQ. There is also a built-in ambience control switch that adds to the range of sound possibilities.

The UZI was created with different kinds of heavy music in mind, so it can fit any style with ease; if you’re looking for some versatile new sonic weaponry, this may be just what you need.

Abasi Pathos Distortion Pedal

The Abasi Pathos Distortion Pedal is a great distortion pedal. It has true bypass and makes your tone sound like an American-style tube amp channel, but with more oomph!

The “smooth” and “edge” voicings allow you to choose everything from an emotional crunch to a scorching distortion. This pedal goes well with any guitarist’s style of music because it produces the ideal amount of gain for anything from hard rock to death metal.

The treble control really lets the guitarist decide how bright they want their sound, making this effects pedal fit all-around as one of the best heavy effects out on the market today.

For those looking for the best all-around hard rock to metal pedal on the market, look no further!

Abasi Pathos Distortion Guitar Effects Pedal (ABASIPATHOS)
  • Crafted in the USA by Tosin Abasi in conjunction with Brian Wampler and designed to retain the feel of an American-style tube amp channel
  • “Smooth” and “edge” voicings range from emotive crunch all the way to scorching, yet controlled distortion and sustain
  • Musically-tuned EQ shelves and mid control, as well as potent gain and level controls
  • Encompass the functionality of several dirt boxes in one; be it a push to a driven amp, a full-on distortion channel in front of a clean amp, or a boost in front of a digital modeler
  • High-grade components selected for their superior sound and response, with a soft-touch footswitch will last for years

Last update on 2025-10-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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