The Blackstar HT-Metal is a Blackstar overdrive pedal, currently around $257.97. Close alternatives include the Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion and the Blackstar Distx. It pairs well with the Traynor SB110 and the Peavey MAX 100.
Blackstar HT-Metal
Blackstar · pedal
The Blackstar HT-Metal is a dual-channel valve distortion pedal driven by a real 300-volt tube circuit for amp-like high-gain tone. It provides one of the widest ranges of metal distortion available, from warm valve crunch and AC/DC style bark to gnawing, chainsaw high gain, with a clean mode that adds warmth and light breakup. Blackstars ISF control acts as a tone translator, sweeping the voicing from tight American high gain when counter-clockwise to mid-rich British character when clockwise. The valve front end gives it warmth, feel, and dynamic response closer to a high-gain amp than a typical solid-state distortion pedal.
What stands out
“It provides one of the widest ranges of metal distortion available, from warm valve crunch and AC/DC style bark to gnawing, chainsaw high gain, with a clean mode that adds warmth and light breakup”
— from the listing
“Players consider it one of the better tube-driven distortion pedals, with real valve warmth and amp-like feel”
— from the community notes
“A genuine high-voltage valve circuit gives the HT-Metal warmth, sustain, and dynamic feel that most solid-state distortions lack, with two channels spanning warm clean break-up, throaty crunch, and aggressive modern high gain”
— from the reviews
“Blackstars ISF control acts as a tone translator, sweeping the voicing from tight American high gain when counter-clockwise to mid-rich British character when clockwise”
— from the listing
“It is used for metal and hard rock, but the two channels and ISF control also cover classic crunch and American or British rock tones, making it more versatile than a one-trick metal box”
— from the community notes
- high gain
- warmth
- valve
- crunch
- distortion
- american
- british
- metal
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Blackstar HT-Metal is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Metal
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Blackstar HT-Metal
Traynor SB110
Traynor
22% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run Traynor SB110 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey MAX 100
Peavey
22% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run Peavey MAX 100 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Ceriatone HRM 50 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Marshall 2203KK Kerry King JCM800 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass
Vox
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Morgan MVP66
Morgan
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Morgan MVP66 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Díaz CD-100 Amp Head
Diaz
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Díaz CD-100 Amp Head leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar HT-Metal
Catalinbread VariOboost
Catalinbread
21% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Catalinbread VariOboost's bright balances out the warm tone
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
20% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → clean boost)
Feed a high gain signal into MXR Micro Amp and it comes out closer to clean boost
Boss BC-1X
Boss
16% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Boss BC-1X's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
TC Electronic SCF Gold SE Stereo
TC Electronic
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run TC Electronic SCF Gold SE Stereo after Blackstar HT-Metal in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar HT-Metal's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss RV-6 Reverb
Boss
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Boss RV-6 Reverb after Blackstar HT-Metal in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar HT-Metal's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss DD-200 Digital Delay
Boss
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Boss DD-200 Digital Delay after Blackstar HT-Metal in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar HT-Metal's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Spark Booster
TC Electronic
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
TC Electronic Spark Booster pushes a high gain tone toward clean boost
Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword Eastside Exclusive Mono Camo
Electronic Audio Experiments
tonal matchElectronic Audio Experiments Longsword Eastside Exclusive Mono Camo's bright balances out the warm tone
Cheaper alternatives
Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Drive
Blackstar
58% similarityShared character: two channels, solid state, touch
Black Country Customs Monolith
Black Country Customs
58% similarityShared character: metal, hard rock, middle
Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Distortion
Blackstar
58% similarityShared character: two channels, solid state, metal
Blackstar LT Dual
Blackstar
55% similarityShared character: two channels, solid state, crunch
Maxon OD808
Maxon
53% similarityShared character: metal, hard rock, touch
SONICAKE Shark
Sonicake
53% similarityShared character: hard rock, crunch, distortion
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion
Blackstar
64% similarityShared character: high gain settings, two channels, solid state
Blackstar Distx
Blackstar
55% similarityShared character: solid state, metal, hard rock
Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz
Keeley
52% similarityShared character: middle, distortion, aggressive playing
Dunlop Way Huge WM31 Supa-Lead Overdrive
Dunlop
52% similarityShared character: hard rock, touch, middle
SONICAKE Shark High Gain Classic British Crunch
Sonicake
52% similarityShared character: hard rock, crunch, distortion
JHS Fumble
JHS Pedals
51% similarityShared character: hard rock, high gain settings, crunch
See all alternatives to the Blackstar HT-Metal (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Blackstar HT-Metal?+
The closest matches in character are the Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion, the Blackstar Distx, the Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz. Budget picks: Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Drive, Black Country Customs Monolith, Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Universal Audio Knuckles '92 Dual Rec Amplifier, Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp.
What pairs well with the Blackstar HT-Metal?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Traynor SB110, Peavey MAX 100, Ceriatone HRM 50 — Run Traynor SB110 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright.
How much does the Blackstar HT-Metal cost?+
Around $257.97 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).