The Blackstar HT-Metal is a Blackstar overdrive pedal, currently around $267.69. Close alternatives include the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition and the Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion. 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.
- warmth
- metal
- valve
- crunch
- american
- british
- high gain
- distortion
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Blackstar HT-Metal is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Metal
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Blackstar HT-Metal
Traynor SB110
Traynor
25% matchRun Traynor SB110 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Peavey MAX 100
Peavey
25% matchRun Peavey MAX 100 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Peavey MAX 208
Peavey
tonal matchPeavey MAX 208 leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchStack Ceriatone HRM 50 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Fusion 212 pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchFeed a high gain signal into Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Morgan MVP66
Morgan
tonal matchRun Morgan MVP66 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchStack Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Blackstar HT-Metal
Ashdown Triple Shot
Ashdown
23% matchHT-Metal's warm, valve-driven metal crunch gives Triple Shot's frequency-shaped bass drive a heavier front end.
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
23% matchColorsound Power Boost leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
18% matchRun Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress after Blackstar HT-Metal in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar HT-Metal's own gain stage
Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro
Pigtronix
15% matchPigtronix Philosopher's Tone Micro leans toward sustaining, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Death By Audio Reverberation Machine
Death By Audio
12% matchKeep Blackstar HT-Metal's warm voice out front: Death By Audio Reverberation Machine goes after Blackstar HT-Metal in the signal chain so its ambient voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2
TC Electronic
12% matchPut TC Electronic Hall of Fame 2 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)
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
Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword V4.5
Electronic Audio Experiments
tonal matchElectronic Audio Experiments Longsword V4.5 pushes a high gain tone toward clean boost
Cheaper alternatives
Maxon OD808
Maxon
73% similarityShared character: hard_rock, touch, pedal
Black Country Customs Monolith
Black Country Customs
72% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, hard_rock, pedal
EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz
EarthQuaker Devices
72% similarityShared character: pedal, middle, high_gain_settings
Blackstar Dept. 10 Dual Distortion
Blackstar
70% similarityShared character: two_channels, solid_state, hard_rock
Keeley Angry Orange
Keeley
63% similarityShared character: pedal, middle
Greer Mizuki Blr
Greer
63% similarityShared character: pedal, response
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
76% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, hard_rock, touch
Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion
Blackstar
73% similarityShared character: high_gain_settings, two_channels, solid_state
Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive
pedal
72% similarityShared character: hard_rock, pedal, thickness
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
71% similarityShared character: solid_state, pedal, middle
Dunlop Way Huge WM31 Supa-Lead Overdrive
Dunlop
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Fulltone OCD
Fulltone
96% similaritysimilar tone character
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 Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition, the Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion, the Univox UD-50 Uni-Drive. Budget picks: Maxon OD808, Black Country Customs Monolith, EarthQuaker Devices Hoof Hybrid Fuzz. Boutique upgrades: 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, Peavey MAX 208 — Run Traynor SB110 after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright.
How much does the Blackstar HT-Metal cost?+
Around $267.69 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Dunlop Way Huge WM31 Supa-Lead Overdrive
- vs Fulltone OCD
- vs Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high