The Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza is a Boss distortion pedal, currently around $149.99. Close alternatives include the Amptweaker AT Fatrock and the Suhr Riot. It pairs well with the Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head and the Mesa Boogie Mark I.
Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza
Boss · pedal
The Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza Craft is a faithful reissue of the original HM-2, the pedal that defined the chainsaw sound of Swedish death metal through Entombed and the early Sunlight Studios scene. With Level, Distortion, and a two-band Color EQ centered around a punchy low end and a high control near one kilohertz, its signature tone comes from cranking every knob for a buzzing, saturated, scooped chainsaw roar that still keeps attack. The Waza version adds a Custom mode with more gain, saturation, mids, and upper-mid bite alongside the standard mode, plus a lower noise floor, more output, and a premium buffer. Beloved for death metal, d-beat, and crust, it can also dial back to a waspy fuzz-like grind, making it the reference for the dark Swedish chainsaw voice.
- death metal
- noise
- gain
- grind
- bite
- mids
- scooped
- upper mid
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza is commonly used in
- Death Metal
- Hardcore
- Metal
- Metalcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
27% matchMarshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Mesa Boogie Mark I
Mesa Boogie
26% matchStack Mesa Boogie Mark I on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward
Peavey 112-6 1x12
Peavey
tonal matchFeed a scooped signal into Peavey 112-6 1x12 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Roland Cube Street EX
Roland
tonal matchRoland Cube Street EX takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchAmpeg V-4 pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Harmony H650
Harmony
tonal matchHarmony H650 takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone HRM 50 takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza
Browne Amplification Gritador
Browne Amplification
23% matchFeed a scooped signal into Browne Amplification Gritador and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pigtronix Octava Micro
Pigtronix
23% matchStack Pigtronix Octava Micro on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward
Maestro Orbit
Maestro
17% matchKeep Maestro Orbit after Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza in the signal chain, clear of Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza's own gain stage
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic
15% matchBoss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza's mid-forward character and Xotic SP Compressor's mid-forward voice sit in the same lane rather than fighting each other
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
11% matchKeep Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza's mid-forward voice out front: Catalinbread Epoch-Set goes after Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Universal Audio Golden Reverberator
Universal Audio
9% matchPut Universal Audio Golden Reverberator after Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza in the signal chain, clear of Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
JHS Legends of Fuzz Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz
JHS Pedals
tonal matchJHS Legends of Fuzz Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Cry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby Classic GCB95F
Cry Baby
tonal matchCry Baby Dunlop Cry Baby Classic GCB95F takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Cheaper alternatives
Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
Boss
71% similarityShared character: noise, studio, mix
MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg
MXR
71% similarityShared character: dark, punchy, distortion
Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal
Boss
70% similarityShared character: attack, distortion, metal
Fender Hammertone Metal
Fender
70% similarityShared character: noise, attack, pedal
Behringer HM300
Behringer
96% similaritysimilar tone character
TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion
TC Electronic
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
73% similarityShared character: wide_range, noise, punchy
Rainger FX Razor Fuzz Virtual Plectrum Fuzz
Rainger Fx
71% similarityShared character: pick_attack, noise, attack
Wren and Cuff Super Russian
Wren And Cuff
70% similarityShared character: output, dark, pedal
Universal Audio UAFX Anti 1992 High Gain Amp
Universal Audio
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Univox Super-Fuzz
Univox
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Amptweaker AT Fatrock
Amptweaker
70% similarityShared character: dark, mix, pedal
Suhr Riot
Suhr
70% similarityShared character: dark, pick_attack, mix
Boss JB-2
Boss
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Free The Tone IF-1D
Free The Tone
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Fuzzrocious 420 Fuzz
Fuzzrocious
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza?+
The closest matches in character are the Amptweaker AT Fatrock, the Suhr Riot, the Boss JB-2. Budget picks: Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal, MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg, Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal. Boutique upgrades: Wampler Dracarys, Rainger FX Razor Fuzz Virtual Plectrum Fuzz, Wren and Cuff Super Russian.
What pairs well with the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head, Mesa Boogie Mark I, Peavey 112-6 1x12 — Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward.
How much does the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza cost?+
Around $149.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).