The Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza is a Boss distortion pedal, currently around $148.78. Close alternatives include the Friedman BE-OD and the Free The Tone IF-1D. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Synergy SL2 Module.

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.

What stands out

  • “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”

    — from the listing

  • “Strengths are its iconic character, added clarity, and lower noise”

    — from the reviews

  • “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”

    — from the listing

  • “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”

    — from the listing

  • “A faithful and improved take on the original chainsaw, delivering the buzzing, saturated, scooped Swedish death metal roar that comes alive with the Distortion and Color knobs cranked”

    — from the reviews

  • death metal
  • noise
  • gain
  • grind
  • bite
  • fuzz
  • distortion
  • mids
$148.78View on Reverb

Price updated Oct 23, 2026

Genres the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza is commonly used in

  • Death Metal
  • Hardcore
  • Metal
  • Metalcore
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza

Friedman Dirty Shirley

Friedman

26% match

gain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (mid-forward → high gain)

Run mid-forward into Friedman Dirty Shirley for more high gain on top

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module

Synergy

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Synergy SL2 Module stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

Blackstar Unity 120

Blackstar

tonal match
$450via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Blackstar Unity 120 pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward

ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head

Engl

tonal match
$3169.99via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward

Blackstar Unity

Blackstar

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Feed a scooped signal into Blackstar Unity and it comes out closer to mid-forward

Ceriatone 2202H

Ceriatone

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Ceriatone 2202H stacks high gain on top of the mid-forward already here

Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt

Mesa Boogie

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain

Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII NEO 50W 2x12 Combo

Orange

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

Put Orange Rockerverb 50 MkIII NEO 50W 2x12 Combo after Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza

Pedals that stack with the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza

Beetronics Octahive

Beetronics

27% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Stack Beetronics Octahive on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas

EarthQuaker Devices

25% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Comes later in the signal chain

Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble

pedal

21% match
$570via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Keep Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza's fuzzy voice out front: Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble goes after Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it

Comes later in the signal chain

Demeter Compulator

Demeter

16% match

fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)

Demeter Compulator's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying

Comes earlier in the signal chain

Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay

Electro-Harmonix

13% match
$104.76via Reverb

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Keep Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza's fuzzy voice out front: Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay goes after Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Mooer woodverb

Mooer

13% match

sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)

Mooer woodverb's warm voice goes after Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza's own fuzzy character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Comes later in the signal chain

Dunlop AT95 Akira Takasaki Cry Baby Fuzz Wah

Dunlop

tonal match
$148.78via Reverb

Comes later in the signal chain

Dunlop AT95 Akira Takasaki Cry Baby Fuzz Wah stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here

JHS Legends of Fuzz Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz

JHS Pedals

tonal match

Comes later in the signal chain

JHS Legends of Fuzz Supreme 1972 Japan Fuzz takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward

Cheaper alternatives

Fender Hammertone Metal

Fender

59% similarity
$49.99via Reverb

Shared character: noise, attack, bass

Boss ML-2

Boss

56% similarity
$100.42via Reverb

Shared character: noise, mix, clarity

Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal

Boss

53% similarity
$90via Reverb

Shared character: attack, distortion

TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion

TC Electronic

50% similarity
$33.90via Reverb

Shared character: gain, bass, distortion

ProCo RAT 2

Proco

50% similarity
$86.97via Reverb

Shared character: dark, noise, fuzz

Black Country Customs Monolith

Black Country Customs

46% similarity
$119via Reverb

Shared character: gain, bass, distortion

Boutique & premium upgrades

Wampler Dracarys

Wampler

55% similarity
$199via Reverb

Shared character: wide range, noise, punchy

Universal Audio Uafx Anti 1992 High Gain Amp

Universal Audio

54% similarity
$299via Reverb

Shared character: studio

Wren and Cuff Super Russian

Wren And Cuff

48% similarity
$224.99via Reverb

Shared character: output, dark, fuzz

Similar charactersee all similar tone character →

Friedman BE-OD

Friedman

50% similarity
$169.99via Reverb

Shared character: mix, gain, bass

Free The Tone IF-1D

Free The Tone

48% similarity
$159via Reverb

Shared character: pick attack, mix, fuzz

Maxon OD808

Maxon

47% similarity
$134.23via Reverb

Shared character: dark, bass, distortion

Amptweaker Tight Rock 2

Amptweaker

47% similarity
$189.99via Reverb

Shared character: pick attack, attack, gain

Joyo dark flame

Joyo

45% similarity

Shared character: dark, noise, attack

Vox Valvenergy Copperhead Drive

Vox

45% similarity
$135via Reverb

Shared character: pick attack, mix, gain

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 Friedman BE-OD, the Free The Tone IF-1D, the Maxon OD808. Budget picks: Fender Hammertone Metal, Boss ML-2, Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal. Boutique upgrades: Wampler Dracarys, Universal Audio Uafx Anti 1992 High Gain Amp, Wren and Cuff Super Russian.

What pairs well with the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Synergy SL2 Module, Blackstar Unity 120 — Run mid-forward into Friedman Dirty Shirley for more high gain on top.

How much does the Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza cost?+

Around $148.78 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).

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