The Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal is a Boss distortion pedal, currently around $83. Close alternatives include the TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion and the MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg. It pairs well with the Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and the Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212.
Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal
Boss · pedal
The Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal is a high-gain distortion pedal voiced for extreme, aggressive metal tones beyond what Boss's other distortion pedals offer, with a tight, buzzy saturation and scooped-yet-present midrange built to cut through fast, heavily palm-muted riffing. Separate controls shape the low-end punch and overall tonal body alongside the gain and level, letting players dial in a harsher, more compressed high-gain voice than a standard overdrive or distortion pedal provides. It suits thrash, death metal, and other extreme metal styles built around maximum gain and aggressive attack rather than smoother, more amp-like saturation.
- metal
- distortion
- aggressive
- gain
- midrange
- attack
- clean
- saturation
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal is commonly used in
- Death Metal
- Metal
- Metalcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Black Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hardcore
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal
Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp
Laney
26% matchFeed a scooped signal into Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchFeed a scooped signal into Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchPut Synergy SL2 Module in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Peavey 112-6 1x12
Peavey
tonal matchPeavey 112-6 1x12 takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Roland Cube Street EX
Roland
tonal matchRoland Cube Street EX pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchPhil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchPut Ceriatone 2202H in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchFeed a scooped signal into Ceriatone HRM 50 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal
Soldano SLO
Soldano
26% matchStack Soldano SLO on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
24% matchRun mid-forward into JHS Smiley for more fuzzy on top
Maestro Orbit
Maestro
16% matchKeep Maestro Orbit after Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal in the signal chain, clear of Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal's own gain stage
DSM & Humboldt ClearComp Compressor
Dsm Humboldt Electronics
14% matchDSM & Humboldt ClearComp Compressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
9% matchPut Catalinbread Epoch-Set after Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal in the signal chain, clear of Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb
pedal
9% matchBoss RV-5 Digital Reverb's spring voice goes after Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal's own aggressive character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
J. Rockett The Dude V2
J Rockett
tonal matchInto Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal, J. Rockett The Dude V2 is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive
Dod
tonal matchBoss HM-3 Hyper Metal leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform DOD YJM308 Preamp Overdrive wants
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
71% similarityShared character: amp, distortion, aggressive_playing
Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza
Boss
70% similarityShared character: attack, distortion, metal
EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold
EarthQuaker Devices
69% similarityShared character: amp, distortion, gain
Death By Audio Fuzz War
Death By Audio
69% similarityShared character: distortion, just_two_controls, big_muff
Boss DS-1W Waza Craft Distortion
Boss
69% similarityShared character: ds_1, distortion, metal
DSM & Humboldt Electronics Black Clouds
Dsm Humboldt Electronics
67% similarityShared character: distortion, gain
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion
TC Electronic
70% similarityShared character: middle, distortion, metal
MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg
MXR
70% similarityShared character: distortion, rocker_pedal, middle
Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
Boss
70% similarity“Look for serious distortion in the HM-2, RAT or even a modded DS-1”
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
70% similarity“Look for serious distortion in the HM-2, RAT or even a modded DS-1”
Joyo Maximum Overdrive
Joyo
70% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, middle, distortion
Electro-Harmonix Nano Metal Muff
Electro-Harmonix
70% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive_playing, middle
See all alternatives to the Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal?+
The closest matches in character are the TC Electronic Fangs Metal Distortion, the MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg, the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal. Budget picks: Fender Hammertone Metal, Behringer HM300, Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Wampler Dracarys, Boss HM-2W Heavy Metal Waza, EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold.
What pairs well with the Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp, Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212, Synergy SL2 Module — Feed a scooped signal into Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and it comes out closer to mid-forward.
How much does the Boss HM-3 Hyper Metal cost?+
Around $83 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).