The Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second is a Heavy Metal Fx phaser pedal. Close alternatives include the MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase and the Schulte Compact Phaser. It pairs well with the Peavey VTM-120 and the Marshall JCM800 2203.
Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second
Heavy Metal Fx · pedal
Heavy Metal FX is a small boutique builder whose catalog leans toward gain and modulation pedals aimed at metal and hard-rock players, and the Phase Riot is the brand's take on an aggressive phaser rather than a subtle, vintage-style sweep. This particular unit is listed as a factory second, meaning it likely carries a minor cosmetic flaw such as an enclosure scratch or slightly off-center graphic rather than any functional defect, sold at a discount versus a first-quality unit. Specific control layout and sweep-rate range for this model aren't confirmed here beyond the boutique gain-pedal positioning implied by the brand's broader catalog.
What stands out
“Heavy Metal FX is a small boutique builder whose catalog leans toward gain and modulation pedals aimed at metal and hard-rock players, and the Phase Riot is the brand's take on an aggressive phaser , vintage-style sweep”
— from the listing
“Players who reach for Heavy Metal FX pedals are generally looking for effects voiced with distortion and in mind , and the Phase Riot name suggests a phaser pushed toward a more pronounced, swi…”
— from the community notes
“Its most likely use case is adding movement to a high-gain rhythm or lead tone”
— from the community notes
“As a boutique pedal aimed at metal players, the Phase Riot is built around delivering an obvious, present phase sweep , which fits Heavy Metal FX's broader positioning as a gain-and-modulation house for aggre…”
— from the reviews
“In a chain it would typically sit in the modulation section, either before 's front end or in an effects loop depending on the player's preferred phaser placement”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“Factory-second units like this one typically function identically to standard-grade production, with the discount reflecting only appearance , which makes them attractive to buyers who”
— from the reviews
“The main limitation for prospective buyers is the scarcity of detailed third-party reviews or specific control documentation for this niche release, making it harder to set expectations for sweep range or intensity before purchase”
— from the reviews
- phaser
- aggressive
- high gain
- rhythm
- modulation
- distortion
- gain
- effects loop
Genres the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
25% matchPeavey VTM-120's own aggressive character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
25% matchMarshall JCM800 2203's own crunchy character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
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.
Run Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo in the signal chain, clear of EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Orange Crush 12
Orange
9% 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 Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Orange Crush 12 in the signal chain, clear of Orange Crush 12's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Orange Crush 20RT Orianthi Signature White
Orange
8% 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 Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Orange Crush 20RT Orianthi Signature White in the signal chain, clear of Orange Crush 20RT Orianthi Signature White's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie TT-800
Mesa Boogie
7% 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 Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Mesa Boogie TT-800 in the signal chain, clear of Mesa Boogie TT-800's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Park PMV800
Park
7% 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 Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Park PMV800 in the signal chain, clear of Park PMV800's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited goes after Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second in the chain
Pedals that stack with the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second
Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2
Electro-Harmonix
26% 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 the Phase Riot's aggressive, high-gain phase sweep after the Ram's Head's edgy Muff distortion and the modulation has serious weight to color.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
24% matchWhat Suhr Shiba Drive brings here leans toward full — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition
Walrus Audio
23% matchWalrus Audio EB-10 Black Edition leans toward clean boost, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12
Electro-Harmonix
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Put Electro-Harmonix Oceans 12 after Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Horizon Devices Flux Echo
Horizon Devices
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Run Horizon Devices Flux Echo after Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Mojo Hand FX Colossus Fuzz
Mojo Hand Fx
22% 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 Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Mojo Hand FX Colossus Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Mojo Hand FX Colossus Fuzz's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
20% 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 Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Ram's Head Big Muff's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dunlop Way Huge WM91 Pork & Pickle
Dunlop
20% 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 Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second after Dunlop Way Huge WM91 Pork & Pickle in the signal chain, clear of Dunlop Way Huge WM91 Pork & Pickle's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
See all 18 pedals that pair with the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second →
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
71% similarityShared character: phaser, hard rock, modulation
Schulte Compact Phaser
Schulte
67% similarityShared character: phaser, hard rock, distortion
W-LM Phased Out
W-LM
67% similarityShared character: phaser, modulation, lead
MXR Phase 100
MXR
65% similarityShared character: phase, phaser, modulation
Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone
Crazy Tube Circuits
64% similarityShared character: phaser, modulation, alternative
MXR Phase 95
MXR
62% similarityShared character: phaser, modulation, lead
Citadel Planetary Phase
Citadel
62% similarityShared character: phaser, brand, modulation
MXR 20th Anniversary Zakk Wylde Signature Phaser
MXR
62% similarityShared character: countless rock and metal players, phaser, hard rock
Behringer Dual-Phase
Behringer
60% similarityShared character: phaser, modulation
DigiTech XHP Hyper Phase
Digitech
59% similarityShared character: phaser, modulation
Mooer Phaser Player
Mooer
59% similarityShared character: phaser
Behringer BM-13 Phaser
Behringer
59% similarityShared character: phaser, modulation, gain
See all alternatives to the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase, the Schulte Compact Phaser, the W-LM Phased Out.
What pairs well with the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Peavey VTM-120, Marshall JCM800 2203, EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo — Peavey VTM-120's own aggressive character is the real reason this is worth trying.