Review quickie: BOSS HM-2w

Intro

This isn't new. BOSS had this going way back in 1983. This is the revived 2021 version given the WAZA treatment. WAZA here refers to a series of Japanese BOSS units that underwent some custom tweaks while retaining its original vibe. As such, it is not as wallet-friendly as its other BOSS siblings but it made its intentions clear. Features-wise, nothing changed except for the addition of a slider mode switch located proximate to the indicator LED.

Likes

• Easy to use, typical BOSS affair
• Good distortion saturation
• 2 voicing modes
• Goes well with the amp's dirty channel on lower distortion settings

Dislikes

• Distortion could have been more intense. Well, it says HEAVY METAL there so it should offer an excruciating sonic assault
• Could have benefitted from a midrange control but BOSS has the Metal Zone to appease the EQ fans
• Price

Conclusion

There is only one expectation when you decide to embrace this pedal - a full on metal assault. Well, you get that but going by my standards, the gain could have been a tad more intense. Don't get me wrong, this pedal has gobs of grind but it lacks that sensitivity for those of us who would go into full shred mode. In a nutshell, the HM-2w doesn't bode too well with single notes but it's king when you power your way through chords. Despite its reputation for churning out the Swedish death metal aftertaste, I find myself in serious doom mode once this was put to use. 

Surprisingly, the HM-2w, with its distortion levels dialled down, works like a charm when you decide to slave it through your amp's dirty channel. This formula works only if both ends have the gain / drive settings in check. The Custom mode also gives the pedal a little kick in terms of its overall performance. For want of a better term, it's virtually a boost function. If you keep an open mind & not treat the HM-2w as a one-trick Swedish Death Metal pony, it might just be a good distortion source despite its lack of midrange manipulations. Maybe that's why, in its heyday, David Gilmour discovered its hidden gem attributes.

Overall rating: 89%

BOSS WAZA Craft HM-2w

• Availability: Swee Lee Co.
• Price: $249