Lichtlaerm Audio's Gehenna Heavy Metal Distortion / Preamp combines a thunderous bottom end with incredible punch and depth of flavour
Lichtaerm’s Gehenna has been on my radar for a good 4 years, when I first covered it in early 2020 it was not nearly the powerhouse it is right now. The second footswitch was labelled Boost and you had just 3-Band EQ, Level and Gain, and M/T/V and Brit / Am switches.
There was then at least one more significant iteration between the original and current one - that in-between version had 9 controls - starting to see the 4-band EQ (Lo and Hi Mids), No Gain I/II yet - but instead Range and Boost Mini Knobs, and a 3-way voicing switch : Mdrn / Tight / Fat.
The latest iteration comes with 10 precision controls - including 4-Band Active EQ, individual Gain I and II controls and Depth and Presence. All of which combine beautifully to shape the heaviest and punchiest of low ends. It really has a unique combination of blistering low-end with an equally punchy / percussive delivery. It easily runs the whole gamut of both vintage and modern heavy metal high gain sounds and does all that Djent, Chug and Thrash Metal stuff with ease - you’re spoilt for choice over just how wide a range of tones this pedal covers - whilst always maintaing supreme control - and never getting mushy or saggy- there’s a degree of articulation on even the most saturated of outputs, and I should know - as I run my high gain pedals super hot through my stereo pedal platform rig.
The Gehenna really has quite a distinct way of combining the super heavy with tighness and percussive punch compared to most other metal distortions. So many high gain pedals in my past have been mushy or overly saggy. We seem to have a new breed of high gain pedals now - which include this one, the EEA Thrasher and Fortin Natas - each one of those is really ’poised’ and precise in its high gain distortion delivery. While I think I may like this Gehenna best of all so far. I will of course be following up these Lichtlaerm articles with an updated ’Full Metal Racket’ compact heavy metal pedals rundown post - where all 3 of my Lichtlaerm’s to-date will feature prominently. I’ve been wanting to include those in that listing for so long - it almost happened the last time I did the roundup - but it’s taken near two further years to finally get there. And judging from the results it was a worthy journey for sure!
Controls - Gain I, Low Cut (Up to 1.5 kHz), Gain II, Active Bass 40-100Hz, Level, Active Treble 4kHz-10kHz, Depth, Active Lo-Mid @ 400Hz, Active Hi-Mid @ 1kHz, Presence, Gain : 1 / II Footswitch, Bypass Footswitch.
My preferred current settings - Gain 1 @ 9 o’c, Low Cut @ 9 o’c, Gain II @ 3 o’c, Bass @ Max, Level @ Max, Treble @ Noon, Depth @ Max, Lo-Mid @ 11:30 o’c, Hi-Mid @ Noon, Presence @ Max, Mainly on Gain I, Gain II for Total Saturation.
I'm not sure many will run things quite as heavy as I do, while I have wound the Gain levels down a bit of late. That crushing deep low end with added punch is really something special - and once you get there - you kind of get addicted to it! Yes it has crushing levels of distortion and saturation - but it still sounds so under control at all times - Daniel really has done a wonderful job on calibrating this edition of the pedal.
Of course we have the Handy Low-Cut control - to deliver instant Tighness. Whenever I see 'Cut' on its own - the first interpretation is typically Hi-Cut - perhaps is would be more logical to label it Tight or Punch!
And while both the Gehenna and Altar have blistering levels of gain - they each sound quite different. I thought the Altar was surely as deep and saturated as a high gain pedal could go - but the Gehenna goes further into that low-end crushing territory.
It's surely a wonderful thing when you dial a pedal in just right - and it sounds exactly how you would want it to! I have around 70 High Gain pedals in the collection to date - and this is or sure one of the very best - and it really does do things others can't quite reach in the main!.
The Licthlaerm Gehenna is a quite superb precision Heavy Metal instrument - with exactly the right type and number of controls - and a super responsive 4-Band EQ as mentioned - you could argue kind of 6-Band if you include the Depth / Resonance, and Presence with that. It allows you to explore near enough all the Heavy Metal genres with ease - bar the unique HM-2 Death Metal trope - for which there is the Licthlaerm Medusa! Up for review next!
The Gehenna is incredibly well priced at just €199 / £179 - nothing else really comes close to that at this price point and quality! And what a beautiful pedal it is - inside and out - with that super appealing genuine Gold Plate finish for the graphics.
I acquired all 3 of my Lichtlaerm trifecta from Joe's Pedals in the UK - where they go for £179 each, for those on the continent, you should go direct to Lichtlaerm for €199 each, in the USA you have Eastside Music Supply where those 3 are $219 USD each, and in Australia they are $359 AUS from Pedal Empire.
I'm delighted to own all 3 of Lichtlaerm's heavy brigade - each one is blisteringly good and very much its own thing / flavour. Even though these are all overlapping Super High Gain pedals to a degree - each one sounds totally distinct - and all are essential for me! As mentioned - the Medusa Death Metal Distortion review is up next!
Demos
