Pedal Review: Death By Audio's Apocalypse

February 20th, 2012 by Trenton

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Delicious Audio reviewed the Apocalypse stompbox by Brooklyn-based Death By Audio…read a bit below, and visit Delicious Audio for the complete review!

Apocalypse...Death by Audio's "end all" boutique fuzz box

For years Death By Audio have built their reputation on providing some of the gnarliest heavy distortion pedals. It’s a distinct sound you can hear on albums by bands like A Place to Bury Strangers, Sisters or Grooms, who are part of the Brooklyn based collective/venue/pedal company.

After numerous variations, DBA has created a sort of “best of” pedal, the Apocalypse ($270), which combines 5 of their unique fuzz circuits into a single stomp box.

It’s rare to find an all-analog pedal which possesses versatility bordering on what you’d expect from a digital pedal. The 5 circuits cover everything sonically, from mid-scooped thrash metal, to sustained big muff-influenced tones, to squelching blown speaker overdrive (think Neil Young at his heaviest). To be sure, every setting retains a few similar characteristics – big, broken, aggressive. Its massive sounds are perfect for filling up space in a single guitar or no bass rock band setting.

If you’re looking for a buttery classic rock overdrive or shimmery lead tone, the Apocalypse will clearly not be your cup of tea. However, those looking to conjure a wall of sound in the shoegaze, metal or grunge mold will find in the Apocalypse a swiss army knife.

Click thru to Delicious Audio for the rest of this review, by Ezra Tenenbaum.