Behringer Heavy Metal HM300

A Distortion Designed for 80s Heavy Sounds

The Behringer HEAVY METAL HM300 clearly follows the tradition of distortion pedals crafted for hard rock and heavy metal: lots of gain, a punchy attack, and long sustain, with a "big saturation" feel reminiscent of the high-gain rigs of the era. Placed on the clean channel of an amp, it becomes a true "second channel" dedicated to powerful tones, covering a wide range from tight crunch to a wall of distortion.

Who It's For, Which Styles, and Contexts

The HM300 is aimed at guitarists who want immediate access to heavy sounds without relying on a highly saturated amp head: perfect for beginner to advanced players seeking quick and effective settings. It excels in hard rock and heavy metal, but can also be used for more biting rock tones by lowering the gain and adjusting the EQ. In live settings, it allows switching from a clean sound to a thick rhythm/solo tone with a single click; in studio, it's useful for layering takes and achieving a dense texture. On a pedalboard, it naturally sits before delays/reverbs and pairs well with a noise gate if you play with high gain.

Controls, Settings, and Design

The HEAVY METAL HM300 opts for a straightforward approach: you get the essential controls to shape your distortion without wasting time. The 2-band EQ helps manage brightness and thickness depending on your guitar, tuning, and amp, while the level control balances volume between bypass and active modes or pushes the amp's input further. A status LED indicates effect on/off and battery status, very useful on stage. The on/off switch is described as "first-class" to preserve signal integrity in bypass mode, and the whole unit is built with high-quality components in a format designed to withstand years of use. Designed and developed by Behringer Germany.

The Sound

Expect a thick, highly compressed distortion with generous sustain, characterized for powerful riffs and singing solos. The tone remains dense and tight, ideal for palm-muted riffs and pick-driven rhythms, while maintaining a sharp attack for clarity. The 2-band EQ lets you shift from a darker, massive sound to a more cutting tone that stands out in a mix, facilitating adaptation to different guitars (single-coils or humbuckers) and amps.

Technical specifications

Effects	Distortion / Overdrive / Fuzz, Distortion	Type	sector
Format	Pedal	Use	electric guitar
EQ	2 channels	Color	Pink

Equalizer	2-band	Design and development	BEHRINGER Germany
Volume control	level	Included accessories	documentation
AC adapter	PSU-SB DC (not included)	Required power supply	9 V