Nate Rails

If a pedal is a distortion pedal, that doesn't mean it's a high gain metal monster. The TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion could easily be mistaken for a high gain metal monster, but that isn't its purpose. The true purpose of this pedal is to emulate the tone and feel of a cranked 1970s Plexi. Just by turning the gain knob, you can go from borderline clean to a fair amount of dirt. You may think that the pedal would be heavily compressed and have no dynamics, but even with a fair amount of gain, you still have a touch sensitive tone that maintains clarity; In the studio, it cuts through nicely, and doesn't need any EQ. This pedal is designed to sound like a cranked Plexi. The dynamics and clarity are present, but there's a two band equalizer; not just any, but a very usable one. Turn back the bass for a tighter tone, or turn it up for a warmer tone. Turn back the treble for more warmth, or turn it up for a more glassy tone. I feel this pedal is misunderstood by many. It's meant to be a low to medium gain Marshall style pedal, not a modern metal monster. For me, this pedal performs best in blues-based rock music, so if that's what you play, go ahead and get it. If you're looking for a metal pedal, this is not for you. Overall, I recommend this pedal. If you get the chance, try it out, I bet you'll be impressed.