When it was first released in the 1980s, the original HM-2 was more like an amp in a box than a distortion pdal, using an innovative BOSS circuit to replicate the sound of the British amps favored in the heavy metal scene. Near the end of its production run, seminal Swedish death metal bands adopted the HM-2 for their tone. Its uniquely aggressive sound, combined with its focused midrange became highly sought after by a new generation of players, and when the pedal's influence and popularity led to ongoing calls for BOSS to bring it back—BOSS listened.

When the HM-2W is in Standard mode, the tone and response of the original HM-2 pedal is reproduced with perfect authenticity.

Boss also added modern improvements without affecting the sound, including a lower noise floor and the ability to reach higher levels (3 dB higher). And, with the premium Waza Craft buffer onboard, the pedal will not influence your tone in bypass. Cranking every knob all the way up gives you the seminal sound of death metal—a sound many players call, The Swedish Chainsaw. You can also conjure a wide range of tones for other styles with the sensitive distortion and color controls.

The HM-2W's Custom mode offers a similar sound character to Standard mode, but with just a little more of everything. The drive stage offers a bit more gain and includes more of the fundamental guitar sound for extra attack and sharpness. In addition, the low and high-mid characteristics have been tweaked to provide increased fullness and definition.

Along with the original sound, BOSS made every effort to capture the pedal's distinctive orange and black appearance, right down to the size and position of lettering on the panel. Every Waza Craft pedal features a mode switch for extended range, and it's been moved to the top on the HM-2W to preserve the authentic control layout of the HM-2.

Since the beginning, the engineers at BOSS have been committed to achieving the finest guitar tones using any technology necessary, from old-school analog circuits to high-tech DSP. This enthusiastic spirit continues on with the Waza Craft series, bringing you exceptional tone and touch response through carefully selected analog components, refined circuitry, and meticulous attention to detail. In Japan, Waza is the term for art and technique, and these special edition pedals proudly carry the Waza symbol to represent the pinnacle of BOSS design and craftsmanship.