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lead guitar from “devil’s metal” by death angel | ToneDB

devil’s metal

death angel

lead guitar

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

This guitar tone is aggressive and cutting, perfect for thrash metal. It's got a tight low end, a biting midrange, and articulate high frequencies, providing clarity and aggression.

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The Story

Death Angel's lead guitar tone on their early material was built around high-output humbuckers through a Marshall JCM800 amplifier, with an Ibanez Tube Screamer used to tighten the low end and push the amp into higher gain territory. The recording was captured with close-mic'd cabinets, likely using dynamic microphones, which contributed to the aggressive and cutting character that became a hallmark of Bay Area thrash metal.

Production Credits

Producer: Max Norman

Engineer: Mike Clink

Recorded at: Prairie Sun Studios, Cotati, CA

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a guitar equipped with high-output humbuckers.
  • Use a Marshall JCM800 or similar high-gain amplifier as your base tone.
  • Add an overdrive pedal like the Ibanez Tube Screamer to tighten the low end and boost the midrange.
  • Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot on the cabinet.
  • EQ to taste, focusing on a tight low end and articulate high frequencies.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Marshall Origin 50HShop on Reverb$500-$600

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

Captures the core JCM800 character with modern reliability and lower volume options for recording

Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer ReissueShop on Reverb$150-$180

Alternative to: Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808

Exact reissue of the original pedal used to tighten bass and boost mids for this aggressive thrash tone

Neural DSP Fortin NTS SuitePlugin Boutique$100-$120

Alternative to: Marshall JCM800

High-gain amp modeling that captures the tight, aggressive character needed for thrash metal tones

Schecter Hellraiser C-1Shop on Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: Ibanez Destroyer

High-output EMG pickups provide the aggressive attack and clarity needed for tight thrash riffing

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

Still the industry standard dynamic mic for capturing aggressive amp tones with clarity and punch

Sources

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