Lichtlaerm Audio Medusa -Grinding Death Metal Distortion- Rihiram Audio Distortion

Medusa is the successor to Lichtlaerms' first product, Breathe//Die.

A collaboration with local Berlin band Breathe//Die, it was the first HM2-style pedal to offer noise reduction, boost, and expansion in a compact package. It sold out within days and has since risen in price to $600 on the used market.


It was one of our most requested pedals to be brought back, so we decided not only to re-release it, but to redesign the circuitry to make it the most flexible and cohesive package on the market.

We took the original design and moved the boost into the core circuit, giving you up to 3x the gain of the classic chainsaw pedal. You can also use the renowned Cut control to shape the low end and create punchy palm mutes not possible with the original.

It also produces a significant increase in power output.

With great power comes great responsibility - with gain and high output volume, some noise is inevitable. That's why we've added a full version of Key&Gate to the circuit, which is triggered from the input just like a modern noise gate and sits after the loop so that anything you blend with Medusa can benefit from the gate.

Like King in Yellow, I decided to add a parallel FX loop to Medusa.

This allows you to blend Medusa's powerful distortion with other devices (distortions, boosts, overdrives, the preamp of your favorite tube amp, etc.) Or you can leave the loop empty and use it as a clean blend. Of course, you can invert the phase of the loop to avoid phase cancellation or to create interesting out-of-phase sounds.

We've kept the traditional EQ bands Low and Grind from the HM2, giving you easy access to that familiar grind sound everyone loves, but we've added a parallel mid control (200-700hz) and a shelving high filter to add or reduce presence. This presence control also makes the Medusa perfect as a preamp.

Finally, we've also added a switchable gain section - more modern, louder and mid-focused. Now you can choose between the dirty distortion of the black/orange box that Sweden made famous, or modern, intense saturation with access to HM2's infamous EQ.


Of course, as always, all these features are housed in the same compact box, with stunning artwork made from real gold by the outstanding Kasia Jasmina.


- Lichtlaerm Audio Smart Relay Technology

・Swedish death metal distortion

- Two different switchable gain stages

- Extremely high output, more than double the gain of the original

- 4-band EQ with parametric mids

- Full Blackmar VCA Noise Gate

・Lichtlaerm's unique "cut" control

Parallel FX loop with polarity switch

Power supply: 9VDC center negative

・Current consumption: Minimum 100mA