By the Zonagirante.com team @spinning zone
💡 Distortions that defy logic
Let's say it once and for all: Rock —and all its sonic relatives— would be much more boring without that arsenal of magic boxes that distort, delay, reverberate, multiply, melt, and disfigure every note who dares to come out of a guitar, bass or any instrument that comes close to a good pedal chain.
Yes, we're talking about those toys that look like they were designed by an army of mad scientists with degrees in quantum physics and psychedelic art. In this case, we're not interested in "normal" pedals. We want to talk about the weird ones. The mutants. The eccentrics. The ones who, when activated, make the audience look at the stage and say: What the hell was that?
We are in the 21st century, and while there are pedals that seek to emulate the sound of the 60s or 70s with almost religious fidelity, There is another group that prefers to look towards distant galaxies. These are brands that decided to play with the idea of organized chaos, beautiful noise, and error as art.
And the best part: They have found a legion of musicians—from the most sensitive indie to the most apocalyptic doom—who worship them as if they were sonic amulets..
Pedals that combine delay with pitch shifting and a touch of modulation that sounds like a robot on an ayahuasca trip. Fuzz that rather than distort, disintegrate. Looper who perform acrobatic tricks worthy of a post-punk circus.
There are more and more brands boutique that, without the need for million-dollar campaigns, They're winning hearts (and the pedals of pedalboard) of thousands of artists seeking a unique and hard-to-categorize sound.
🎛 Sound toys with their own identity
In this edition of Zonagirante.com, We present some of the most daring bike shops on the planet: from the urban darkness of Brooklyn to the secret workshops of Japan and Minnesota.
We're not going to explain how each circuit works (that's what nerdy forums are for), but we will tell you why these devices have become essential tools. for those who want their music to have personality, risk, and a touch of madness.
So turn up the volume, stomp your feet, and get ready for a glorious noise excursion. Sometimes, the most beautiful things are born when everything sounds… strange.
🎛️ Death By Audio
Founded in 2002 by Oliver Ackermann, leader of the noise rock band A Place To Bury Strangers, Death By Audio is a New York brand that has earned a reputation for its aggressive and experimental effects pedals. Known for their focus on distortion and extreme sound manipulation, His pedals are favorites among musicians looking to push the boundaries of conventional sound. In addition to manufacturing pedals, Death By Audio also operated as an artistic and musical space in Brooklyn, serving as a workshop, recording studio, and concert venue for the underground scene.
🎨 ZVEX Effects
Established in 1994 by Zachary Vex in Minneapolis, ZVEX Effects is a pioneer in the world of boutique pedals. His most iconic pedal, the Fuzz Factory, He is known for his ability to produce a wide range of fuzz sounds, from classic tones to chaotic and experimental textures.
ZVEX pedals are distinguished by their artistic design, many of them hand-painted, and for its innovation in circuits that offer unique and creative sounds. Musicians such as Matt Bellamy of Muse and Jack White have incorporated these pedals into their setups.
🌌 Old Blood Noise Endeavours
Founded in 2014 in Oklahoma by Brady Smith and Seth McCarroll, Old Blood Noise Endeavours has distinguished itself through its artistic and experimental approach to creating effects pedals.
Their products combine unique aesthetics with innovative functionalities, offering sounds ranging from ethereal reverberations to complex modulations. Pedals like the Dark Star and the Dweller These are examples of their commitment to sound exploration and creativity.
🧠 Chase Bliss Audio
Based in Minnesota, Chase Bliss Audio was founded in 2013 by Joel Korte. The brand has earned a reputation for combining analog circuitry with digital control, allowing for extreme customization of effects.
Its pedals, like the Warped Vinyl and the Thermae, They offer a wide range of modulated sounds and unique textures. Renowned musicians such as Ed O'Brien of Radiohead and John Mayer have used these pedals to expand their sonic palette.
🧬 Meris
Based in Los Angeles, Meris It is a company that has revolutionized the world of effects pedals with its innovative designs and high-fidelity sounds. Their products, such as Mercury7 and the Polymoon, They offer spatial effects and complex modulations inspired by high-end studio equipment.
The collaboration with Chase Bliss at CXM 1978 It is an example of their commitment to sound excellence and technological innovation.
🎛️ Rainger FX
If pedals were creatures from another planet, Rainger FX It would be the most extravagant and charming species. From their psychedelic laboratory in London, they have designed artifacts that look like they came from a retro-futuristic comic book.
Pedals with external controllers in the shape of a luminous finger? Delays with built-in distortion that sound like your guitar is passing through an abandoned Soviet antenna? Anything is possible. Rainger FX is for those who want not just a unique sound, but a portable spectacle under their feet. Perfect for musicians who are not afraid of ridicule, risk, or sonic glory.
🧠 Red Panda
Red Panda doesn't pedal: it builds interdimensional portals. From Detroit, this innovation hub has managed to make chaos sound glorious. Its digital effects do not imitate the old, but expand the language of the possible. He Tensor, For example, it's a time-manipulation looping experiment that would make a quantum physicist cry with emotion.
Want to stretch, reverse, shred, or bend your sound mid-flight? Here it is. Red Panda is for the brave who love the edges of sound, those who know that mistakes can also be art and that the unexpected is part of the show.
🎸 Jonny Rock Gear
From Montreal, Jonny Rock Gear It combines garage attitude, artisanal precision, and a delightful sense of sonic humor. Their pedals not only have names that could be psychedelic comic book titles, but they also sound like you've opened a secret door to the universe of mutant riffs.
Wild distortion with a vintage soul? Filters that breathe as if they were part of a synthetic creature? Canadian-accented modulations and a seventies rock star personality? Here you'll find it. Each unit is hand-assembled, and it shows.
Jonny Rock Gear doesn't try to sound like everyone else. Make sure you sound like no one else.
🍌 Bananana Effects
If you ever dreamed that Your pedals were designed by a collective of hyper-creative cyborgs with a playful spirit and futuristic vision, Bananana Effects will make you smile like a kid with a new toy.
From Osaka, this Japanese brand has dedicated itself to breaking rules with absurd elegance. His pedals are colorful, unpredictable, and deeply expressive. With names like Mandala o Tararira, These little gadgets don't just make crazy noises: they make beautiful noises. Ideal for curious musicians, artists of sonic chaos, or anyone who believes that experimentation is the true path.
🎧 If you're interested in how tools shape sound, you might also like “Heroines of Sound”, a tribute to the women behind the magic of audio.