Medusa

Grinding Death Metal Distortion

## Description

### Graphic

The graphic is a 3/4 portrait of Medusa, the most famous of the three Gorgon sisters of Greek mythology, by artist Kasia Jasmina. The faceplate also features the circular Breathe//Die logo opposite the Lichtlaerm Audio monogram calling back to the collaboration that originally inspired the circuit.

### Controls

* Gain - Input gain
* Level - Master output volume
* Cut - Pre-gain high-pass filter
* Low - Active low frequency cut/boost (+/-16dB)
* Mid - Active parametric mid frequency cut/boost (+/-16dB)
* Grind - Active "dual mid peak" frequency cut/boost
* Presence - Active high frequency shelving (+/-16dB)
* Gate - Controls Key and Gate Blackmer-VCA noise gate
* Mid-Freq - Adjusts mid-frequency affected by the Mid control (200Hz to 700Hz)
* Blend - Clean/effects loop signal parallel mix (0-100%)
* Modern/Classic - Switches between Modern and Classic gain stages
* Polarity - Switches effects loop phase polarity
* Bypass footswitch - SmartRelay footswitch, engages and bypasses effect

### Jacks

#### Top

* In - Signal input
* 9v - 9 volt, center negative power adaptor input
* Out - Signal output

#### Right

* Rtn - Return signal of the FX-loop, mixable with Blend control
* Snd - Sends dry signal to external effects

### Webstore Description

> The Medusa is the successor of the probably most infamous pedal we created during Lichtlaerms first life: the Breathe//Die. As a collaboration with local Berlin band “Breathe//Die” it was the first HM2-style pedal to feature a noise reduction circuit, boost and an extended feature set in a compact enclosure. These sold out within days and subsequently went on the used market for up to 600USD!
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> As it’s been one of the most requested pedals for us to bring back to life we decided to not just re-launch but redesign the circuit to give you even more flexibility and the most cohesive package on the market!
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> We took the first design and moved the boost into the core circuit resulting in up to three times the gain the classic chainsaw pedal offers you while also allowing you in to use our well-known cut control to shape the low end and create punchy palm mutes that the original was never capable of.
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> We also increased the output immensely because… well: why not?
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> With great power comes great responsibility: meaning with all the gain and high output volume you can’t avoid a certain level of noise. That’s why we added a full version of our Key & Gate into the circuit: being triggered from the input like you’d to with modern noise gates and placed behind the loop so anything you blend with the Medusa profits from the gate as well. Loop? Yes! Like our King in Yellow we decided to add a parallel fx-loop to Medusa that allows you to blend her gnarly distortion with any other device: distortion, boost, overdrive or even the preamp of your favorite tube amp - or just leave the loop empty and use it as a clean blend. Of course you can invert the phase of the loop to avoid phase cancellations or create interesting out-of-phase sounds.
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> We decided to keep the traditional HM2 EQ bands named low & grind to give you easy access to the well known grindy sounds we all love but added a parallel mids control (200-700hz) and a shelving high filter to add or tame presence. Due to this Presence control the Medusa also lends itself perfectly to being used as a preamp!
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> Last but not least we decided to throw in another switchable gain section: more modern, louder, more mid focused. So now you can decide between the filthy distortion of the black/orange box made famous in Sweden or a modern in-your-face kind of saturation that still has access to the infamous EQ of the HM2.
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> Of course as always: we put all these features in the same compact box and put an amazing artwork made of real gold by the outstanding Kasia Jasmina on it!
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> Get yours today and start tearing down walls and melting faces!
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> For a detailed description of the controls please refer to the manual.
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> Features:
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> * Lichtlaerm Audio Smart Relay technology
> * Swedish Death Metal distortion
> * 2 distinct, switchable gain stages
> * extremely high output, more than twice as much gain as the original
> * 4-band EQ with parametric mids
> * full blackmer-vca noise gate
> * Lichtlaerm-proprietary “cut”-control
> * parallel fx-loop with polarity switch
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## History

### 2023

The Medusa was first teased on July 9, 2023 in a social media post announcing the winners of a giveaway, just three days after the release of the King in Yellow. The left side of the pedal was visible but the majority of the pedal and its features had been cropped out.

The next appearance of the Medusa wasn't until September 17, 2023 in a photo of the Lichtlaerm booth at Guitar Summit 2023. The picture shows the current production run of Lichtlaerm pedals (minus the Aesahaettr) in addition to the Medusa, the Kassandra featuring a new graphic, and a new amp head.

The official launch of the Medusa was on September 21, 2023. The announcement on social media confirmed what a few fans had suspected: that the pedal would be a reimagining of the Breathe//Die from Lichtlaerm's initial run. The post reads:

> Today is the day! You asked and you shall receive:
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> When we released our first take on the HM2 back in 2020 we never thought it would become such a success! The infamous Breathe//Die (named after a sick band from our hometown that helped a lot with the design @breathe\_die ) was the first ever chainsaw pedal that included a noise reduction as well as a footswitchable boost with tightness control. They sold out in no time and subsequently fetched prices as high as 600USD on the used market. Insanity.
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> We worked hard to improve on an already loved circuit and took our time in improving all features of both the original as well as the B//D:
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> We’ll spare you the details but expect a fully working high quality noise gate, insane amounts of gain, different distortion styles at the flick of a switch, parallel loop / clean blend, our revered cut control, and extended EQ incl. parametric mids and one of the most beautiful artworks we’ve ever seen! We can’t thank @kasia.jasmina enough for allowing us to use this!
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> They’re available now at our shop, @eastsidemusicsupply @joespedals and @pedalempire
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> Thanks for all the support till here and have fun with the demos!
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In a post from October 14, Daniel remarks that the second batch of Medusas had nearly sold out and approximately five hundred units had been purchased in less than a month.

First tease of Medusa, 2023/7/9Lichtlaerm Audio booth at Guitar Summit 2023, 2023/9/17Second tease of Medusa, 2023/9/20Medusa launch photo, 2023/9/21Medusa batch, 2023/10/14
## Videos

### 2023

* September 21 (Launch Day) - Sonic Drive Studio, Keith Merrow, Dome, The Interface, dots.sounds
* September 23 - Dirty Demos (with Aesahaettr)
* September 25 - Taylor Danley, Rigs of Death Metal
* September 26 - Leon Todd, Rigs of Death Metal, CSGuitars
* October 4 - Mad Steex (feature explanation by Daniel with full Guitar Summit 2023 line)
* October 22 - Dome (with Boss HM-2)
* October 31 - Drew Creal
* November 3 - Drew Creal, Eastside Music Supply, Metalhead Productions
* November 6 - Thomas Jäger
* November 13 - Ens\_Bass (bass demo with the King in Yellow, Altar, Gehenna, Aquaria, and Electric Roots Meatgrinder, Lilith v1, and Lilith v2)
* November 21 - Thomas Jäger
* November 22 - Thomas Jäger
* December 3 - Ultimate metal guitar tones
* December 11 - Kyle Bull
* December 13 - Dome (with Gehenna and the King in Yellow)