GuitarDistortedRiff80% confidence
Empire of the Blind Riff Guitar Tone Settings — Heathen
Heathen · 2010s+ · metal
studio
Original Recording
Guitar
ESP LTD (exact model unspecified, likely H or M series as used by Lee Altus on this album)
Pickups
EMG active humbuckers (model unspecified, likely EMG 81/85 or 81/60 set, based on ESP LTD stock and Lee Altus's typical choices for this era)
Amp
Peavey Triple XXX 120W or Engl Savage 120 (both cited as used on Empire of the Blind; exact track amp not specified)
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup
Studio recording, 2020. Gear confirmed for album era, but not tied to specific riff section. No explicit pedal or effect info for this song/section found. Settings estimated based on genre, amp type, and era.
Amp Settings
Mids5
Bass6
Gain8.5
Reverb1
Treble7.5
Presence7
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Tone Character
- tight and percussive
- aggressive palm muting
- high-gain saturation
- sharp and articulate attack
- crystal-clear note separation
- cutting upper mids
- punchy low end
- polished modern thrash sound
- minimal ambience
- focused, technical riff clarity
Notes & Caveats
- No explicit numeric amp or pedal settings found for this song/section; all settings estimated based on genre, amp type, and era.
- No direct confirmation of exact ESP LTD model or EMG pickup model for this specific recording, but these are highly likely based on Equipboard and Lee Altus's known gear for this album.
- No pedal or effect information found for the riff section; no audible time-based or modulation effects in the recording, so none included.
- Amp model for this track not specified; both Peavey Triple XXX and Engl Savage 120 are cited for the album.
- Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. Heathen's 'Empire of the Blind' features a modern thrash tone: tight, high-gain, with slightly scooped mids, controlled bass for clarity, and bright, aggressive treble/presence to cut through. Reverb is minimal or absent, matching modern metal production and the band's typical amp settings.