How to Dial In "Hell Is a War" by Annihilator - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "Hell Is a War"
Suggested rig · the original isn't documented.
Knob Positions, Pickup, and Tuning
Where to set the knobs for this tone. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale.
On your amp, these numbers won't sound the same.
Get the settings for my ampHow the artist had their guitar configured for this take.
From King of the Kill (1994). King of the Kill is the fourth album by Canadian heavy metal band Annihilator, released in 1994. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so a Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, the rig we use for Annihilator's other songs from King of the Kill, stands in. Set the amp to a driven, high-gain crunch and use the bridge pickup. Published transcriptions put it in D standard (D G C F A D), a whole step below standard.
Common Questions About the "Hell Is a War" Tone
What guitar did Annihilator use on "Hell Is a War"?
The guitar on "Hell Is a War" (released 1994) isn't documented; the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. The track is in D Standard (D G C F A D), so retune before you dial anything in.
What amp settings does "Hell Is a War" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8, Bass 6, Mid 6, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 7. Each value is on the standard 0–10 amp scale; match them on your amp first, then nudge to taste. ToneMirror can translate these positions for whatever amp you actually own.
Can I play "Hell Is a War" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "Hell Is a War" tone on a Katana, a Helix, a tube combo, or anything else. The translation accounts for EQ curve, gain structure, and pickup type so the result actually sounds like the record, not just the same knob numbers on different gear.
More Tones You Can Dial In
Tone references for "Hell Is a War" by Annihilator are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.