How to Dial In "It's Darker Than You Think" by Carpathian Forest - Guitar Tone Settings
Gear for "It's Darker Than You Think"
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 Defending the Throne of Evil (2003). Defending the Throne of Evil is the fourth studio album by the Norwegian black metal band Carpathian Forest. No source we found ties a guitar or amp to this recording, so an ESP LTD EC-1000 through a Marshall JCM800 2203, a saturated black-metal pairing, stands in. Set the amp to a saturated high-gain setting and use the bridge pickup. Standard tuning.
Common Questions About the "It's Darker Than You Think" Tone
What guitar did Carpathian Forest use on "It's Darker Than You Think"?
The guitar on "It's Darker Than You Think" (released 2003) isn't documented; the ESP LTD EC-1000 above gets the sound. Pickup selector: bridge pickup on the guitar. Tuned to standard (E A D G B E).
What amp settings does "It's Darker Than You Think" need?
Settings for this sound: Gain 8.5, Bass 5, Mid 5.5, Treble 7, Presence 6.5, Volume 6.5. 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 "It's Darker Than You Think" without the original gear?
Yes. ToneMirror takes the settings above and adapts it to your guitar, amp, and pedals - so you can chase the "It's Darker Than You Think" 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 "It's Darker Than You Think" by Carpathian Forest are provided for educational use. ToneMirror is not affiliated with the artists or labels referenced.