Let's get this out of the way up front: only assholes, neckbeards, and gatekeepers care about what's "tr00."
You know the type: the guys haunting every forum, Instagram, and Facebook post, policing what "true" black metal is or isn't, or frothing about "real amps" and "analog warmth" or how using a metal amp sim makes you a "poser."
With all the complaining and policing they do online, is it any wonder they don't write any music of their own?
Metal Amp Sims Are Tools
Here's the thing: tools are meant to make your life easier.
Are we walking around telling people who use a dishwasher that they aren't "true" home owners because they aren't washing their dishes by hand down by the river?
Clearly you can see how ridiculous that sounds... but it's quite literally the same logic!
A metal guitar simulator isn't replacing creativity, it's just making it easier for you to create things.
The Truth About Presets
When people hear the word "preset," they probably think "lazy."
How do I know this?
I used to be one of those guys, especially when I was promoting my flagship training Guitar Tone Mastery many years ago. (Now it's Metal Guitar Tone Workshop.)
I couldn't understand how people didn't want to know how to develop their own tone, sound, and identity.
And while it's true that you should take my Workshop if you really want to develop your own sound and understand how speakers and microphones work, the truth is simple:
When you have an idea, you want to write it down, not waste time fiddling with virtual knobs.
Every experienced musician knows the faster you can get to an inspiring tone, the faster you'll write music. The more you write, the better you get, etc.
You can always go back later and workshop new guitar tones.
Hell, every major band, at some point in their existence, have said that awesome guitar tones inspired awesome riffs.
It's not about being "tr00" to trying to "cheat" at all. It's about getting into the zone before your brain kills the idea by forgetting it.
What Metal Amp Sims Let You Do
- Experiment with tones that would cost tens of thousands in real amps
- Record ideas instantly without worrying about the boomers in your apartment complex
- Build layers, double tracks, and focus on writing music
- Save presets that sound exactly how you want for future writing sessions
This is the modern workflow. Speed, instant kickass tones, and fast writing.
Even bands with giant recording budgets use amp sims and plugins to write and demo ideas because it's fast and consistent.
Who would be mad at that?
The Right Tool for the Job
You're not a "bad musician" if you use a metal amp sim.
You're probably just somebody that values their time or somebody that can't splurge on gear, which is totally fine.
That's why I build my Metal Guitar Amp Simulator Preset Packs.
Because I know exactly what it's like to lose a riff while you're still messing around with settings.
And what's more, I take all my years of dialing in tones, and I put them to good use by creating kickass tones for black metal and death metal alike.
These presets are built to give you mix-ready tones that help you focus on writing and taking advantage of your inspiration... instead of getting lost in plugin menus.
You plug in your guitar, load up the amp sim, you write kick ass music. Done.
You can worry about the album tone later.
The REAL "Tr00" Metalhead
The real "tr00" metalhead is the one actually writing and making music.
The one not just writing riffs, but finishing songs and releasing them for others to hear.
Not the guy posting 3,000 word essays about how you're not a "real metalhead" because you used a metal amp sim.
Remember this:
Amp sims and presets are simply modern songwriting tools.
If it sounds good and it inspired you to write, then that is all that matters.
Grab Your Presets and Get Writing
If you want tones that sound heavy, mix-ready, and instantly inspiring, then you're in the right place.
Check out my Metal Guitar Amp Simulator Preset Packs.
Black metal, death metal, symphonic black metal, atmospheric black metal, ultra low tunings... anything you need!
They're built for creativity. I'm very confident you'll find sounds that make you want to pick up your guitar right now and write something new.
Because remember this: at the end of the day, presets, amp simulators, gear, guitars.... none of that writes songs.
YOU DO.