Riff Tone

Devil's Dance

Metallica

Guitarmetal1990s

Original Gear

GuitarESP MX-220 (James Hetfield's main guitar during Reload era, studio recording)

AmpMesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier (studio recording, Reload era)

PickupsEMG 81 (bridge, active humbucker)

Amp Settings

gain7.5

bass6

mid4

treble7

reverb1

presence6

Effects & Signal Chain

No effects used for this tone

Notes

Studio recording, 1996-1997 (Reload sessions). Guitar and amp confirmed for era and album, not explicitly for this song but highly likely based on all available evidence. No evidence of pedals for the riff section; Metallica's rhythm tones in this era were typically guitar straight into amp with minimal effects.

Tone Character(10)

tight and percussivechunky low endscooped midsaggressive palm mutinghigh-gain saturationarticulate pick attackminimal ambiencefocused and drymodern metal rhythmthick, heavy riffing

Difficulty

The riff requires tight, consistent palm muting and precise rhythm playing at a slow but heavy tempo, typical of Metallica's 1990s groove metal style. Not technically advanced but demands stamina and accuracy.

Sources

Listen-Through Day 70: Devil's Dance : r/Metallica - Reddit Tunings of Load/Reload/St Anger? : r/Metallica - Reddit

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