Tone library / Metallica / Seek and destroy

Seek and destroy amp settings — Blackstar HT20R MkII

The Metallica guitar tone for “Seek and destroy”, dialed in for a Blackstar HT20R MkII with a Ibanez GIO GRG170DX. Studio version, Kill 'Em All (1983)

Original rig

1981 Gibson Flying V with bridge humbucker → Pro Co Rat or Boss DS-1 → Marshall JCM800 2203 100W head → Marshall 4x12 cabinet

Tight, percussive thrash rhythm with scooped mids, aggressive palm-mute chunk, razor-sharp pick attack, high-gain saturation, dry and focused

Amp settings — Blackstar HT20R MkII

CHANNELOD1BOOSToff

Knob	Setting (0–10)
Gain	7
Bass	6
Mid	3
Treble	7
Presence	6
Reverb	0
Master	5

Don’t have a Blackstar HT20R MkII? See this song on other amps → Match your own rig →

Guitar

PICKUPbridge TONE10 VOLUME10

Signal chain

01Rat-style distortion (e.g. Pro Co Rat, TC Electronic Dark Matter, Behringer SF300)

RECOMMENDED — not currently owned. Run into Clean channel with amp gain at 2-3 instead of OD1 settings above if using this pedal

Distortion 6 · Filter 4 · Volume 6

Why these settings

The HT20R's OD1 channel is voiced closer to a JCM800 than the original Marshall, but it's slightly warmer with more low-mid content. Dropped mid to 3 (vs original's 5) to achieve the thrash scoop since the Blackstar doesn't scoop as aggressively. Your Ibanez GIO has a medium-output ceramic humbucker similar to the Flying V's output, so gain stays at 7. The ISF knob should be set fully clockwise (British voicing) to nail the Marshall bark.

PRO TIPHetfield's pick attack is everything — use a thick 1mm+ pick, angle it slightly, and strike hard right over the bridge pickup for that percussive chunk. Palm mute lightly, not fully deadened, and tune down to Eb standard to match the record.

Get this tone on your amp

These settings are for a Blackstar HT20R MkII. ToneAdapt matches any song to whatever amp, guitar and pedals you own — first match is free.

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Song, artist and gear names are used to identify the tone being matched; ToneAdapt is not affiliated with or endorsed by the artists or manufacturers mentioned. Settings are AI-generated starting points — trust your ears.