Some pedals start with a sound
When Thomas and I began talking about designing a heavy, stoner-inspired distortion pedal in collaboration with the band Gentle Beast, the goal was clear: it had to be massive, sludgy, and loud enough to shake the Rhine. But more than that, it had to be ours. Basel’s. Something that wasn’t just sonically powerful, but emotionally rooted—something that felt like home.
Gentle Beast and the Birth of an Idea
We first discovered Gentle Beast through a contest we ran for local Swiss bands, and from the moment we heard them, we were hooked. Their music has this huge, unapologetic weight to it—like tectonic plates grinding under your feet. As we got to know them and saw them live, it became obvious that we shared more than just musical tastes: we also shared a deep connection to Basel. It’s where we all live, create, and draw inspiration.
So naturally, we wanted to create a pedal that paid tribute to the city that shaped us.
Thomas had a few ideas—naming the pedal The Basler, using names of local districts for the controls. Not bad… but not it. And then I remembered a legend that every true Basler knows by heart.
The Creature Beneath the City
I love this city more than I can explain. Every alley, every stone, every weird medieval fountain—I know it all. I probably should be a tour guide, honestly. So when I said, “Let’s name it the Basilisk,” I meant it with my whole heart.
The Basilisk is Basel’s legendary beast—a serpent-rooster hybrid said to have a deadly stare and breath so toxic it could kill with a whisper. In 1474, Basel famously put a rooster on trial (yes, really) for allegedly laying a basilisk egg. The city condemned and executed it, just in case. That kind of story? It’s peak Basel. Strange, dark, poetic. Just like a good fuzz circuit.
You’ll still find the Basilisk all over the city—on bridges, fountains, crests. To us, it’s more than just a myth. It’s a symbol of power, mystery, and pride. So we imagined the pedal as a kind of prison… or maybe a vault. The beast is inside, waiting. And with one stomp of your foot, you set it loose.
A Beast for Gentle Beast
We made this pedal with Gentle Beast in mind—not just their sound, but their presence. To us, they’re the masters of the Basilisk. It answers to them. It lives in their riffs. And now it’s theirs to unleash.
This one started with a city
Naming the Basilisk was more than just finding the right label. It was a chance to fuse our love of music with our love of place. This is our ode to Basel. A city of legends, hidden power, and wild stories whispered under stone bridges. Now it roars, captured in a stompbox.
And that, to me, feels perfect.
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