Some pedals start with a sound
When Thomas and I began talking about designing a heavy, stoner-inspired distortion pedal, 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.
The Birth of an Idea
We have been hanging around quite some local bands here in Basel, and the heavy scene is quite special. Their music has this huge, unapologetic weight to it, like tectonic plates grinding under your feet. As we got to know most of them, 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.
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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