Last Updated on October 31, 2024 by IDS Team
What makes a fantastic post metal vst plugin? One of the benefits of bedroom production is that it allows artists to explore a much wider scope of sounds and the post metal genre is just one that has benefitted from this. And with many plugins free or low cost, there is more of a world of limitless possibilities than ever before. The rise of post metal and the continued popularity of bands such as Alcest as well has outstripped the development of specific post metal plugins per se. Intead, options include shoegaze plugins such as fuzz pedals to flesh out your sound, massive reverbs, and more. Yet the genre also includes more classic metal vst plugins and gritty distortions that you can blend for an atmospheric metal sound that goes beyond just chugging and riffs.
A Brief Post Metal Summary
Post metal began with new gen metal bands who started combining elements of less heavy genres. Thus, the unique influences of heavy music intertwined with everything from psychedelia to shoegaze to create atmospheric walls of sound. But to get this sound is not quite as simply as just combining different influences, and blending them together requires some experimentation.
So, we have compiled some plugins that are perhaps originally intended for different genres and brought them together for new inspiration, tones, textures, and atmosphere for your latest mix. So, without further ado, we venture through the world of shoegaze metal inspiration, and well as exploring time based effects, walls of sounds, and some of the best freebies online, as well as some more expensive offerings.
Atmospheric Post Metal VST Plugin Ideas
If you’re looking to venture beyond classic metal sounds but remain atmospheric and intense, you may end up exploring other FX such a chorus and flanger. We recommend the Chorus WS-1 from Mercuriall because of how easily it fits with whatever direction you want to go. Thought it could technically be classified under shoegaze vst plugins or even indie, it works well for an atmospheric metal sound as it is neutral and classic, meaning you can blend it with heavier material if you want.
Mercuriall Chorus WS-1
Features: clean cut, simplistic interface with depth, speed and mix knobs. This is a classic stompbox emulation that might look more appropriate for pop or soft rock based on it’s glittery purple design, but make no mistakes – used wisely, it can broaden the range of sounds in your metal mix and boost atmosphere with a trusty and reliable circuit that is timeless and holds up against more complex stompbox emulations.
Specs: VST/AAX for windows, VST/AU/AAX for mac
Price: FREE
Post Metal VST Plugin Ideas: Distortion
Post metal is remarkable in how it draws from other genres yet still manages to sound staggeringly intense and heavy. With the release of their 7th album Les Chants de L’Aurore earlier this year, shoegaze metal bands like Alcest have exploited this potential to its utmost. Yet you may wonder whether shoegaze or nonmetal plugins can get heavy enough for a successful fusion between the two. These two plugins pull no punches. Discover full on, dirty walls of sound abound with BYOD and more with these post-metal vst plugins.
ChowDSP BYOD
Features: artist mimicking, such as “Pete Townshend’ mode (though maybe not the most useful presets for post metal!). A complete distortion builder that includes high and low cut filters, amp impulse responses, and other feature slike a bass cleaner. This plugin is based on the internal circuitry of different pedals and distortion effects. We think it is really good for the job as it allows you to reach outside the box sounds that re still similar enough to what’s been established to hit the sweet spot.
Specs: available for VST3, AAX, AU and CLAP formats, MacOs, Windows, and Linux.
Price: FREE
The Fuzz by Modern Music Solutions
Features: with features like grit, dirty lead, and spiky lead, this is all about dark and gritty sounding fu as a feature separate from plain old distortion, perfect if you’re creating a thematic, atmospheric metal sound that goes beyond just blasts and chugging. A minimalist pedal emulation with high pass and mix buttons, and distortion, filter, and level knobs.
Specs: Windows 10 or Mac OS 10.13 or higher. Works with msot major DAWs in AU, VST, VST3 and AAX formats.
Price: FREE
If you’re making post metal, you probably have some of your favourite distortion pedals already in your arsenal. We’re focussing less on distortion and more about pedals that can take you beyond the classic metal sounds yet remain intense, atmospheric, and heavy. However, just to cover all bases, our favourite classic metal vst plugin for versatility and blending with other FX is the Mercuriall Boss MetalArea MT-A.
Mercuriall Boss MetalArea MT-A
Features: Level, Dist, High, Low, Middle, MidFreq, Input Gain, Mono/Stereo, Quality switch, On/Off knob. A classic stompbox emulation that has gritty and modern distortion that you can easily blend with some of the other FX on this list.
Specs: VST/AAX for windows, VST/AU/AAX for Mac
Price: FREE
Delay and Reverb Plugins for Post Metal
Choosing a good reverb – and getting a free reverb that still sounds professional – is no small feat. We’ve written about Valhalla Reverb before, but we have to recommend it here too. However, this time, there are two alternative ideal for post-metal vst plugins which we can’t go without mentioning, either.Â
Mainstream Pick: Valhalla Supermassive Reverb
Features: 20 reverb/delay modes, mix and width dials, feedback, density and modulation, eq split between high and low pass filters, preset capabilities. Again, scroll down in the linked article in the above paragraph for a full look at why this oneis so great.
Specs: available for MacOS and Windows across all major DAWs
Price: FREE
Alternative Pick: epiClouds variety of sound
Features: bloom, decay, mod, and tone knobs. Width and dry/wet dials plus quality switch. Sound visualiser window (stereoscope). Ambient reverb imitates open spaces, perfect for atmospheric, icy metal sounds, whether conjuring up the inside of a cavernous ruin or a dark forest. Perfect for a cinematic feel, ambient reverb is commonly used in soundtracks and works great as a post-metal vst plugin that is flexible and inspiring.
Specs: available in 32 and 64 bit vst2 format for windows only
Price: FREEÂ
More reverb: Ambience by smart electronics
Features: gate, decay, shape, eq, and damping sections, MIDI learn function, wet and dry sliders, predalay, width, quality/cpu and variation features. A good rival for Valhalla in terms of free reverb, it’s clean and simple with a great UI and extremely high quality given the lack of a pricetag.
Specs: MacOS and Windows in VST and AU formats
Price: FREE
Other Post Metal VST Plugin Ideas
Waves: Vocal Rider
One of the few paid for plugins on this list, this normally reaches a hefty 200 USD but is currently discounted at 80 – yes, you got that – 80%. The vocal rider automatically adjusts vocal levels, which can be a lifesaver when mixing metal due to the intricacies of ensuring they sit properly in the mix.
Features: Range, rider, and output sliders. Range and idle mode. Options for automation – off, write, and read. The only downside is while the concept is great, it’s credibility is mostly within less heavy genres, so it requires the individual sound designer to know what they’re after as opposed to relying blindly on it.
Specs: Windows 10 64 bit and Windows 11, Mac OS ¡ Monterey or higher. Works on all major DAWs in AU and VST3 formats.
Price: 199 USD (full price) 39 USD (reduced!)
FUSER Smart Unmasking Plugin
Another paid for plugin, sitting at 63 USD, and not necessarily strictly one of the category of post-metal vst plugins, we’ve included this here because metal mixes can often get messy and complicated. FUSER smart unmasking plugin comes with inbuilt conflict detection, allowing you to identify and smooth out weak spots in your mix.
Features: First off, it comes with a free trial. Apart from this, it features attack, release, mix, and output knobs, so you aren’t just reliant on its interpretation of your mix. However, if you do want some smart help, the resolve conflicts button works when the plugin is added to one of any two conflicting channels. The only thing to note is like the Vocal Rider, it doesn’t have a strict metal pedigree, so don’t rely on it blindly, and ensure you know what sounds you are after.
Specs: Mac and Windows OS X 10.15 and Windows 10 or higher, 64 bit AAX or VST host.
Price: 63 USD
Final Thoughts
Overall, there isn’t anything that makes something strictly a post-metal vst plugin. The beauty of the genre and the wider atmospheric metal sound is that it incorporates influences from so many different places. However, these are a small selection of the plugins we think have the greatest potential for fusion, creativity, and atmosphere – all things that your mix may need in abundance. Furthermore, there are plenty of hidden gems and cheap and underrated plugins, so there is something for every budget and ability level.
And, if you liked this article, we look at more underrated plugins here. In addition, we have our entire software section here, so check out more great VSTs.
