Re: How does Zakk get such a heavy sound?
I wouldn't doubt if his Marshall isn't modified - has any big player not used a modified Marshall? Even if it wasn't, The EMGs have mega output. His overdrive pedal is similar to a Boss Distortion, which actually does kick out a lot of gain IMO. After that it's just hard pickin and palm mutes. Don't trust anything on a record though - engineers can do so many things in the studio: double tracks, re-amp, add effects, use different amps than what they say they endorse, etc.