Talk me out of a Katana Artist 100 combo.
So I've been playing around 20 years. Started on a crate 2x12 then moved onto a Fender Mustang, then a Yamaha THR5. I've never been in a band so I never needed the power. I was always more focused on buying nicer guitars rather than amps.
7 years back, I bought a Blackstar HT5 head with a separate cab with a 70/80 speaker. I actually really dig it and it's been my pedal platform ever since. In 2018 I really got into pedals and have a fairly nice collection. I LOVE my drive pedals.
Fast forward to now and I want to start playing with others. I play heavier music. I don't think the HT5 would keep up with a drummer, so I just want something that can do that. I want something on the lighter side as I'm no spring chicken anymore, although I'd prefer a combo. I want something that is great with pedals.
I've considered a Fender Hot Rod deluxe, but that seems too loud and honestly doesn't really excite me. The Blackstar debut 100, but seems like the speaker is the biggest complaint, which seems insane. The Laney 60, the Catalyst 100, the blah blah blah.
I also should mention I have a Headrush frfr108, which just for funsies I'd like to do a line out of the amp and have them go simultaneously at home.
The Katana Artist combo seems to check all those boxes. I hear on one side a Katana is a piece of kit everyone should have, but also hear things like for $600 you could do better.
I feel like it's what I need, and that's obviously what I should go with, but I think this post is more about putting it out there to see if I'm missing something. I have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to amps.
Would be interested to hear others thoughts on this.
EDIT: I really didn't expect this to get so many responses! Thanks all. I'm hearing that the artist works for some, but it's a bit hard to dial in (I'm sure there are people who that's also not the case for.) Having some experience with a Tonex one into my FRFR I also understand what not pushing air and just hearing tone feels like, which is why I was leaning towards a combo. I think I want that moving air. I'm not going to be playing arenas anytime soon so PA capabilities aren't a concern. Just needs to be loud for a metal drummer. I heard the pedal platform comments, as well as the get a metal amp comments, as well as the quintessential solid state pedal platform comments. I think I've found the medium ground I need in the Marshall DDL40CR. Its plenty loud, has really nice clean headroom, as well as a high gain channel that I feel like I can enhance if I need a bit more brutality. I also found one for $425 I'm going to pull the trigger on. I know it's heavy, but the artist was only 8 lbs less anyways. I'm manage. Oh, and I can also plug my other cab into it and run my head rush as a monitor.
TLDR: Mission Accomplished, you talked me out of it! (No hate on the Artist, I've really seen and heard only good things, but I do think deep down I wanted all tube.)