Aside from being the name of the latest effects pedal from FH(fx), an algal bloom is a dramatic increase in the aquatic population of algae in an aquatic system, which can overgrow so competitively dense and thick that the algae will kill off the food supply for other species of plants and can even produce neurotoxins that cause near-instant paralysis. Now that you've digested that tasty morsel of what happens when algae gets busy, you've just been served exactly one dose of premium precursor for the purpose behind the FH(fx) Algal Bloom.

It's pseudo-self-described as a "thick, nasty, searing new fuzz pedal" for guitarists I'd pseudo-describe as "looking for that fuzz tone thicker than the buildup in their water pipes." Still, even if you aren't thinking of starting an Electric Wizard cover band, you can get some killer tones out of this pedal, from restrained drive all the way to opaque hazes of fuzz.

The Algal Bloom uses some unorthodox methodology to get so fuzzy -- point in case, it's huge gain circuit. It operates off a tri-stage control setup. The first control, Trim (or Choke), dictates the amount of signal that gets bled through to the heart of the pedal. Gain (or Bloom) is what it says it is -- a huge gain control that's fuzzy at noon and only gets more frightening from there. Finally, the Level control adds on a master volume.

Fast Features:

• Silicon diode and transistor based fuzz!
• Trim (Choke), Gain (Bloom) and Level controls
• Professionally printed circuit board
• Bright white LED
• True-bypass switching
• 9V adapter power (no batteries . . . it's 2008! Plus, it's better for the environment!)
• Rugged aluminum enclosure
• Five-year warranty!