The Visual Sound Angry Fuzz is a fuzz pedal with a built-in octave-up circuit, an approach that traces back to the Octavia, the classic Roger Mayer design associated with Jimi Hendrix's tone on "Purple Haze," "Fire," and "One Rainy Wish"1. Where a plain fuzz pedal just clips the signal, the Angry Fuzz adds an octave effect that MusicRadar described as "adding an insistent upper octave to single notes" and creating "ring-modulator-style mayhem" when you play two notes together2.
What sets it apart from the vintage pedals it borrows from is control. Premier Guitar's review of the V2 Angry Fuzz notes that "unlike the Octavia or other vintage pedals, the octave circuit here can be blended into or out of the fuzz sound"3. Truetone's product page lists it as a "Fuzz with Integrated Octave Circuit" and says the Anger Level knob "blends in an octave-up circuit that transforms single notes into something angular and confrontational"4.
The controls: fuzz, anger, volume and the bright switch
The pedal keeps its control set simple. The fuzz and octave effects are controlled independently, with the octave control marked "anger," and there is also a volume level control2. Truetone's page for the V2 breaks down what each one does4:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Controls gain |
| Anger Level | Dials in octave content, blending in the octave-up circuit |
| Volume | Sets output level |
| Bright switch | Changes harmonic character |
The bright switch is a subtle control. MusicRadar found it "quite subtle, especially at higher fuzz settings, and is only really apparent on the attack part of" notes, but called it "a useful addition here, as it stops the tone from being slushy" when the guitar's tone control is turned down2. That pairing matters because the reviewer got their best results using the neck pickup on a Strat with the guitar's tone control rolled right down, a setup that can dull the attack without something to brighten it2.
What the octave blend does to the sound
The Anger Level knob is where the pedal earns its name. Truetone describes the two extremes: "Back it off and you have a full, well-mannered fuzz. Turn it up and the circuit starts picking fights with the natural harmonics," and on chords the octave effect generates a dense, harmonically rich wash4. The maker also says the pedal "works remarkably well on bass, adding a snarling octave character that few fuzz pedals can match"4.
With the octave blended out, the basic fuzz sound sits at the smooth end of the spectrum. MusicRadar found it "at the smooth 'flutey' end of the scale," noting that high notes lose attack at high fuzz settings while low notes take on a cello-esque texture2.
There are less obvious sounds in there too. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that "cranking the octave level and backing off your guitar volume creates some delightful, or horrible (depending on your perspective) bit-reduction sounds"3. And at the other end of the gain range, MusicRadar reported that lower fuzz settings "work well for gritty overdrive tones, with or without the anger feature," which makes the pedal usable as a light overdrive as well as a fuzz2. With the fuzz set very low and the anger control high, the pedal produces percussive, ring-modulator-like sounds2.
What the reviewers said
MusicRadar's verdict was positive across the board: "Creative uses of some high quality tones in every function," and the reviewer found that, apart from matters of taste, there was nothing to avoid2. Their overall take went further:
"To our ears, this is the best of the bunch. The retro stompbox craze has brought us all manner of squishy, ratty, flutey" fuzz pedals, and the Angry Fuzz stood out among them.2
Premier Guitar's review of the V2 reached a similar conclusion, recommending it if "you want a well built, great sounding, versatile octave fuzz pedal"3. The reviewer's one criticism was comparative: against an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, the Angry Fuzz "lacked some of the EH pedal's low-end girth and articulation"3.
Where it sits among octave fuzzes
The Octavia circuit the Angry Fuzz draws on is the reference point for the whole category, the sound behind Hendrix's leads on "Purple Haze," "Fire," and "One Rainy Wish"1. The Angry Fuzz's difference is that the octave is a blendable amount rather than a fixed part of the circuit, where the Octavia and other vintage pedals give you no such control3. Players looking at other takes on the format can compare it with pedals like the TSVG Angry Jeff, which Premier Guitar found "can deliver interesting twists on Fuzz Face, Super-Fuzz, and Big Muff tones," or explore the wider field of octave and pitch pedals.
Videos
Guitar World
Texas Blues Alley
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Questions
What does the anger control do on the Visual Sound Angry Fuzz?
The anger control, called Anger Level on the V2 version, blends in the pedal's octave-up circuit. Backed off, you get a full, well-mannered fuzz on its own. Turned up, single notes take on an angular, confrontational upper-octave character, and chords produce a dense, harmonically rich wash. It works like the octave blend on an Octavia-style pedal, but with independent control.
Can you use the fuzz and octave separately on the Angry Fuzz?
Yes. The fuzz and octave effects are controlled independently, so you can run the fuzz on its own with the anger control backed off, or push the octave level up over a cleaner fuzz setting. The fuzz knob sets the gain and the anger knob sets how much octave content is blended in, plus there is a volume control for output level.
What does the bright switch do on the Angry Fuzz?
The bright switch changes the pedal's harmonic character. MusicRadar's reviewer found it quite subtle, especially at higher fuzz settings, and mainly apparent on the attack part of notes. They also called it a useful addition because it stops the tone from becoming slushy when you turn your guitar's tone control down.
Does the Angry Fuzz work as an overdrive?
In a sense. MusicRadar's reviewer found that lower fuzz settings work well for gritty overdrive tones, with or without the anger feature engaged. With the fuzz set very low and the anger control high, the pedal produces percussive, ring-modulator-like sounds rather than conventional overdrive.
Who makes the Angry Fuzz?
The Angry Fuzz is made by Visual Sound, and it appeared as part of the Visual Sound range. The V2 version is documented on the Truetone site, which lists it as a fuzz with an integrated octave circuit; Truetone and Visual Sound are connected through the same company's product history.
Can the octave be blended out of the Angry Fuzz sound?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review of the V2 Angry Fuzz notes that unlike the Octavia or other vintage pedals, the octave circuit here can be blended into or out of the fuzz sound. Backing off the Anger Level knob leaves you with a full, well-mannered fuzz with no octave content at all.
Sources (4)
- Catalinbread Octapussy Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2012-09-05
- Visual Sound Angry Fuzz review, MusicRadar, 2008-05-23
- Visual Sound V2 Angry Fuzz Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2008-10-15
- V2 Angry Fuzz, Truetone, 2026
