Ritual Devices EVOL Primal Hybrid 2-Stage Fuzz is both beautifully articulate and menacingly visceral depending on how you set the dials

What we have is 2 Gain Stages Fuzz- where the 1st one is much louder, more open and lighter / brighter in profile overall, the 2nd Stage is a lot more Aggressive on the Clipping - so you need to crank the volume for that - it delivers a Darker, Denser and Heavier, Higher Gain Profile - while both Stages have wonderful Sustain.

I like both those options - while I tend to live mostly on the 1st Gain Stage - the extra volume there makes it somewhat more versatile and flexible for me. For Stage 1 I have the Volume at around 1-2 o’clock as that opens up the texture nicely. Bleed / Gain is mostly on Max for me, with the Volume control needing to be cranked also for Stage 2. It has pretty decent guitar volume cleanup too - not quite fuzz face level, while it really works a treat!

For the EQ side - which has 2 EQ  Colour Profiles left and right on the switch - I mostly prefer that switch to the left, Tone at Noon, and Mid @ 3 o’c.

You have 5 Transistors at work here overall - 2 of which are Soviet Germanium ones - with tonnes of sear and sustain. This is a really beautifully textured versatile, but mostly classic leaning fuzz - compared to the Ritual Devices Grimalkin - which is rather more Hairy!

Controls - Volume, Stage : 1/2, Bleed/Gain, Colour : A/B, Tone, Mid.

If you want to be more experimental with your fuzz tones - then the Grimalkin is likely your first choice - for a beautifully sustaining classic-leaning fuzz, then this EVOL is surely your weapon of choice. I really love both of those fuzzes for different reasons. I remarked last time that the Grinalkin could have done with a touch volume at some settings. For this EVOL though you have plenty of range on every dial - particularly on Stage 1 - which goes to 12!

I feel that overall the EVOL is closer to Tone Bender profiles in some ways (on Stage 1) - say compared to Fuzz Face and Big Muff - but it touches on those too - while being mostly its own thing. Typically Stage 1 for Tone Bender and Fuzz Face -ish tones, and Stage 2 for Big Muff style tones!

I’ve long admired Wub’s intricate etched enclosures - and still feel that those are extraordinary - as previously noted - somewhat reminiscent of Victorian Trinket and Jewel Boxes. The pedal is beautiful inside and out - really finely crafted by Wub. This brand deserves your support - its pedals are distinct and different - and you’re getting such a fabulous mix of art, craft and engineering.

With Brass knobs - these would have a foot in Steam Punk territory. The look and sound design here is truly next level!

This fantastic artisan crafted masterpiece is yours for just £195 and equivalent (c.$250) which is a total steal for this level of quality!

I now own 3 of Wub’s fine pedal - the Fay Phase Filter Modulation, Grimalkin Fuzz, and this EVOL Fuzz - all are must buys for me - and come thoroughly recommended. Ritual Devices really deserves your support - and most of you don’t know what you’re missing out on! A really special experience all-round - which delights all the sense!