A magnetic recording head has a top pole, a write gap layer, a shared pole, and conductive coils. The shared pole has an air bearing surface, a top surface substantially normal to the air bearing surface, and a recess in the top surface extending across the top surface parallel to the air bearing surface. The shared pole is separated from the top pole at the air bearing surface by the write gap layer, and directly contacts the top pole at a region of the writer distal from the air bearing surface. Wrapped around the top pole are the conductive coils, a portion of which is positioned in the recess of the shared pole between the top pole and the shared pole.