This appeared in The Oklahoma Gazette on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 as part of their local artist review section Soundcheck written by Preston Jones:

As left-field a folk record as you’re likely to hear in 2006, Anvil Salute has picked up the remnants of Devendra Banhart’s empire, kidnapped Joanna Newsom and scrambled toward the hills — it’s more self-described “semi-improvised droning fractured folk” for this talented sextet (Gabe Wingfield, Todd Fagin, Jesse Butler, Brad Fielder, Kelly Stevens, Rebecca Loftiss and Kasra “George” Ahmadi) to gleefully explore.

The inexorable drone of “Whirlpool, Tortoise & Hare” nevertheless reveals an elegiac undercurrent, while the vaguely ominous “Krofftland” builds piece by piece, culminating in a nervous, uncertain breakdown. Over these eight tracks, Anvil Salute delivers a precise blow to your senses, holding you captive while unleashing this exceptional wave of oddly beautiful compositions.

Per the group’s Web site, Wingfield elaborated on the aims of “New Crusaders of the 11th Commandment,” Anvil Salute’s second full-length album: “It includes ‘Krofftland,’ which was originally on ‘Pink Gold’ released by Gold Soundz, and ‘Hidden Languages’ was originally written for Todd’s sister’s wedding. Sentimental, really.

“The album shows off the slightly folkier side of the band, features banjo, acoustic guitars, bongos, esraj, bulbul tarang, and a bunch of other things. There’s even a cover of ‘Sugar Baby’ loosely based on Dock Boggs’ version. It’s good stuff if we do say so ourselves.”