A new Anvil Salute record is like a visit from an old friend that you haven?t seen in awhile. Almost right away, good memories, familiar feelings and a general sense of comfort come washing over you, and you smile to yourself. It?s not easy to create music that has such a powerful emotional effect, but the genre-defying tunes these Oklahomans dish out seem to yield a sense of unbridled hope and joy. It?s ironic that they named this album ? their most recent release and first for the wonderful Deep Water label ? ?This is the Voice of Doom Calling.? Surely doom has never sounded this sweet.

A masterful blending of minimalist repetition and light-hearted folk forms, and peppered with a touch of freeform weirdness, Anvil Salute?s oeuvre is one that refuses to wear thin. Each composition bears its own signature cadence and melodic flair ? there is no formula, yet the record retains a reassuring cohesion throughout its ten tracks. Each listen of ?Voice of Doom? invites delicate micro-sounds to peer through the majestic cascades of rhythmic bliss. Epic pieces, such as ?Island of Genius,? ?Tiniest Happiness? and the odd beauty ?Balkania? are allowed to morph subtly right before our very ears, while the shorter gems carry a singular vision to fruition.

This is probably the best Anvil Salute album yet ? a record in which every element of the group?s sound has flourished wonderfully. The sonic ingredients have been combined in just the right proportion to satisfy both the weird folk fan and the out-music maven. I don?t know if it?s possible for Anvil Salute to achieve greater feats than they have so far, but I guess we?ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I recommend snatching up this wonderful slice of sonic greatness for yourselves! 10/10 -- Bryon Hayes (11 March, 2008)