The Wheat Chiefs formed early in 1990 by guitarists and twin brothers Marc and Brent Belke after the demise of their previous band, SNFU.

[3] With new bassist Rob Johnson and drummer Ed Dobek, the group recorded numerous tracks later that year with producer Marek Forysinski, including seven that would later appear on Redeemer.

SNFU biographer Chris Walter describes the album as packing a "solid wallop" and commercially viable despite not charting.

[1] In a positive review for Drop D magazine, critic Paul Watkin praised the album's melodicism and the Belke brothers' "cool guitar work.

"[5] A writer for Discorder magazine lauded the album for its "singalong" appeal and likened the material to that of the Doughboys and Big Drill Car.