The Devil's Anvil

The Devil's Anvil was a 1960s band based in New York City, and Hard Rock From the Middle East, released in 1967, was their one and only album. Showcasing a mix of 1960s rock sound with Arab, Greek and Turkish melodies, the songs on the album are often sung in Arabic. The arrangements walk a tightrope between the modern psychedelia of the day and centuries-old traditional folk modalities and melodies. Hard Rock from the Middle East was released during escalating tensions between Israel and neighboring Arab countries and the subsequent Arab-Israeli War in 1967. Subsequently, radio stations in the States would not play the record because of its "controversial" content, thus making it a hidden gem and highly sought-after album. Instrumental in the band's formation was producer Felix Pappalardi, vocalist and bassist of the band Mountain, who helped sign them with Columbia Records. Hard Rock from the Middle East was way ahead of its time, and more than fifty years later, it still is. With its stunning musicianship, songcraft, and skillful weaving of musical traditions into a cohesive musical statement, it endures and is perhaps even more relevant today than when it was first released.