MONTOYA

The Brothers Montoya kick the door in, dripping with testosterone and tequila, and hammer out first cut “Jezebel," all blaring guitars and repetitive, slightly threatening choruses. After chasing you under the table and laughing gruffly at your timidity, they pull you out and buy you a round. By the first shimmery chords of next track, “Solo,” you’re lost in the delicate harmonies and trying to remember what all the fuss was about. And it only gets better.

The power duo of Sergio (drums, keyboards, vocals) and Gino (guitar, vocals) create a mood of expectation that does not disappoint. Equal parts exquisite Latin sensibilities and swaggering hard-rock, they have fashioned a unique sound that overflows simultaneously with power and tenderness. Their promo material announces them as a “blazing mix of English and Spanish rock tunes from the indie underworld,” and they ain’t lying. Especially that blazing stuff; these boys know what they’re doing.

They strut from pounding dissonant rock (“Las Joyas”) to ethereal harmonies (“Solo”) to happy little pop tunes (“Como Todo”), and somehow pull it all off.

Standout cut: “Rumba,” full of jangly guitars, passionate singing and fuzzy synth work climbing to a popping, blistering electronic climax. Solid debut effort. High expectations for their next offering. - Indie-music.com

MONTOYA is the debut from brothers Gino and Sergio. Two guys makin' some basic rock and roll noise. Cool! At times, sounds like a Spanish version of the Black Keys but not quite as fuzzed-out. Basic power rock-and-roll. Track 6 - EL GATO - rocks! Awesome! - Contributed by Pat Turlo

Clomping out of the gate like a bar band Tarantino would love, the brothers Montoya soon settle into '70s rock swagger with an ease that belies their age. Witness “Las Joyas,” which sways around drunkenly for the better part of its verses and then suddenly challenges you to a knife fight under the bridge. The threat is real but unrealized. Like many of the songs presented here, Montoya creates the mood and lets it sit, unwilling or unable to push the boundaries. For all that, what they do, they do well. - by Tyson Lynn