Armed with a pair of nylon-stringed guitars and an ability to finger pick that would make the guys from Metallica green with envy, Rodrigo Y Gabriela are not your dad’s acoustic guitar band. Influenced by metal acts like Iron Maiden and Testament, the duo first discovered their sound when working as musicians at a Mexican resort. Realizing that they could apply their thrash-metal techniques to their electric guitars, the two started playing covers of the likes of Megadeth and Slayer, although the touristas in their audience didn’t notice. After moving to Dublin, Ireland, the band soon rose to international fame, performing at Glasonbury in 2010 and even the White House for President Barack Obama. Just don’t compare them to the Gypsy Kings

Download their debut album Rodrigo Y Gabriela at