Dubbed by the press as a “metal mariachi band,” Rodrigo y Gabriela is what happens when a couple of young Mexico City natives evolve from local thrash metal bandmates to acoustic guitarists with serious improvisational skills. Not only do they pick and strum—they hit (yes, hit) their guitars.

The speedy guy-and-gal guitarists’ heavy metal influences shined through their Latin-roots performance September 18 at the Grove of Anaheim.

Short story: the pair met in Mexico City as teenagers and later relocated to Dublin. There the duo’s 2006 album debuted number one on the Irish charts, beating Johnny Cash and Arctic Monkeys for the spot. Their sound—a fusion of their vast influences— metal, flamenco, folk, and jazz—is genuine, original, and eye-and-ear-opening.

The duo strode onto the stage throwing horns in the sky as if they were members of Black Sabbath. Though their rock star entrance didn’t quite match the bare stage setup (only a couple of chairs and guitars on stands), Rodrigo y Gabriela instantly owned the venue, hitting the strings as soon as they sat down, playing vibrant songs like “Tamacun,” and “Diablo Rojo,” while occasionally setting a softer mood with sensually smooth ballads like “Ixtapa” and “Vikingman.” Compensating for the lack of lyrics in their music, Rodrigo later asked for the crowd’s participation, quickly leading to rhythmic claps and vocals from the audience. They gracefully improvised a few solos, responding to the audience’s creations without a hint of a stutter.

The highlight—for me, at least—came when they covered Metallica’s “Orion” and Led Zep’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Their  versions wandered away enough to be exotic and kept the crowd in awe, but still remained true to the originals.

Watching their sophisticated playing techniques proved as blissful as listening to the music: Gabriela’s talent as a percussionist was highlighted, when she hid her face behind the guitar, allowing the audience to focus on enticing solos that incorporated both hands— rhythmically drumming on the guitar’s body, accompanying Rodrigo’s picking. Rodrigo’s energetic bursts of movement between frets were just as impressive as he splashed the show with the occasional metal-based shred session.

By the evening’s end it was clear: these two are not your ordinary pair of guitarists—heck, they aren’t even your typical performers. With an unmatched prowess of creativity, intensity, and technique, Rodrigo y Gabriela are bound to make anyone—from metal heads to flamenco fans—fall in love with them.