photo by Tim Song, via Limited Fanfare Records

Fans and (the seemingly endless) friends of South Florida musical expat (and ex-Torche guitarist) Juan Montoya have been following his progress with MonstrO, an Atlanta-based act that, unsurprising given the personnel, deftly blends heaviness with melody. That group continues to build its following the grassroots way, by relentlessly touring with scene heavyweights like the Sword and Danzig.

Between stints on the road, though, Montoya’s eschewed all musical downtime, instead starting another band, the four-piece Stallone. Now that group’s getting its own official coming-out, with a six-song album, American Baby, due out on Limited Fanfare Records on October 30.

Surprisingly, the earliest Stallone material dates back to 2009, when Montoya teamed up with drummer Evan Diprima. It wasn’t until last year, though, that the lineup solidified with the addition of second guitarist Thomas Gonzalez and bassist C.J. Ridings. With a string of shows around Atlanta, Stallone is also gearing up for a mini tour this September which includes two South Florida dates.

As a teaser, Limited Fanfare released yesterday a free track from American Baby called “Ancient Infant” (maybe the next release will have a toddler theme?) Naturally, there are strains of classic Montoya guitar work here, with down-tuned chords warped, bent, and filtered to outer space. But don’t look for nerdy stuff here. This rack is serious rock and roll, with no theatrics — or even vocals — needed to give it some raw power.

Download: Stallone — “Ancient Infant,” via AOL’s Noisecreep

Stallone, With Manray, Holly Hunt, Shroud Eater, and Orb Weaver. 9 p.m. Friday, September 28 at Churchill’s Pub, 5501 NE 2nd Ave., Miami. Admission is $5; age 18 and up. Call 305-757-1807, or visit churchillspub.com.

With Manray and the Deadly Blank, 7 p.m. Sunday, September 30 at Splatter-Rama! at Cinema Paradiso, 503 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale. Admission is $8; all ages. Call 954-525-3456, or visit fliff.com.

Churchill's Pub, Cinema Paradiso, Juan Montoya, MonstrO, Splatter-Rama, Stallone