To the Hard Rock world the name Tim Montana may be something new, but this singer-songwriter is far from green. An active songwriter, recording artist, and live performer for over twenty years now, Montana is pretty well established in the Country music realm. First released his debut album Iron Horse back in 2007 independently, shortly after he earned the interest of David Letterman, soon to appear on the late show with Letterman in 2008 performing the song “Butte, America.”
Interestingly enough, new associations developed in the years to follow, and in 2013 Montana began to work with ZZ Top founder Billy Gibbons. A collaboration which would build a long-term friendship, the two co-wrote “This Beard Came Here to Party,” and subsequently Montana was invited to open for ZZ Top on tour, plus he and Gibbons would work on more songs together moving forward. A snowball effect, Montana would then go on to co-write with Kid Rock, Travis Tritt, among others. Rather impressive to see the trajectory of his career, he ultimately signed on with Music Knox Records/BBR Music Group (a part of BMG Rights Management family) following the success of his Country Rock single “Mostly Stoned.”
This leads us to more present times when Montana has opted to spread his wings even wider with his crossover into Hard Rock with the song “Devil You Know.” Released in August of 2023, the single almost immediately skyrocketed up charts, climbing into the Top 5 on Rock Radio, and thus turning on an entirely different audience. Flipping the script of rockers going Country (like Staind’s Aaron Lewis, Default’s Dallas Smith, or Godhead’s Jason Charles Miller), Montana has all but conquered an unexpected transition to Hard Rock/Heavy Metal with ease.
Analyzing the lead into this move, “Devil You Know” is an almost perfect launching point. A balance of introspective lyrics with a heavy edge, it immediately connects with you on many levels, driving curiosity as to what Montana may put out there next. Simmering like a perfectly seasoned dish, the next chapter emerged in April of 2024 when Montana not only announced his debut Rock album Savage, but also unleashed the title-track simultaneously. Looking at this, “Savage” takes things to a different level of heaviness. Matched with words that flawlessly fit the modern world’s social climate of ruthless behavior of one human being toward another, it is further proof that Montana is the real deal.
Now deep into 2024, he has already toured heavily with the likes of Staind and Seether, while spending the summer months on the road with Bush, Jerry Cantrell, and Candlebox. A great way to earn even more attention, amidst everything the album Savage at last arrived on July 12th. Complete with eleven songs, the album of course features “Devil You Know” and “Savage,” but also a slew of other rawly created Rock tunes.
As stated, entrenched in songwriting for multiple decades now, Montana seems to have a knack for taking real human emotion and articulating it in songs that strike a nerve. This is evident on many levels throughout Savage, but some of the most intense moments transpire during “Die Today,” the heart-wrenching “Shut Me Out,” and wide open confessional closer, “Day By Day.” It is on these particular tracks that Montana shows that honest self-reflection is perhaps the most powerful form of songwriting. Humble and wearing his heart on his sleeve, he lays it all out with feelings that are more than likely universal to anyone who lives with themselves and any form of regrets.
Overall, as a collective piece Savage is a fantastic Hard Rock album that should hopefully find Tim Montana sticking with the style well into the future. Applying the realism of Country grit with exceptional talents, this is something that should be on everyone’s radar. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Tim Montana’s Savage 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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