Legendary independent New York-based rock label Equal Vision Records, along with Kill Iconic Records, are set to release Or So I’ve Been Told…, the new album from progressive post-hardcore quartet Mella, on Friday, October 10. Ahead of the release, the band has shared their latest single, “E-Girls Are Delicious,” a track that dives headfirst into themes of shame, self-acceptance, and the uncomfortable contradictions between the two.
Produced by Mike Watts (The Dear Hunter, Hail The Sun), “E-Girls Are Delicious” showcases the band’s ability to balance abrasive energy with melodic depth. The song moves between jagged guitar riffs and atmospheric keyboard passages, reflecting the tension between fleeting moments of confidence and the lingering sting of regret. Describing the track, the band call it “a very sarcastic and somber journey that captures the dichotomy of feeling justified in the moment, then feeling the sting of shame, but it doesn’t hurt the way it used to — and that scares you.”
The members of Mella—Danny Ray McCool Jr. (vocals), James Lucas Artwohl (bass, keys), Donnie Maynard Clark (guitar, recording engineer), and Luke Martucci (drums)—have built a sound rooted in raw emotion and detail. Their music pulls from the intensity of post-hardcore, the introspection of emo, and the unpredictability of progressive structures, all while keeping their focus on strong songwriting. On stage, that translates into cathartic performances that refuse to simply recycle past scenes, instead forging something distinctly their own.
Mella will join A Lot Like Birds on tour throughout October, bringing their new songs to audiences across the U.S.
What makes Mella’s approach stand out is their willingness to push at the edges of post-hardcore without losing the genre’s urgency. In a scene that can sometimes get stuck in familiar formulas, their mix of progressive arrangements and lyrical honesty gives the music real weight. Or So I’ve Been Told… feels like both a continuation and a reinvention of the post-hardcore tradition, offering something that’s equal parts visceral and thoughtful. If this single is any indication, the album is set to resonate not only with longtime fans of the genre but also with listeners looking for music that challenges as much as it connects.
https://www.instagram.com/mellaactually
OCTOBER
07 — Charleston, SC — Music Farm *
08 — Richmond, VA — Canal Club *
09 — Asbury Park, NJ — House of Independents *
11 — Boston, MA — Brighton Music Hall *
12 — Brooklyn, NY — Music Hall of Williamsburg *
13 — Columbus, OH — Ace of Cups *
14 — Detroit, MI — Loving Touch *
15 — Chicago, IL — Cobra Lounge *
17 — Dallas, TX — RBC *
18 — Houston, TX — Secret Group *
19 — San Antonio, TX — Paper Tiger *
21 — Albuquerque, NM — Launchpad *
22 — Denver, CO — HQ *
24 — Las Vegas, NV — Usual Place *
25 — Mesa, AZ — Rosetta Room *
27 — Roseville, CA — Goldfield Trading Post *
28 — Fresno, CA — Strummers *
29 — Los Angeles, CA — Teragram Ballroom *