Atlanta's MUELAS refuses to play by hardcore's usual rules. Their debut EP, Bellow, is a direct response to political outrage, personal loss, and questions of identity, all channeled through a sound that moves between raw heaviness and unexpected vulnerability. The band weaves Latin influences, mariachi lines, and classical touches into their songwriting, letting these motifs collide with dissonant riffs and hardcore intensity. The result is a sound that stands apart, defined by the band's own experiences.
MUELAS began long before their first practice. Guitarist Kaemon Maggard, bassist Chris, and drummer James had talked for years about starting something heavier with Susy Reyes, a close friend and collaborator in both music and art. When their earlier bands ended, the timing finally made sense.
"The short version is that James, Chris, and I convinced Susy, a longtime friend and collaborator for musical and visual projects, to start a new project after years of floating the idea of starting some type of heavy band together," Maggard tells No Echo. "After our previous band played its last show and Susy left her last band, the stars—and our schedules—aligned for our first jam and writing sessions."
James filled in on drums at first while the band looked for a permanent drummer. Reyes brought in Musashi, a longtime friend, and the lineup came together naturally.
"To us, it makes the most sense to describe our sound through the emotions and moods we aim to convey: rage, catharsis, and rebellious joy, punctuated by softer moments of introspection, darkness, and beauty," explains Maggard when No Echo asks him for MUELAS' stylistic approach. "The sounds we love are angry, often dissonant, noisy, and, at appropriate moments, cinematic or intimate."
The band's influences include Show Me the Body, IDLES, Dangers, and Chat Pile, but Atlanta itself is just as important. "Our biggest source of inspiration is our local community, where music, activism, and journalism are deeply intertwined," Maggard says. "Atlanta has often led national political movements in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd Rebellion and the Stop Cop City movement, while hometown shows continue to foster community and celebrate the unique sounds and people of Atlanta."
Reyes' background shapes MUELAS at its core. As a mariachi violinist and classically trained vocalist, she brought Latin musical ideas into the band's writing from the start. Maggard and Musashi added their own experience with Latin jazz.
"Susy will often suggest a Latin melodic motif, vocal moment, or rhythmic idea, and the band is always excited to see how we can incorporate it," says Maggard. "She also takes inspiration from mariachi lyrical themes of loss, grief, and love to reflect her own personal trauma and mental health struggles. Bellow was recorded with Connor Ray (Malevich) at Sobek Sounds in Atlanta and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. The EP captures MUELAS' political urgency together with their drive to explore musical boundaries.lly.
Lead single "MELT" directly confronts ICE raids targeting immigrant communities, while "FYJJ" grew from Reyes' months-long fight against developers attempting to reshape her neighborhood.
"The lyrics come straight from that experience," Maggard says. "Her neighbors' stories, the late nights gathering information and talking to council members, and a community banding together to protect their homes."
The EP's second half turns inward. Tracks like "Amor Moribundo" and the instrumental "VIII" dig into grief, survival, and change, using arrangements which combine violin, viola, cello, trombone, and styles like mariachi ranchera, bolero, flamenco, and doom. "'VIII' has become one of our favorite moments to play live," Maggard says. "It was a huge risk."
Since forming, the group has built ties with fellow Atlanta bands Malevich and Apostle, as well as with Germany's Glower and Tijuana's Violencia through touring and festivals. Looking ahead, a hometown release show with Playytime, Squeamish, and Cheerlead kicks things off before the band returns to writing, with several new songs already nearing completion. Regional touring throughout the Southeast is also planned before the group focuses on larger festival runs in 2027.
For Reyes, MUELAS has offered a lot more than musical release:
"This band has really allowed me to be unapologetically myself," says Reyes. "To have a stage as a non-binary, Mexican-American is something I don't take for granted. Growing up, I seldom saw musicians in these spaces who represented me."
The vocalist wants MUELAS' music to give others that same feeling of community. "Being on stage and writing this music is one of the few ways I can get my pain out," Reyes says. "I wanted to write music not only for myself but also for others who can relate. An important part of this band, and for myself, is to provide that safe space for others to let it all out."
Even with the obstacles facing oppressed communities, Reyes sees hope in what underground music can still offer.
"It is more important now than ever to share our joy, our pain, our anger, and our voices through all mediums of art," she says. "Never grow silent, and hang on to that hope at all costs."
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Bellow is out now and available on vinyl via Best Life Records (US) and Second Engine Records (UK), also available on streaming outlets.
MUELAS on social media: Facebook | Instagram
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