MM.E.L.T. (formerly Melt) is a Pittsburgh-based fuzz rock trio composed of Joey Troupe (guitar/vocals), James May (bass/vocals), and J.J. Young (drums/vocals) — three veterans of the Steel City’s music scene. Troupe cut his teeth in Paddy the Wanderer; May brings a heavy low end from Aberrant Kingdom and Spare Arrows; and Young’s prolific output includes over 10 projects, a solo venture under the name BITE, and co-founding the music media collective Steel City Death Club.

Since releasing their self-titled debut in 2021, M.E.L.T. has earned a reputation for blistering, riff-driven compositions and high-voltage live shows, often marked by their signature extraterrestrial aesthetic. Along the way, they’ve shared stages with heavyweights like Lightning Bolt, Pigsx7, The Mystery Lights, Rickshaw Billies Burger Patrol, and Silver Synthetic — a testament to their growing stature in the underground rock scene. Their sophomore LP, Replica of Man (2023), garnered critical acclaim and expanded their reach beyond Pittsburgh, setting the stage for their debut U.S. tour.

In early 2025, the band rebranded as M.E.L.T. due to trademark conflicts and is now gearing up to release their highly anticipated third album — ushering in a new era while staying true to their raw, genre-defying sound.

Director Troupe

Neurochemical Officer

Joey Troupe (guitar/vocals) has played in several Pittsburgh-based bands since 2007, including Blackbird Pie, The Electric Pear, Jags on the Mon, and Paddy the Wanderer — which released an EP and several LPs, performed regionally, and had a song featured on a Netflix series. He also founded the Oakland Pop Festival.

Admiral May

Propulsion Engineer

James May (bass/vocals) formed Aberrant Kingdom in 2008 and has also performed with Spare Arrows.

Captain Young

Payload Commander

J.J. young (Drums/vocals) has played in or appeared with over 10 different musical projects, including Fortune Teller, Daisy Chain, Nate Cross Band, and his own solo project, BITE. He is also a co-founder of Steel City Death Club, a Pittsburgh music multimedia collective active from 2018-2022.