With Human, Tales of Mike delivers a deeply personal and introspective album, exploring inner struggles, emotional scars, and the masks people wear. In this interview, the mind behind the project opens up about the album’s origins, themes, creative process, and what lies ahead.
Serial Metalbums: Human feels like a very personal and introspective album. What was the main intention or emotional starting point behind this release?
Michael Heß: I think of Human almost like a picture book of my life – or at least how it’s stored in my head. The process actually started with the EP. There were people around me who weren’t good for me, and all those experiences added up. Music became my way to express things I couldn’t otherwise say and helped me process my feelings over time.
Serial Metalbums: How does Human differ from your previous works, both musically and thematically?
Michael Heß: Tales of Mike continues to explore the human condition, similar to the Landscape of Sorrow EP, which was very emotional and a tribute to my brother Markus. Musically, we’ve evolved: making a full-length album allowed the songwriting more depth and direction. While the songs are varied and emotionally rich, there’s now a clearer connection between them, creating a complete picture.
Serial Metalbums: The album explores very human emotions and inner conflicts. What themes were the most important for you to address on Human?
Michael Heß: Especially, it’s about the masks people wear in different situations. I needed to talk about this and put it into music.
Originally, after the EP, I planned to make just another EP. Human Masquerade and Abandoned were the first songs. But more people asked about a full album, and it made sense. An EP wouldn’t have been long enough to cover everything I wanted to say. Human Masquerade and Abandoned were just the start.
Serial Metalbums: Can you describe your songwriting process for this album? Did it evolve compared to your earlier releases?
Michael Heß: My songwriting process hasn’t changed much. The most important thing is being in the right mood when I record. I don’t force anything – the emotions have to be real.
I also need to know what a song is about before I start. Song titles are already picked out. My daughter Shannon and I discuss the lyrics and the feelings we want to convey. That way, the music really communicates the emotions. This approach has worked well for both the EP and the album and is very important to me.
Serial Metalbums: How did the recording and production process of Human take shape? Did you approach sound and atmosphere differently this time?
Michael Heß: This time, I focused on creating a balance between aggressive and melancholic moments that match the lyrics and themes. The song titles helped guide the atmosphere naturally.
Music still needs to feel melodic, epic, and relatable. I always say: it should sound like I pick up my guitar, plug it in – and just play. I feel our sound on Human is even stronger and more intense than the EP. Producer Matias Takaya did an amazing job bringing everything to life.
Serial Metalbums: Was there a specific moment, experience, or realization that directly influenced the creation of Human?
Michael Heß: There wasn’t one single moment. The album came from personal experiences and encounters with people who didn’t treat me well, and the emotions that resulted from those experiences. At some point, I realized it was time to process these themes through music and create a full album.
Serial Metalbums: Are there any tracks on Human that feel especially significant or representative of the album’s core message?
Michael Heß: Yes, Human Masquerade. Everything started with the opening riff – to me, it symbolizes the falseness and masks people wear. When the chorus kicks in, this illusion is abruptly shattered.
Serial Metalbums: How has the feedback from listeners and the underground scene been since the release of Human?
Michael Heß: The response has been fantastic. We’ve received great reviews, including in the print magazines Deaf Forever, Rock Hard, and Legacy Magazine – which makes me really proud. So far, we’ve even appeared on three “best of the year” lists. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than that!
Serial Metalbums: After releasing such an emotionally charged album, where do you see Tales of Mike heading next?
Michael Heß: I’ve already started working on songs for the second album. After discussing things with Gonzalo Civita, Henrik Schaller, Matias Takaya, and of course Shannon, with whom I’ve already gone through the lyrical concept, the next album will be recorded with the same lineup. For me personally, the new songs are another step in our development, and thematically, they’ll remain very personal.
Thanks so much for the great questions, and a big thank you to everyone taking the time to read the interview!
