Tales of Mike is a doom metal project by Michael Heß. The new album, Human, coming out: October 31st, 2025, has minimal traces of Landscape of Sorrow, an EP released back in 2023. And it was for me the first contact with Tales of Mike—a mighty EP for you who haven't heard it yet. Michael Heß uses the great singer Gonzalo Civita on Human. And Henrik Schaller handles the guitar solos; both of them have been with Mike Heß before, or Tales of Mike. But comparing Landscape of Sorrow EP with the album Human doesn't work. The music is different on Human. Some tracks have a speed/thrash metal touch, much heavy metal, and, of course, there are some more traditional doom tracks. The lyrics are deep, and have that reflection on the human race—the darker side. Sometimes I think Kreator, no lullabies, straightforward self-experienced reflections, and the lyrics have a high quality value; reading them and listening to each track gives a great experience. And I had no idea that Gonzalo Civita could use that ...angry voice. You must have a good singer to provide the lyrics for the subject. And Gonzalo Civita deliver. I jump into the album. "Nomen est omen" is an intro; it means that the name is a sign, or the name is a prophecy. A person's name can reveal their character, destiny, or future profession. The first track on the album is "Nevermore". The track is a musical statement, and I hear what this trio is capable of; the track shifts a lot. And it works perfectly, but it might come as a surprise, cause it's not in one genre. I can hear a groove in this track that I really like. "Money Tree" comes next, and is one of my personal favorites. If you like Testament, you're gonna love this song, the groove, the riff, the anger. Gonzalo Civita spat out the words here, in pure spite, for what money can do to a Human...and how easy we accept it. He is really adjusted to the music. We were talking about groovy, heavy metal, and some Thrash—an excellent track. And the solos from Henrik Schaller are ...so melodic, it gives such a sharp contrast. I can't go track by track, even if the album deserves it. "Ancient Mirror" is a doom death(ish) metal track, heavy and has both growl and clean singing. Something tells me that this track has a "hit warning", is easy to listen to, has a very dark atmosphere, and the lyrics, I guess, have a lot of metaphors. The song also has exceptional beauty. Doom metal fans will understand. The next track that comes as a surprise is "Hourglass". As a huge fan of Death Angel, I love the song. High musicianship, a tricky song, and the message in the lyrics are a philosophy that people should embrace. And Gonzalo Civita, this man does really give this album an extra layer. The last track on this epic album, "Swan Song", has a substantial impact on me. The music has a progressive touch, and the lyrics on "Swan Song" compile all the other tracks and the story each of them tells into this summary. Michael Heß has a lot of life experience, and you get a glimpse of it through the lyrics. And if you check up on Tales of Mike's discography, listen to and read the lyrics to each song, you will notice that life can be rough, but surrender is not an option. I end this review with Michael Heß's own words: "HUMAN" is an epic Heavy Metal album born out of a personal need and is necessary for me. It processes personal experiences and encounters with masquerades, superficiality, and apparent friends — and the will to not let them change me.