The Integration Of Synth Into Heavy Metal, As Told By DR. MIKE TRUBETSKOV

HEAVY Music Interviews · Apr 7, 2026 · 28m · transcript

Interview by Angela Croudace

Dr. Mike Trubetskov isn’t just a metal producer—he’s a guide into one of the genre’s most misunderstood elements: synths. Based in Melbourne, he works with heavy bands to shape what he calls their “cinematic sound,” and a huge part of that comes from what sits beneath the obvious.

For Mike, synths aren’t always meant to be heard, they’re meant to be felt. Whether it’s a subtle, slow-moving pad or an industrial, distorted layer cutting through dense guitars, these sounds define the emotional weight of a track. Remove them, and something vital disappears.

What…