Heavy Trip was first released in Finland on 9 March 2018, followed the very next day by screenings in the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, garnering mixed to positive reception from audiences and critics.
[2] Turo Moilanen lives in a small village in Northern Finland, working in an psychiatric hospital and fronting an extreme metal[a] band: the band - rounded out by drummer Jynkky, bassist Pasi, and guitarist Lotvonen - has ambitions, but they can't agree on a name, Turo's stage fright keeps them from touring, and Pasi regularly points out that Lotvonen's riffs are lifted from other songs.
Turo also develops a crush on Miia, daughter of the police commissioner Kujanpää, but is warned off by local crooner Jouni who also has sights on her.
The band is invited to play at the local event hall on the back of their sudden popularity, but their luck quickly turns: Frank calls them to say they won't get a slot at the festival, and Turo's performance anxiety causes him to vomit on the front row as they're about to start playing; Jouni, who overheard the phone call, tells the audience the truth, which turns the town on the band again.
Desperate, Jynkky refuses to give up and buys a dilapidated van to drive to the festival anyway, but swerves off the road and dies in the car crash.
On stage, anxiety gets the better of Turo again and he vomits on the front row again, but composes himself and leads the band into a triumphant performance, with Jynkky's coffin crowdsurfing.
[3] The directors aimed to blend lighthearted comedy with the edgy and modern aspects of heavy metal, drawing inspiration from various sources including This is Spinal Tap, The Blues Brothers, and The Simpsons.