Heavy Stories Podcast

THE DECONSTRUCTION OF DUSTIN KENSRUE: Thrice singer/guitarist on losing faith, abuse in the church, authoritarianism, death, old lyrics

Dustin Kensrue is the singer/guitarist of Orange County post-hardcore-turned-experimental-rock band Thrice and a solo singer/songwriter. On episode two of Heavy Stories, he talks about his spiritual deconstruction, starting with his childhood in the Christian church. We go on to discuss how discovering punk rock challenged what he thought he knew about Jesus, his time as a pastor at the controversial Mars Hill Church, and how he moved away from reformed theology and Calvinism (which teaches that it’s predetermined as to whether someone goes to Heaven or Hell) to embrace uncertainty. We also unpick some of Thrice’s most interesting lyrics, look back on their “frenetic” early releases, examine the anti-authoritarian messaging of new album Horizons/West, and talk about their ongoing European tour.

THE CHAOTIC TIMES OF MILLE PETROZZA: Kreator frontman remembers Cold War Germany, early Metallica shows, self-tattooing, Celtic Frost audition, rejecting drugs, thrash metal’s decline and return

Mille Petrozza is the singer/guitarist of German thrash metal royalty Kreator. In the first episode of Heavy Stories, he talks about his youth in Cold War-era Germany, where violent gangs roamed the streets, he heard horror stories about the Berlin Wall and he tattooed himself in the back of class. He also discusses seeing Metallica on their first-ever European tour, almost joining extreme metal innovators Celtic Frost aged 18, being pen pals with Sepultura, the state of thrash during the turbulent 90s, having his music featured in hit Netflix series Dark, and much, much more. (Photo credit: Robert Eikelpoth)