Zakk Wylde is the leader of biker metal rifflords Black Label Society and the longtime right-hand man of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne. On episode five of Heavy Stories, he sits down for a quick conversation midway through a Black Label US tour, where his own Black Sabbath tribute act Zakk Sabbath are serving as support. He looks back on how he got his gig in Ozzy’s band, playing a show in an infamous prison, starting Black Label, that time he and his fans drank all the alcohol in a venue, his unlikely friendship with Star Trek actor William Shatner, and lots more. (Image: Justin Reich)

Serena Cherry is a co-founder and one of the singer/guitarists in UK post-hardcore four-piece Svalbard. On episode four of Heavy Stories, she talks about why her band are breaking up after 16 years, including creative differences and the increasing number of challenges that touring musicians face. She sounds off on the hidden costs of life on the road, the pressure of putting on a good show, balancing touring with a full-time job, how the rising price of stadium shows affect underground artists, and much more. We also discuss the band’s history, her plans for her black metal solo project Noctule, why it’s so important to tackle things head-on in lyrics, and her love for the WWE and video-games.

Gary Holt is the guitarist of veteran California thrash metal bands Exodus and Slayer. On episode three of Heavy Stories, he talks about how his upbringing as the youngest of six children influenced him to make loud music, and looks back on learning his first guitar chords from his high school best friend and Exodus’ founder, future Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. He reflects on the backyard party scene that made Exodus (in)famous, the night he spent in jail aged 17, meeting late frontman Paul Baloff, becoming blood brothers with his bandmates, bootlegging his own t-shirts, kicking his meth use and much, much more. We also talk about how he joined Slayer in 2011 and what keeps him going while contemporaries such as Megadeth call it quits. (Image: Jim Louvau)

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.