Features

Today we're sitting down with Jesse "Pretty Boy" Thorson, the fierce voice and restless heart behind The Slow Death, whose latest release No Light to See marks their fifth—and most soul-stirring—studio album yet. Known for raw honesty and a sound that blends desperation with defiance, The Slow Death has released a record packed with smart hooks, blistering guitar work, and gut-punch lyrics. With Jack Gribble pounding the drums, Luke Lechler weaving organ and guitar textures, and Alex Bammel adding razor-sharp leads in the studio, No Light to See emerges as a cathartic anthem for anyone staggering through these chaotic times. Bleak but strangely comforting, it’s a record that proves even when you're alone, you're not alone—and who better to take us through its creation than Thorson himself?

PRT: The new album is called ‘No Light To See’. Is that in reference to the current climate in the US? Or is it of a more personal nature?

Jesse: Definitely personal. Things are dismal here to be sure but I tend to concentrate on me and the people around me. All of my songs are deeply personal. Usually autobiographical or about people very close to me. 

PRT: ‘No Light To See’ feels like your most diverse and dynamic album to date, yet it still feels very cohesive. Was that something you kept an eye on? 

Jesse: Yeah definitely. We had a completely different lineup for this record and those folks definitely guided me into different directions but, I also consciously tried to write different styles tunes to kind of let people know that this is a new Slow Death. 

PRT: I am really liking the album cover. Can you tell me a bit more about the idea behind it? 

Jesse: The record was originally gonna be called “Darkness “ but when I sat down to make the cover I had no ideas. Then while driving on a family vacation and listening to Hank Williams, this image came to me and I got out the scissors and glue sticks and put it together. 

PRT: I listen to a lot of bands that are labeled as Midwest punk, but am still struggling to come up with a definition for it. Can you help me out? 

Jesse: If I had to take a swing at it, I would say it’s straightforward yet melodic punk usually with a singer with raspy or gravelly vocals. Honestly, I think it’s just a blanket term for punk bands from the largest portion of the United States. The best bands in the genre actively try to throw it off and the worst tend to wrap themselves in it. If that makes any sense

PRT: The Slow Death has been a band with an evolving lineup ever since you started in 2009. Did you ever think that The Slow Death would still be around in 2025? You definitely are living up to the band name though.

Jesse:  I definitely did not. We named the band The Slow Death as a dark joke eluding to the massive drug and alcohol problem I had at the time and the fact we didn’t think I’d be around too much longer. Luckily I have that all under control now and I look forward to playing these tunes well into my 60s. 

PRT: I read an older interview where you answered a question about being an old, grisly, grandpa punk by saying that  ‘being older is awesome’. That was back in 2013. Is that still how you feel 12 years down the line? 

Jesse: Absolutely. Life keeps getting better as I get older. I’m definitely smarter and healthier. I was an idiot when I was young. And honestly a long time after that. 

PRT: Is that revolving door policy just how things turned out? Or do you find it a more comfortable way of working? 

Jesse: It was intentional and started right away. We kicked out the first drummer after the first show and since then it’s just whoever is available at the time

PRT: The new album is out on your own label, Don’t Sing. Why did the idea to start your own label come from? 

Jesse: As I get older I just want to be more in control of how my music is presented and represented and these days there is so little money to be made that it’s like the label and the band a splitting a dollar on each record. And since I have a good job where I’m able to pay for the pressing it seems easier to keep the whole dollar. 

PRT: Did you go into running your own label knowing fully well what to expect? Or is it more of a ‘we’ll take on a problem when we come across it’ kind of approach? 

Jesse: I thought I knew what we were in for but there is a lot more to it than I thought! Luckily my wife is super smart and she does most of the work so things are done properly and working out well. 

PRT: Will it be an outlet for your own musical projects or are there plans to release music by other bands as well? 

Jesse: The next release is going to be an ep by my wife, Annie’s, new band , Panel. It’s awesome. One of the best records I have heard in the last 20 years. 

PRT: What’s up next for The Slow Death once the new album is out? 

Jesse: A lot of touring. Anywhere that will have us.