Embodyment- Embrace The Eternal 1998 plus Embodyment The Narrow Scope Of Things 2000 plus Embodyment Hold Your Breath 2001 plus Embodyment Forgotten 2011 

Past members of The Famine, Bleeding Through, Supplication, Society's Finest, Demon Hunter. Current members of Pyrithion, Hope Deferred, Living Sacrifice. Starting playing shows when they were fourteen under the band name Supplication in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Supplication was a Death Metal band from Arlington, Texas and they only used the band name Supplication from 1992 to 1993. Embodyment was a band from 1993 to 2004. Genres- Death Metal, Metalcore, Alternative Metal, Nu-Metal, Alternative Rock, Melodic Hardcore, Grindcore, Black Metal, Post-Hardcore, Deathcore, Emocore. 
Christian band on Solid State Records. Other Bands- Living Sacrifice, Soul Embraced, Abnegation, Prayer For Cleansing, Underoath, Extol, Zao, Training For Utopia, P.O.D., No Innocent Victim, Focal Point, Overcome, Eighteen Visions, Congress, Liar, Sektor, Regression, Deformity, Shortsight. 

The Narrow Scope Of Things- Life Of Agony, Tool, Chevelle, Brandtson, Zao, Korn, Deftones, Radiohead, Farside. 

Embrace The Eternal- Suffocation, Obituary, Morbid Angel, Mortification, The song Religious Infamy has Bruce Fitzhugh the vocalist and rhythm guitarist of Living Sacrifice doing Guest Vocals on the track. Christian beliefs such as the crucifixion of Christ, problems in the church, internal struggles, rejecting and fighting against God, their personal beliefs. 

Hold Your Breath- Far, Jimmy Eat World, Cave In- Jupiter, The Smashing Pumpkins. 

Forgotten- Nirvana, Stavesacre. 
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​(Image from Purification - Vessel of Wrath 1998 album cover)


​I first heard vegan straight edge metalcore in 1996 in New York City when I saw Earth Crisis in concert. They also played with Buffalo, New York metalcore band Snapcase that night. This was a night that would forever change my life because it was my first hardcore show and my first exposure to The Vegan Straight Edge. Since that night in 1996 I have never stopped listening to vegan straight edge metalcore. Right now I’m over 13 years sober and drug free from vicodin, alcohol, marijuana and I even tried cocaine a couple times but I hated it so much. I don’t even drink caffeine. I don’t ever practice any promiscuous sex of any kind. I have also been vegetarian twice in my life and after watching the documentary film “Behind the Mask” about the Animal Liberation Front it was very hard for me to eat any meat for a long time because of the atrocities committed against animals that were shown in the film that were extremely hard for me to watch. Right now I’m a vegetarian again for the third time in my life. To abstain from meat is a healthy choice in my life right now. So no I don’t call myself straight edge and I have never been a vegan but I do believe these are both very important beliefs in my life especially being sober and drug free. When I was a vegetarian my goal was to become a vegan but I never achieved that goal obviously. I however do see myself as an expert on the topic of vegan straight metalcore because of the reasons shared above and also the fact that I have been listening to this style of music since 1996. I will now give you a long list of the best and most important vegan straight edge metalcore bands ever. So now to The Vegan Straight Edge!!!!! 

Framework- Never Again is a must buy for your vegan straight edge metalcore CD collection. This is the complete discography of this Syracuse, New York band who later became Earth Crisis. This is the original lineup of Earth Crisis with a different singer named Shane Durgee who went on to become the singer of Gatekeeper. The vegan straight edge band Gather recorded a cover version of the Framework song “Justice Coming” for their debut full length album. Framework’s singer uses vocal melody to pace this classic metalcore discography. 


Earth Crisis- This is the best and most important vegan straight edge metalcore band ever. The Syracuse, New York legends have several albums that you must own. These albums are All Out War, Firestorm, Breed The Killers, Gomorrah’s Season Ends, Destroy The Machines. This is where it all started for me and many others like me with the mighty Earth Crisis. I have seen them play live numerous times and they always put on such an unbelievable show. I actually saw Earth Crisis play out a few years ago in Boston before the covid pandemic and they are old now but they’re still awesome live of course. 


Path Of Resistance- Who Dares Wins is a must buy. This is the second best and second most important vegan straight edge metalcore band ever. This Syracuse, New York hardcore band is a side project and super group with four singers total and featuring members of Earth Crisis, Framework, Gatekeeper, Prayer For A Fallen Angel, Another Victim, Godbelow. The vocals on this album are very metalcore similar to Earth Crisis. The music is more in the vein of hardcore from the early 1990’s though. 


Another Victim- Former Path Of Resistance and former Earth Crisis drummer Mike Riccardi is the drummer for this Syracuse, New York vegan straight edge metalcore band. Another Victim also has members of One King Down, Contempt, Beta Minus Mechanic, Santa Sangre, Freya, Unholy. Earth Crisis are huge supporters and great friends of Another Victim. They have a couple albums that you must own including A Portrayal Of Vengeance, a split CD with the metalcore band Shai Hulud called A Whole New Level Of Sickness, Apocalypse Now. The excellent Apocalypse Now album has the classic Sepultura tribal drumming often present. 


Contempt- One Justice is a must buy CD from this Rochester, New York vegan straight edge metalcore band. Jamie Coyle is a former member of Another Victim and is the drummer on this album. The singer Brad has some very tough and angry lyrics to match his vegan straight edge message. Contempt is most definitely for fans of Green Rage, Another Victim, Earth Crisis. This band is different from the other bands I have been writing about because their message borders on the hardline philosophy which can be considered very controversial. There is also the fact that they are from Rochester, New York and not from Syracuse, New York like the several different bands I have been discussing. 


One King Down- God Loves, Man Kills with singer Jon Peters, Bloodlust Revenge with singer Rob Fusco are must own albums. They are a vegan straight edge metalcore band from Albany, New York. Derrick Van Wie was also the drummer on the Another Victim 7” For The Liars And The Cheaters. One King Down has a similar sound to Earth Crisis, Snapcase, Another Victim. Rob Fusco’s lyrics are anthems for the mid 1990’s vegan straight edge generation that have empowered many people to make positive changes in their lives and the outside world around them. I have seen One King Down live twice and singer Rob Fusco was always wearing so many tight krishna beads around his neck that it looked like he was almost being choked by his beads. If you want to talk about a man who is dedicated to his band’s live show then you can’t forget about One King Down frontman Rob Fusco. 


Raid- A militant vegan straight edge hardline hardcore and metalcore band from Memphis, Tennessee. Raid is legendary and controversial because they are one of the pioneers of the vegan straight edge scene and the hardline scene which inspired bands like Framework, Another Victim, Abnegation, Earth Crisis and their debut EP All Out War. Raid formerly was a Christian straight edge band called One Way. Must own albums are the Demo tape, Above The Law, Hands Off The Animals. Raid’s importance as a band can’t be overstated because they’re incredibly influential and very inspirational to the hardcore genre and the metalcore genre. 


Unconquered- They are a vegan straight edge hardcore and metalcore band hailing from the infamous Reno, Nevada scene. In the city of Reno if you wear a straight edge band’s T-shirt or hoody the Reno Police Department can arrest you. They use extremely gruff sounding vocals and gargling with glass style vocals. Their serious lyrics focus on veganism and straight edge. They are one of the toughest straight edge hardcore bands in the scene. Unconquered has a Split 7” with Birthright and The Program album on the influential Sober Mind Records. They have members of 1618 and New Blood. Must own albums are the Split 7” with Birthright and Wall Of Time album. They are from the same hardcore and metalcore scene as Fall Silent and have played in bands with members of Fall Silent. Unconquered is so well regarded that they even appeared on the amazing Victory Records Compilation called Only The Strong in 1999 with their new song “Vision”. This band has become known as infamous and tough but I always have just thought of them as an awesome hardcore and metalcore band from Reno, Nevada. 


​Clear- They are a vegan straight edge metalcore band from Salt Lake City, Utah. Deeper Than Blood that includes the classic song “Fire Walk With Me” is a must own album. Their guitarist Mick Morris played in Utah’s Decontaminate, Eighteen Visions and Bleeding Through. He died in Utah on June 3rd 2013 at the age of 35. The Clear album “The Sickness Must End” has the song “Falling Into Ashes” which is also included on the essential metalcore album Deeper Than Blood. Salt Lake City has a notorious vegan straight edge scene because they have a massive mormon population in that city. I have seen Clear play in my hometown of Chicago before and a fight broke out during their show between them and the audience. Then after that a fight happened in the audience before people calmed down and the violence stopped. It was pretty scary for a few minutes but overall Clear put on a fantastic show. This is not a band about violence though because they are just an amazing metalcore band from Salt Lake City, Utah. 


Day Of Atonement- They are a Christian and vegan straight edge band from Melbourne, and Sydney, Australia. They play a mix of Grindcore, Death Metal, Black Metal, Metalcore and have two members of the Death Metal band Mortification and they even do a cover of the Mortification song “Blood World”. Cremation Of The Guilty is their classic album and it’s a must own for fans of extreme metal. This album also includes the amazing song “Justifiable Homicide” which really shows that Day Of Atonement are not just serious about Christianity but that they are very serious about vegan straight edge as well. Cremation Of The Guilty was originally released by Screams Of Salvation which was a vegan straight edge record label from Sheffield, England. These guys wear Earth Crisis, Death and Cannibal Corpse T-shirts so you can tell that they are really into Metalcore and Death Metal. Day Of Atonement also includes members of Australian Christian metalcore band Callous. 


​State Craft- They are a vegan straight edge metalcore band from Tokyo, Japan. To Celebrate The Forlorn Seasons is a must own album and the classic song “Reborn” from Until The Darkness Is Gone makes that five song CD EP a release to definitely check out. I have heard that at the State Craft shows in Tokyo the crowds go completely insane for the band. The crowds are known to practice their “Mortal Kombat” style kung fu dancing at State Craft shows all over the country of Japan. They have a similar style to Morning Again, Culture, Poison The Well, Arkangel. State Craft shares members with God’s Heritage, Loyal To The Grave, Deacon. Loyal To The Grave is another amazing hardcore and metalcore band from Tokyo, Japan. State Craft is now considered to be a classic Japanese metalcore band. You should definitely listen to this Japanese metalcore band because you don’t want to miss out on State Craft. 


Slavearc- They are a militant vegan straight edge hardcore, death metal, metalcore band from Sheffield, England. Structural Damage In The Blueprint Of Humanity is an album that you have to own and it was released by the amazing Screams Of Salvation. This was a vegan straight edge record label that was owned by the guys from Slavearc and was based out of Sheffield, England. The CD EP Vanquish has the classic song “Crucifixion”. Vanquish is an EP that you must own and it was put out by the incredible Screams Of Salvation. Slavearc has a similar style to Obituary, Earth Crisis, Arkangel, Abnegation. Check out the band Kruelty from Tokyo, Japan who do two covers of Slavearc songs and because they are really awesome. The two songs they cover are “Stem The Plague” and “Crucifixion” and Kruelty does a great job with these tracks. Slavearc shares members with Unborn, Withdrawn, Koreisch, Talisman. Slavearc has a vegan justice message in their music. I have always loved the brutal music of Slavearc and you have to listen to their albums to hear what I’m talking about guys. 

I have been working on The Vegan Straight Edge review since December and it's so much work. It is worth it though. I feel like this is information is very crucial to the history of our hardcore and metalcore culture. I don't know when I will be done with this review but I promise you all that I will keep working on it until the review is done and has all the high standards that my webzine is known for. 

Here is what I'm working on with the review at this moment. 
I want to tell the readers that not every band in this review has to be a metalcore band. I also want to tell my loyal fanbase that not every member of each band follows or followed the vegan straight lifestyle, either now
or in the past. 

Unborn- Metalcore and Thrash from England. 
Statement- Hardcore and Thrash from England. 
Reprisal- Metalcore from Forli, Italy 
Purification- Metalcore from Rome, Italy
Apostle- Death Metal from Falkenberg, Sweden
Purified In Blood- Metalcore and Death Metal from Stavanger, Norway
Shorebreak- Hardcore and Metalcore from Barcelona, Spain
Santa Sangre- Hardcore and Metalcore from Syracuse, New York 
X-Acto- Hardcore and Punk from Lisbon, Portugal 
New Winds- Melodic Hardcore from Lisbon, Portugal 
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My playlist for a coastal Maine vacation.

I just got back from a driving trip on the Maine coast with my mom and her boyfriend and it was beautiful. Before I left for the trip I bought a new book on the band Joy Division and it inspired me to come up with a playlist of my favorite alternative rock albums. Maine is a very peaceful place so I didn't cover any brutal albums here and hopefully it will serve as a nice change of pace. Joy Division is such an important band to me and many bands that are considered alternative rock are very important bands to me. I have never done a playlist like this but the Maine coast and Joy Division have inspired me so here goes!


R.E.M.- Murmur
The Smiths- The Queen Is Dead
Joy Division- Unknown Pleasures
My Bloody Valentine- Loveless
Depeche Mode- Violator
Fugazi- 13 Songs
Joy Division- Closer
Bjork- Debut
Gang Of Four- Entertainment!
U2- War
Slint- Spiderland
New Order- Power, Corruption & Lies 
Belle and Sebastian- If You're Feeling Sinister
Slowdive- Souvlaki
Beastie Boys- Paul's Boutique
Sunny Day Real Estate- Diary
Fugazi- Repeater
My Bloody Valentine- Isn't Anything
Big Black- Songs About Fucking
Mother Love Bone- Apple
Beastie Boys- Check Your Head
Liz Phair- Exile In Guyville

Hope you liked my playlist.
​Kevin
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Union 13- East Los Presents

Union 13 is a Latino Hardcore Punk band from East Los Angeles, California. This album was released by Epitaph Records in 1997. Union 13 play very fast and heavy Hardcore Punk with several songs sung in Spanish. They do have some melody in their music as shown by a song that reminds me of The Clash from London, England. The rabid vocals really give the music a powerful delivery and the eerie guitars kick it up a notch making for a great track. The chorus in the vocals remind me of 7 Seconds from Reno, Nevada. I really like the Spanish songs because they give off a completely different energy and this record has around five songs that are sung in Spanish. The drummer plays with total disregard for his safety because it sounds like he is bashing his drums to bits. The guitars are played at full speed and have a nice raw sound to them. This song sounds like a classic Punk Rock song. This sounds simple but it really is just a perfect track. The speed of the album reminds me of Minor Threat from Washington, D.C. because Union 13 is almost as fast as Minor Threat was when they were around. I think that Edward's vocals are the highlight of this record because he screams with such anger and rage that can only come from growing up in such a rough place as East Los Angeles, California. Being a social outcast in the United States because of your race must be an impossible struggle but I think that Edward found solace in the Hardcore Punk scene that he also grew up in. I also get the feeling from some songs on this album that Union 13 listen to bands like Rancid and Bad Religion. This is an amazing record where everything has to go right to call it a classic and it does. Are you a big fan of 7 Seconds or Minor Threat? Then you will be a huge fan of Union 13. Make sure to get your paws on this one. 

Thanks so much for reading this.
Kevin

411- The Side You Cannot See: Complete Discography 1990-1992

411 is a Hardcore Punk band from Huntington Beach, California. This album was released by Workshed Records in 2014. In case you didn't know this record is a discography from the early 1990's. 411 is a Hardcore supergroup featuring members of No For An Answer, Carry Nation, Farside, Headfirst, Rocket From The Crypt, OFF!, Speak 714, The Black Heart Procession. Vocalist Dan O'Mahony is excellent in his role in 411 because he mixes melodic vocals with aggressive vocals and makes it seem easy. This is a different vocal technique for Dan O'Mahony because in most of his bands he uses very heavy vocals. The next two songs are cover songs of Government Issue and Discharge tracks. We have some really catchy Punk Rock guitars on display here. The guitar riffs are amazing as they alternate back and forth between more Hardcore sounds and more Punk sounds. The lyrics have a sing along quality and they're very clever and show the intelligence of the singer. In one song male vocals and female vocals collide to make a stand out track. The backup vocals on this album are incredibly well done. During this record we have moments that sound like the band Fugazi. I don't want to imply that 411 sounds like Fugazi because 411 is a very original band. During this time period most Hardcore Punk bands were a little influenced by Fugazi. Similar technical guitar riffs would be heard in Hardcore bands several years later. This shows that 411 was an extremely influential band. The ringing noises coming out of the guitars is unique and really draws the listener to the album. The vocalist just used some very gruff and harsh singing that I enjoyed in the last song. The highlights of this Discography have to be the guitar riffs and the vocals. 411 is a classic Hardcore Punk band and this is a one of a kind Complete Discography. Make sure to get your paws on this one. 

Thanks so much for reading this.
​Kevin

Slint- Spiderland

Slint is a Math Rock, Post Rock, Alternative Rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. This album was released by Touch And Go Records in 1991. Slint disbanded after they recorded Spiderland in 1991. Slint are masters of their own peculiar style of music called Math Rock. I find this genre of music particularly interesting and entertaining all though I have never covered Math Rock in my webzine. I have been purchasing more albums like this for my collection as my knowledge continues to grow on the genre of Math Rock. Strained vocals collide with some unusual guitar riffs that work really well to create this somber mood that I really love. Spoken vocals are used often and show how a minimalist approach can work well for Slint. The same guitar chords played over and over is another way that this record uses repetition to achieve the most unique sound. Simple chord progressions hit you hard in a way that you never thought was possible until you have immersed yourself in this album. Desperate whispered vocals slam right into heavy Alternative Rock guitars. Giant guitars and screaming are a far cry from the start of this record's musical themes. Slint can be very mysterious sounding and their lyrics can be quite bizarre. In this song "Washer" the drums are prominent to me for the first time and the vocals and the guitars are super quiet although I really enjoy this song. A warm melody flows through this song as it continues to reach the peak at the top of the beautiful mountain. Indie Rock legend Will Oldham photographed the band for the front cover of the album. This squealing noise is prevalent but strangely it's mixed with loud and aggressive vocals to create something truly special. I can't figure out at all what Slint is writing about because it's way to abstract to decipher anything. Really pretty vocals are here and I'm reminded of Alternative Rock again. Another great Math Rock band to check out is Rodan and their album "Rusty" which is a classic record. The more I listen to Slint the more I really appreciate their music and this is one hell of a release. I now have covered the Math Rock genre for my webzine. I usually don't cover music like this for my webzine but I'm so happy that I did. The funny thing is it worked out great because Math Rock does actually fit in with the music I cover for my webzine. Spiderland is a classic album because it's so different then anything else and you have to get yourself a copy now. 

Thanks so much for reading this.
Kevin

Orange 9mm- Driver Not Included plus Orange 9mm- Tragic

I couldn't pick just one album from Orange 9mm because they have two awesome records. Orange 9mm is a Hardcore band and an Alternative Rock band from New York City. These albums were released by EastWest in 1995 and by Atlantic in 1996. Orange 9mm has a certain groove to their music that makes them infectious. Singer Chaka Malik has a multifaceted approach where he screams, sings, raps. He is an impressive vocalist and he even used to do high flying flips into the audience. He is a man driven by the beat and feels the music in his soul. Many excellent musicians have passed through Orange 9mm to create this amazing amalgam of sound. Over these two records Orange 9mm created something unique by combining Hardcore and  Alternative Rock with Hip Hop. There are many furious songs on these albums but we always have melody as the antidote. Before Orange 9mm Chaka Malik was a member of New York Hardcore band Burn. Frontman Chaka Malik is quite an impressive rapper and there is some great rapping to be found here. Chris Traynor is an amazing musician who was not only in Orange 9mm but was also in Alternative Metal band Helmet. The guitars are excellent and they create sounds that I have never heard before. This band is like a ball of energy never letting up emotionally or sonically. Orange 9mm is exciting and they are way ahead of everybody musically. Singer Chaka Malik has some really well done Hip Hop style lyrics that are always very consistent. Some of the sounds used are so crazy that I can't tell if they're being used for the guitars or for the vocals. These are definitely two of the best Hardcore records of the 1990's. But sonically you get much more than just Hardcore with Orange 9mm. Frontman Chaka Malik is such a good rapper that he could lead a Hip Hop group or come out with a Hip Hop solo album. Some of his vocals are actually quite beautiful sounding. I encourage you to get both of these Orange 9mm albums because you get a unique band who mixes Hardcore and Alternative Rock with Hip Hop. They also have a vocalist Chaka Malik who screams, sings, raps. 

Thanks so much for reading this.
Kevin

Seven Generations- To See The End

Seven Generations is a Hardcore band from Southern California. This album was released by New Age Records in 2008. Seven Generations has a 1990's Hardcore inspired sound. This was my era of Hardcore and I was a member of the scene. I used to go to shows around twice a week. Seven Generations sound kind of similar to Earth Crisis and Chokehold. Those bands are classic 1990's Hardcore bands so the comparison is accurate. The vocalist has these amazing growling vocals and he also has these incredible barking vocals. Seven Generations is a band that is really serious about their lyrics and they have a positive message. The importance of their message probably leads them to make the vocals a highlight of their music. They have awesome group backup vocals and well placed audio clips. Seven Generations is a band that is filled with passion and they have an outpouring of compassion. The guitars are very heavy but kind of catchy also and they generate the movement that is needed to move these powerful songs forward. The guitars are also very fast and give the speed that is a hallmark of most Hardcore albums. The drums are very powerful and it sounds almost like military style drumming. The drums are very precise and used at perfect times. The vocals have this serpentine like quality which reminds me of a serpent or a snake. Seven Generations is a vegan straight edge band and this is probably why their music is so furious. This is also the reason that their message is so completely honest about all of the issues that they tackle. Seven Generations sweat and bleed positive energy and it just radiates off of them. Not every Hardcore band is this committed to their craft because Seven Generations is the exception to the rule. This Southern California Hardcore band is a true classic for you to get your paws on. 

Thanks so much for reading this.
Kevin