CLEARXCUT

May 27

Written By JIm McGourn

“For us, being vegan is just taking responsibility. You realize that your daily habits are never neutral; every single one of them is a vote for the kind of world you actually want to live in. Staying Vegan and Straight Edge is our way of drawing a line in the sand. Compassion isn’t a weakness—it’s a revolutionary act.”

ClearXcut (established 2017) is a German based band committed to spreading the message of total liberation through metallic hardcore.

Founded by (former) members of renowned acts like Heaven Shall Burn, Implore, and King Apathy/Thrӓnenkind, the group stands firmly dedicated to the vegan straight edge philosophy. Their mission is to confront listeners with inconvenient truths and today's harsh realities, rooted in a strong DIY ethic.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
Within the band, we all have different stories, but they all led us to the same realization. For me personally, it started while I was working in IT, where I was directly involved with the meat industry. It was emotionally draining, those companies don't just exploit animals; they have absolutely zero respect for labor rights or human dignity. Seeing that fucked-up system from the inside, with all the dark sides of modern society, was a turning point.
But the others in the band have their own heavy experiences too. Chris had this brutal moment as an apprentice when he had to build the CO2 system for a slaughterhouse. Seeing the trucks lined up and hearing the animals screaming, he couldn't even work without blasting music in his ears just to block it out. The smell, the reality of it, completely messed with his head and planted a seed that eventually made it impossible for him to touch animal products again.
Then there’s Maik, who realized early on that animal suffering was wrong, but it took diving into books and informational material to really grasp the full scale of the exploitation. Growing up visiting a classmate whose father was a butcher was a shaping experience, but the true awakening came later when he connected the dots between isolated incidents and a global system of abuse. Coincidentally, Matti (one of the founders of CLEARxCUT) was one of the most influential people on his path.

We didn't just stumble into veganism; we were confronted with the reality of this industry until we couldn't ignore it anymore.
Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
For some of us, veganism came later—except for Marco. He was basically vegan-edge before he even realized it. He told me that someone once said to him, ‘Hey, you don’t drink, you’re vegan... you’re vegan-edge! Let’s start a band!’ So, the running joke in the band that 'Marco invented Vegan Straight Edge' might actually be more than just a joke.
Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
Definitely Earth Crisis - Destroy the Machine.
How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
Honestly, the reactions were a mix. In my family, the shift was actually welcomed, especially the decision to go Straight Edge had a really positive impact on our family life. People saw that it brought clarity and focus, so that was all positive.

With friends, especially those outside the hardcore scene, it was more of a process. At first, there were a lot of questions, but most of them were curious rather than critical. Over time, I think those conversations actually had an impact on them; you start to see them questioning their own habits just because you’re there, living differently.
As for the local scene, it’s a bit complex. I guess for most people, we’re just another part of this huge, diverse subculture of misfits, so it doesn't really stand out as 'weird' in that environment. I’ve honestly never had to deal with any lengthy, aggressive confrontations about it. Most people either get it or they just respect the fact that we’re sticking to our convictions. It’s pretty rare that someone feels the need to start a long debate about my lifestyle, they usually see that I’m not just making a point, but that I’m actually living it.
Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
For all of us, it is definitely a process. It starts with noticing small and questionable things, and it eventually leads to a much clearer picture of how brutal, disgusting, and exploitative this whole system actually is. Even though almost every vegan can point to that one distinct moment that changed everything, you have to realize that the groundwork was already there. That moment would not have been half as impactful if you had not been thinking about it beforehand. It grew intrinsically. You can watch the worst footage or listen to the most disturbing lyrics, but if you keep your eyes shut and your ears closed, none of it matters because you just won't realize what is actually going on. You have to be ready to see it.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge— are they inseparable or distinct choices?
The answer is both yes and no. If you decide to commit to one of these paths, the likelihood of committing to the other is pretty high. It really comes down to the fact that you are already questioning the standards that society has laid out for you. Personally, it was a completely logical step. Once you start challenging why you are expected to consume alcohol or substances just to fit in, you inevitably start questioning why you are expected to consume animal products as well. Both choices are rooted in the same desire to stop being a passive consumer of a broken system and to start taking ownership of your own life and ethics.
Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
Yes. By choosing to be straight edge, you have already broken away from so many social conventions. You say no to what others consider the glue of society or the necessary driver for having fun. By simply stating that you do not drink and do not do drugs, you immediately stand out from everyone else in the room. Some people might make fun of it, but one thing is for sure. They will ask you why you chose that path. You get used to that conversation, and it pushes you further into the thought process of analyzing all the fucked up things we accept in our society. As I said before, veganism is the logical next step. As long as you do not only apply this skepticism to your own body but also to the lives of other sentient beings, you realize that the same resistance against conformity applies to both.
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
I would tell them that they are already on a good path. It is often a process that happens step by step. I encourage them to keep reading books, to keep listening to the lyrics, and to truly engage with the topic. It is so much more than just a lifestyle. It is about understanding the bigger picture. Once you start to question the way we live and the systems we support, it is only a matter of time before the pieces fall into place. We are all learning and growing, so I just hope they keep digging deeper until they see that both paths lead to the same goal of total liberation.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
The scene played a huge role for us. I believe music conveys a specific view on the world, especially when you are at a young age. When you are looking for a compass and a direction in life, music acts as a catalyst for things you already sense deep down. For all of us, these scenes and the music we discovered were the pathways to who we are today and to everything we stand for. It gave us the language and the framework to turn those initial feelings into a solid set of beliefs.
Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
That is a good question. I think veganism has definitely arrived in the mainstream now. We are no longer the weirdos who are supposedly following an unhealthy diet, even though there are still people out there who think that way. When it comes to our specific scene, I do not think that much has changed. The hardcore scene has always been open for misfits, and that is still the case today. Actually, I have the feeling that the scene has become more unified again. You see political groups in many countries trying to attack LGBT+ rights, women, and human rights as a whole. Because of that, there is still a place in this scene where these groups are accepted exactly as they are and where people have a background that is actively fighting for them. That is completely in alignment with the core values of veganism and straight edge. It is all part of the same fight for respect and against oppression.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
I hope for two things. My first hope is that people who are not vegan or straight edge see us as living proof that these lifestyles are possible and sustainable in everyday life. Having someone like Marco in the band, who has lived vegan and straight edge for 30 years, is a strong example of that.

Secondly, the feedback we get from people shows that we have influenced them to either go XVX themselves, or they tell us that they have stopped drinking for a while and gave up meat. They often say that our music and the information they gathered along the way confirm that they are on the right path. Essentially, the impact we want to have is simple. We want to show people that they can live differently, take responsibility, and most importantly, we want them to stop being homophobic or racist arseholes.
Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
Yes, this has happened multiple times. It is rarely just us alone, though. Usually, it happens in combination with other bands or activists that people meet at shows or events. As far as I recall their stories, we have been the soundtrack to their progress while they were in the process of changing their mindset.
Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
Yes, I believe music can influence us deeply. I am certain that for most of the members of CLEARxCUT, it happened exactly that way. We have all experienced moments where we became increasingly convinced that the system we live in is broken. Music is a powerful way of telling stories, and many bands with an explicit vegan straight edge message introduced us to topics we had not looked into much before. From there, you end up reading books, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries, and eventually, it all clicks. From my point of view, music is the catalyst and amplifier for your own convictions and for change in your life. I think everyone can remember the moment they bought their first record that defined their personal taste, or the album that helped them get through shitty times, or that one record you listened to with your best friends on the way to a summer festival. Music can change anything.
Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Yes. Veganism is inherently political to me. It’s way more than just a diet or a personal lifestyle choice, it’s a direct challenge to the structures of power and exploitation that surround us every day. For me, it’s about shifting how we relate to 'the other.' When you refuse to support industries that treat sentient beings as mere resources or units of production, you’re basically standing up against the entire logic of capitalism that values profit over life. Every time we choose a vegan lifestyle, we’re calling out the normalization of systemic violence.

It’s impossible to separate this from other political struggles. Look at environmental justice. The industrial animal agriculture complex is one of the biggest drivers of climate change and destruction, and it’s the marginalized communities that suffer the most from this corporate greed. It’s anti-capitalist at its core, too. Our food system is built on turning living beings into commodities, and veganism is just a loud 'no' to the idea that anyone can be owned or sold. It’s resistance against an economic model that survives on extracting value from bodies, whether human or not. And finally, it’s about intersectionality. You can’t claim to fight for a just world while keeping systems of total domination in your own kitchen. It’s about questioning the hierarchies society forces on us, exactly the same way Straight Edge is about questioning why we need substances just to cope with a broken system.

For us, being vegan is just taking responsibility. You realize that your daily habits are never neutral; every single one of them is a vote for the kind of world you actually want to live in. Staying Vegan and Straight Edge is our way of drawing a line in the sand. Compassion isn’t a weakness—it’s a revolutionary act.
How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
All of us constantly end up in discussions with people outside of our scene, and I truly consider that a form of activism. Usually, we don’t even have to initiate these conversations; it’s pretty much unavoidable. Whenever someone comes up to me asking about the band, they’re often astonished to hear that we’ve built something around such a clear message, and they’re genuinely interested. Over the years, I’ve noticed a shift… People are far less defensive and don't look at you like you’re some full-blown weirdo anymore. Instead, it feels like these conversations are actually having an influence on them. Beyond that, we try to use our merch table as a space to spread the word through leaflets and books, and we make sure to actively support the animal sanctuary 'Ein bisschen Wärme' whenever we can.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
Veganism is really just the starting point, it’s the essential core of the whole 'Total Liberation' idea. But I feel like a lot of people in the scene focus much on the animal rights part (which is good ;) ) while losing sight of the entire, interconnected system. From our point of view, 'Total Liberation' isn’t just a slogan, it’s a perspective we desperately need to push. Even if some people call it a utopian dream, that’s exactly why it’s so important to keep pushing it. When you really start to apply the logic of total liberation, you suddenly see how deeply fucked up this society is, not just in how we treat animals, but in how capitalism, hierarchies, and systemic oppression are woven into everything. It’s about realizing that you can’t just pick and choose which parts of liberation to support. It’s all connected. If we don’t talk about the root causes, we’re just treating symptoms. For us, holding on to this goal is what forces us to constantly question what we consider 'normal' in this broken world. It’s not about dreaming; it’s about demanding that we stop accepting the status quo.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
Simply no. The band started with this message at its core, and we will keep going with it. CLEARxCUT will never take away the X in our name, and we will never stop promoting veganism. If anything, I feel even more confirmed in our message today than when we started. Looking back, I do not see any reason to change our direction because our convictions are not just some phase or a temporary trend that we need to adjust to make people feel more comfortable. We stand for these values because they are fundamental to how we see the world. As long as there is systemic oppression, as long as there is animal exploitation, and as long as our society continues to operate on habits that destroy our health and the lives of others, we have every reason to keep being loud about it. We are not here to be a band that fades into the background or adapts to what is currently popular. We are here to represent a clear stance, and that is exactly what we will continue to do.
What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
It really comes down to your core values. When you’ve lived this way for a long time, it’s not just a set of rules anymore, it’s who you are. It’s part of your identity and your fundamental beliefs. You just stick to it, even when people don’t get it or try to push back. Honestly, it never actually felt hard to be vegan or straight edge. You just learn over time how to ignore the stupid questions from ignorant people and stop wasting energy on them. Once you’re clear on why you’re doing this, you don’t need outside validation to keep going.
Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
I am an optimistic person, so I believe it will only go up from here. At our recent shows, we have seen more and more young people who bring a different style and a fresh interpretation of the music, which is great to see. This scene is by far not dead, and it will continue to grow. As we have already seen with veganism, these values will have an increasing impact on the mainstream. On top of that, I am convinced that our scene will become much more of a stronghold for marginalized groups. We are creating a space that is not only about music or lifestyle choices, but about providing a platform and a support system for everyone who is pushed to the fringes by this society.
What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
What is missing? What specific piece of information do you still need to really embrace these ideas? If everything you’ve heard so far is convincing and logical to you, then ask yourself: what is actually stopping you? If it’s just the fear of how your social circle will react, or if you’re just clinging to old traditions and behaviors—those external factors shouldn’t be more important than your own beliefs. You have to realize that you can’t build something good on a foundation that is fundamentally wrong.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
Earth Crisis, Snapcase.
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
Earth Crisis - Destroy the Machine, “The Wrath Of Sanity.”
One misconception about veganism:
As a 14 years old, I thought both are one and for me it really did make much sense to be just one of both. :D
One non-negotiable value:
There is no place for… Homophobia, Fascism, Sexism, Racism and Hate.
One thing the scene needs to do better:
I saw more people become straight edge and/or vegan because it is good for their health… please read books, inform yourself and implement the core ideas.