TIM RULE

Jun 12

Written By JIm McGourn

“The straight edge is for myself. For my own spiritual sanity. An oath that keeps me focused. Veganism is for others. For the future of the world. The only ethical choice. Like two sides of the same coin.”

I’m Tim Rule a.k.a. xRULEx. I run Bound By Modern Age Records since 2012 and (have) play(ed) in various (vegan straight edge) bands: Forward To Eden, The Rule, Castigator, Through Chaos & Solitude, Carnivore Crusher, xRESISTANCEx, Guthmensch, ... Besides that I am happilly married, we have a 3 year old daughter and in my free time I either lift weights or play Magic the Gathering. It's a peacefull life.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
I was 14 years old when Earthlings and some similar documentations came out. A lot of friends were influenced by that, but sadly I didn't care enough - still, thinking back, this might've been the first spark, because deep down, I "wanted" to care. When I was 16 or 17, my best friend - who did care enough and already went vegan - handed me "Meat is for Pussies" by John Joseph (Cro-Mags). I still didn't care enough, even though I objectively knew that it would be the right thing. So he bet me to it - we used to do this thing called 7" bets. "I bet you can't hit the net 10 times in a row" and if you did it, the other had to buy you a 7" (vinyl record) - he bet that I couldn't live without meat for a month. And what can I say? I haven't eaten a piece of meat ever since, haha - my girlfriend at the time really liked the idea of going vegetarian and so we watched/read lots on the topic, so I really have to thank her for it too. We also went to any and all fairs and fests on that topic in the following years and I gradually changed from vegetarianism to veganism until in late 2013, when I first heard the xREPENTANCEx EP - I instantly knew that there can be no (more) compromise.

Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
After. I still vividly remember the moment I discovered Metalcore. The moment that changed my whole life. The Summer of 2004 (I was 13 years old) - I already knew bands like Slipknot from VIVA - a friend from school came to me with the new Caliban CD and I instantly decided to make this my whole personality. I ordered all their merch from EMP, bought all their records and started listening to similar bands. That same year I started my first band - we covered As I Lay Dying on our first rehersal - and went to my first concert (Caliban & Heaven Shall Burn). I gradually went deeper into the (local) scene and discovered hardcore. My best friend went straight edge at 16 years old and we started to help sorting/packing at Crucial Response Records (a local straight edge hardcore label) in exchange for some free records. Great times... Unfortunately I had to learn the hard way though, as I gradually got more into drugs (mostly weed and alcohol, but occasionally harder stuff) as well - at 19 years old I died from a sudden lung collapse, but luckily was brought back from the paramedics and thus reborn straight edge!

Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
100% Caliban. Andy is the reason I started to scream. Also the first 2 Avenged Sevenfold Albums, thats how I learned to play Guitar - I learned all the songs. Death Is Not Glamorous was one of the first "hardcore" bands I really fell in love with and helped me to transition from being an addict to living a positive, drug free life. And finally xREPENTANCEx who were the last drop in the bucket to make me wanna draw the hard line and proclaim veganism. After that I also got to know Rat (Statement) and became close friends with him. We did many music projects together in the last 10 years. And I ultimately feel like I have to thank Damien Moyal (Morning Again, Culture, As Friends Rust) as well, as his bands were also one of the first I fell in love with after claiming the straight edge and in recent years I had the honor to work and become friends with him as well. So many people I was lucky enough to get to know through music, so many likeminded individuals. Nothing but love for this scene.

How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
For me, that was 13 years ago and so I hope that society has changed a bit and young folks that are going vegan today don't have to face so much pseudo-scientific bullshit like "but where do you get your protein from?" all the time. But yeah, we have a 3 year old daughter and raising her vegan... and apparently with little kids it's a whole other story - suddenly every 2nd grown-up has a (Youtube) PhD in nutrition... and with all the understandable concern, I am afraid that if we would've raised her on McDonald’s and sweets only, absolutely no one would've bat an eye. On a positive note though, and what initially made me say that I do have hope for society: my 66 year old parents, who gave me shit for going vegan 13 years ago, are now proud vegetarians for 4 years. My dad, who was the prime example of a "makes no sense that this has to look like meat" weber-grill dad for most of his life now calls me passionately on the phone when he finds a new fancy substitute in the supermarket. He is fitter and healthier than ever, gets into ethical (verbal) fights with my uncle and I couldn't be more proud of him. What made them change - besides me, trying to talk sense into them for years - was the Tönnies scandal during the first corona year. A big meat producer in Germany, that had illegals working for them under terrible conditions, another example that shows that Carnism is a cannibalistic social form that is meant to collapse eventually. Anyways: if my folks could change, that means anyone can. There is hope (and not only for the kids).

Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
Both... guess I already kind of answered that? I was a very militant vegetarian for a while, haha - listening to Earth Crisis, reading about Hardline, but still occasionally consuming dairy and eggs (if they were in something)... I guess I was mostly vegan for a couple years, but just too lazy to make that final step. Thinking back it was mainly the social things I was afraid of, like eating cake at your grandparents, etc. - it is somewhat confrontational, if you want the discussion or not, the moment you decline and have to explain yourself... I think I was afraid of that, but now I much rather see it as a chance.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
For me, they were completely distinct choices, even though I already knew about XVX bands. Over time they merged into one inseparable thing though and thus built the foundation of my personality. Straight Edge (quite literally) saved my life and Veganism gave me purpose. And lets be honest, how can you be an (effective) activist without a clear mind? The straight edge is for myself. For my own spiritual sanity. An oath that keeps me focused. Veganism is for others. For the future of the world. The only ethical choice. Like two sides of the same coin.

Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
If I learned two things about myself in the last 20 or so years, then it is, that I have two very dominant personality traits, that were always there and probably will forever be. 1: I am very easilly addicted. Be it games, sports, music or drugs. And 2: I love extreme commitments. This was really problematic when I started experimenting with drugs. I wanted ALL of them, ALL the time. That shifted to ALL the fancy vinyl records and ALL the shiny cardboard (Magic cards) and I think I could adapt that to many more things in my life. For me this path was probably inevitable. It was vegan straight edge or death. But it's easy to get lost in the rabbit hole... after extensively studying Hardline, I also read and took all the chapters/lessons of the Ahli-Allah (pre-Taliyah) - I don't wanna go too much into detail about my own spiritual journey here, but the questions is, when one thing is an ethical (or philosophical) extension of the other, where does it lead to? And does it ever stop? When will the last thing in the row be so fundamentally different from the first thing, that you can't make the connection anymore? For me, this was a logical consequence - I embrace the truth, from wherever it reveals itself - but that doesn't mean that it has to be the same for you.
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
If you wanna talk about it, I'm here. If not, then good for you. I couldn't care less.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
A huge one. I feel like I already answered that question. Lyrics of bands like Culture, Earth Crisis and more recently xREPENTANCEx are etched into my very soul.
Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
I feel like veganism is more mainstream nowadays and therefore somewhat accepted... and we also have this amazing 90’s/00’s XVX 'core revival going on right now, with reunion shows of bands like Culture, Morning Again, Undying, Prayer for Cleansing and just recently xDestroy Babylonx. And new bands like xApothecaryx, Ecotage, xVeritex, ClearXCut, Times of Desperation, ...the list goes on! And lets not forget bands like Earth Crisis, that have more or less always been around and paved the way for all of this.
When I came out as vegan in my local hardcore scene, there were these few old elitists, that were like "yeah, let’s see how long he'll last" and the super tough young folks, that were like "no offense bro, but veganism is too gay for me". And I really hope (and think) that these days are gone.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
Oh, that differs, haha - what band are we talking about? Forward To Eden is probably the band I'm best known for and also the one with the strongest and by far most formulated message - Besides the intro's & spoken word parts, I always wrote long explanations to each song or even whole Manifestos. Forward To Eden is probably the closest thing to a modern day hardline band and I understand that that's nothing that gets a meat-eater to overthink his diet, but it is something that polarizes and thus maybe gets talked about/stays on your mind. Most of the time I'm probably preaching to the choir, but that doesn't mean that it's fruitless. FTE & the Natural Order Movement (which arose from said Manifests) are about a momentum. About activism and not accepting the status quo. About converting others and building communities.
The Rule on the other hand is a "fun" project with over the top straight edge lyrics and some stuff about lifting weights & nerd culture - I guess it has a positive message though? But many other projects like Castigator, which I fronted as a life band for a couple years, really only had "the music" as a focus and not a deeper message. Through Chaos & Solitude is pretty much about my own personal journey through this life, including loss & grief. It was of therapeutic nature for myself and not with the intend to have any kind of impact on any potential listeners. Right now I'm also working hard in a new band called As We Fade, which will hopefully have a debut album out around the end of the year, which is probably the most ambitious and technically "best" I've ever done, but unfortunately far from a vegan edge band, haha - we're just dedicated musicians and friends. So my lyrics here became very "general" but still personal and emotional. And I guess there can also be value to that if someone really digs the music and can identify with some of the stories I'm trying to tell. Music can play a big role in building identity.

Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
I occasionally get people thanking me for Forward To Eden and telling me that it was one of the bands that helped them in their decision to make the change for a more ethical life.

Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
I absolutely do believe that music has the power to change lives. I listen to a lot of music. New and old. And if I really like something, I take the time and read the lyrics + whatever additional writings may come with the record. I often find something that makes me think. Contemplate. Of course it's not every second records that makes me question my whole moral belief-system, but sometimes a phrase or a thought can plant a seed.
Writing this, just a couple weeks ago Panopticon, a green anarchist black metal band, have released their new album "Det Hjemsokte Hjertet" and besides the fantastic songwriting, this one really stands out for me, because of its lyrical and thematic concept. The whole thing is formulated like a novel and each song comes with long associated writings. In this vein, there are many albums each year (sometimes more, sometimes less), that at least spark thought in me... and sometimes (over time) that spark becomes a fire. Maybe I am different in this aspect, but I try to keep an open mind and accept that there are things I don't know (yet). Forever searching for the truth.

Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Isn't everything if you really think it to the end? I suppose one could just be vegan because they don't like the taste of animal products or whatever, but as soon as you feel any ethical or moral obligation to change your habits, in a world where the mainstream does not feel that way and is even trying its best to hide the cruel truth, then it automatically gets political. In a world, where barbaric rites reign over empathy and where corporate interests outrule ecology, every small act of resisting this carnistic indoctrination is political.

How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
You mean like for me, personally, right now? I work full-time, have a record label on the side, play in various bands, have a wife and a 3-year old daughter, various other hobbies, ... good thing that I'm secretly a vampire and don't require any sleep at all, haha.
But: BBMA was always and will always be non-profit. Every penny I make gets donated to Sanctuaries or Animal Rights causes. Same with all music, merch, zines, etc. I do besides this.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
I hate talking bad about something positive, so I rather say nothing. If you feel like you can make a change, do it. If there's something you wanna have addressed, speak up. Don't wait for things to happen for you. Do it yourself.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
I guess you could argue that a more moderate message would be able to reach more people or be more willingly accepted by people. Do I "need" to call it the Vegan Jihad, well knowing what that means and implicates? Do I need to use Hardline imagery and jargon? It gives me a lot of angry accusation and discussion - do I maybe like that? In part: yes. Because it gives me the chance to explain and thus connect with someone and that may plant a seed. I'm aware that that's not the easiest way to get in touch with people, but that also never was the goal of this project. I like to think positive and I think it's important to connect people in order to better reach our goals, but in the end we're not here to make friends, we're here to make justice.

What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
Never happens. The Vegan Straight Edge is everything I am. It's the blood in my veins and the air I breathe. The day I break this oath, is the day I die. Seriously, it's not even a thought in the back of my mind - I keep trying to come up with a stupid comparison, but there is none.

Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
I'm in my mid 30’s now and I will still be here and do my part, but I am not under the illusion to know what the new generation is thinking. It’s near impossible for me to predict what will or won't happen. There are so meany things I just "don't get" anymore. Promising bands breaking up over things that are widely forgotten a couple weeks later. Active scene members getting cancelled instead of spoken to. I don't wanna be the judge to any of that, but to me it feels like the kids have lost their focus. Still, it's amazing to see young, new bands embracing the vegan straight edge to begin with and also old bands and labels making a come back - a big shoutout to Life Sentence Records at this point. We just need to somehow make sure that it remains one scene and not the old folks on one and the young folks on the other side. After all it's one single ethic to unite us all.

What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
Do it. Can't beat the feeling of moral superiority in the morning. You can still be a complete societal failure, but at least you're no longer complicit in the mass-murder of billions of animals every day.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
At 15/16 years old I discovered Casey Jones, the straight edge hardcore side-project from the singer of Evergreen Terrace, who just released "The Messenger". I loved the music, but laughed at the lyrics... still, a first seed was planted. We listened to lots of Earth Crisis, Judge, Morning Again - the classics - which I then later re-discovered in lyrics as well, after I was reborn straight edge. When I discovered Vegan Reich & Statement at the age of 20, I was so fascinated that I started to study Hardline as a sub-culture, its impact and all affiliated bands. A year later, when the xREPENTANCEx demo dropped, I was transformed.
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
Don't know about the songs I wrote... I feel like there are many better lyricists than me... Maybe "The Human Precipice" (Through Chaos & Solitude) was a bit clever?
One misconception about vegan straight edge:
You tell me... maybe that we're super elitist assholes and worship the devil? I don't know... I mean, obviously this fits for me, but we aren't ALL like that!
One non-negotiable value:
To commit 100%. Just listen to your heart and the natural law will reveal itself to you. Shed your false conditioning by a society that doesn't care about you. Don't half-ass it. Believe in yourself.

One thing the scene needs to do better:
That's for the youth to decide. From my point of view it looks like a certain group of people have fun doing witchhunts and the age of social media and digital communication has made it so easy to name and shame - but obviously it can also help to create valuable safe spaces, so I wouldn't have a solution for that. Let the youth deal with this. But maybe let's all just turn our phones off every now and then and actually connect physically? Embrace the moment. I guess that would already solve a bunch of problems.