The following is a list of bands that have been associated with the straight edge subculture. Note that not all of these bands have or had all straight edge members, and some of them stopped identifying as such at some point during their careers.
Band | Years active | Origin | Country | Other views or scenes | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Seconds | 1980–present | Reno, Nevada | United States | [1] | |
Abhinanda | 1992–1999, 2004, 2009–2010, 2012 | Umeå | Sweden | [2] | |
ACxDC | 2003-2017 | Los Angeles, California | United States | Veganism, Satanism | [3] |
AFI | 1991–present | Ukiah, California | United States | Veganism | [4] |
Allegiance | 2002–2008 | San Francisco, California | United States | [5] | |
Arma Angelus | 1998–2002 | Chicago, Illinois | United States | [6] | |
Asunto | 1995–present | Santiago | Chile | Veganism | [2] [7] |
Bane | 1995-2016 | Worcester, Massachusetts | United States | [8] | |
Battery | 1990–1998, 2012, 2017 | Washington, D.C. | United States | [9] | |
Big Cheese | 2016–present | Leeds | U.K. | [10] | |
Bishop | 2004-2017 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | United States | [11] | |
Bold | 1986–1993, 2005-2007, 2012, 2014-2015 | New York (Bedford, Westchester County) | United States | [12] | |
Blacklisted | 2003–present | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | United States | ||
Call to Preserve | 2003–2011, 2014 | Rockledge, Florida | United States | Christianity | [13] |
Casey Jones | 2003-2012 | Jacksonville, Florida | United States | [14] | |
Chain of Strength | 1988–1991, 2012 | Southern California, California | United States | [15] | |
Champion | 1999–2006 | Seattle, Washington | United States | [16] | |
Chokehold | 1990-1996, 2015, 2017 | Hamilton, Ontario | Canada | Veganism | [17] |
Clear | 1995-2000 | Salt Lake City, Utah | United States | [18] | |
Deadlock | 1997–present | Schwarzenfeld | Germany | Veganism | [19] |
The Dillinger Escape Plan | 1997–2017 | Morris Plains, New Jersey | United States | [20] | |
Down to Nothing | 2000–present | Richmond, Virginia | United States | [21] | |
DYS | 1981-1985, 2010–present | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | [22] | |
Earth Crisis | 1989–2001, 2007–present | Syracuse, New York | United States | Veganism | [23] |
Eighteen Visions | 1995–2007, 2017–present | Orange County, California | United States | [24] [25] | |
Embrace Today | 1998-2006 | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | [26] | |
Final Exit | 1994–1997, 2007, 2012 | Umeå | Sweden | [27] | |
First Blood | 2002–present | San Francisco, California | United States | Veganism | [28] [29] |
Good Clean Fun | 1997–present | Washington, D.C. | United States | Veganism | [2] [30] |
Good Riddance | 1986–2007, 2012–present | Santa Cruz, California | United States | [31] | |
Gorilla Biscuits | 1987–1991, 1997, 2005–present | New York City, New York | United States | [32] | |
Government Issue | 1980–1989 | Washington, D.C. | United States | [33] | |
Harm's Way | 2006–present | Chicago, Illinois | United States | [34] | |
Have Heart | 2002-2009 | New Bedford, Massachusetts | United States | [35] | |
In My Eyes | 1997–2000 | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | [36] | |
Indecision | 1993–2000, 2006–present | Brooklyn, New York | United States | [37] | |
Inside Out | 1988–1991 | Orange County, California | United States | [38] | |
Judge | 1987–1991, 2013–present | New York City, New York | United States | [39] | |
Kublai Khan Tx | 2009-present | Sherman, Texas | United States | ||
Lärm | 1981–1987, 2003-2012 | Amersfoort | Netherlands | Anarcho-communism | [40] |
Liferuiner | 2004–present | Toronto, Ontario | Canada | [41] | |
Limp Wrist | 1998–present | Albany, New York | United States | Queercore | [2] |
Locked Inside | 2019–present | New York City, New York | United States | [42] [43] | |
Manliftingbanner | 1990-1993, 1998, 2008, 2012 | Haarlem | Netherlands | Communism | [44] |
Maroon | 1998-2014 | Nordhausen | Germany | Veganism | [45] |
Martha | 2011–present | County Durham | England | Queer, anarchism, veganism | [46] |
MC Lars | 1998–present | Oakland, California | United States | Christianity, veganism | [47] [48] [49] [50] |
Minor Threat | 1980-1983 | Washington, D.C. | United States | [51] [52] | |
Morning Again | 1995-1999 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | United States | Veganism | [53] |
Most Precious Blood | 2001–present | Brooklyn, New York | United States | Vegetarianism, veganism | [54] [55] |
Mouthpiece | 1991–1996 | New Jersey | United States | [56] | |
Negative FX | 1981-19?? | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | [38] | |
No For An Answer | 1987–1989, 2009–present | Orange County, California | United States | [57] [58] | |
One King Down | 1994-2001 | Albany, New York | United States | Vegetarianism, veganism | [59] |
One Life Crew | 1994-1997, 2001, 2003, 2012–present | Cleveland, Ohio | United States | Anti-immigration, anti-political correctness | [2] [60] |
Over My Dead Body | 2000-20? | San Diego, California | United States | [61] | |
Point of No Return | 1996-2006 | São Paulo | Brazil | Veganism | [62] |
Prayer for Cleansing | 1996-2000, 2003-2004 | Raleigh, North Carolina | United States | Veganism | [63] |
Project X | 1987-1989, 2015 | New York City, New York | United States | [64] | |
Purified in Blood | 2003-2007, 2008–present | Hommersåk | Norway | Veganism | [65] |
R.A.M.B.O. | 1999-2007 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | United States | Anarchism | [66] |
Racetraitor | 1996-1999, 2016, 2017 | Chicago, Illinois | United States | Anti-racism | [67] |
Raid | 1989-1993 | Memphis, Tennessee | United States | Hardline, veganism | [68] |
Refused | 1991–1998, 2012, 2014–present | Umeå | Sweden | Veganism, socialism, anarchism | [69] [70] |
Sect | 2015–present | Raleigh, North Carolina Portland, Oregon Toronto, Ontario | United States Canada | Veganism | |
Separation | 1994-1999 | Umeå | Sweden | [71] | |
Slapshot | 1985–present | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | [72] | |
Sons of Abraham | 1994–1998 | Long Island, New York | United States | Judaism | [73] [74] |
Snapcase | 1991–2005, 2007, 2010–present | Buffalo, New York | United States | [2] | |
SSD | 1981-1985 | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | [75] | |
Step Forward | 1989-1991 | Umeå | Sweden | [76] [77] | |
Strife | 1991–1999, 2001–present | Los Angeles, California | United States | [78] | |
Ten Yard Fight | 1995-1999 | Boston, Massachusetts | United States | [79] | |
The Faith | 1981-1983 | Washington, D.C. | United States | [38] | |
The Geeks | 1999–present | Seoul | South Korea | [80] [81] | |
The Red Baron | 2004-2009 | West Palm Beach, Florida | United States | Christianity | [82] |
The Teen Idles | 1979–1980 | Washington, D.C. | United States | [83] | |
Throwdown | 1997–present | Orange County, California | United States | [84] | |
Title Fight | 2003–present | Kingston, Pennsylvania | United States | ||
Trial | 1995–present | Seattle, Washington | United States | [2] | |
Turning Point | 1988–1991, 1994, 2016-present | New Jersey | United States | [85] | |
Unbroken | 1991–1995, 1998, 2010-2012, 2014–present | San Diego, California | United States | [2] | |
Undertow | 1991–2004 | Seattle, Washington | United States | [86] | |
Uniform Choice | 1982-? | Orange County, California | United States | [87] | |
Up Front | 1987–1992, 1997–1999, 2005, 2009-2010 | New York City, New York | United States | [88] | |
Vegan Reich | 1988-1993, 1996, 1999 | Laguna Beach, California | United States | Hardline, veganism | [89] |
Verse | 2003–2009, 2011–2013 | Providence, Rhode Island | United States | [90] | |
Vitamin X | 1997–present | Amsterdam | Netherlands | [91] | |
Warzone | 1983–1997 | Manhattan, New York | United States | Skinhead | [92] |
Wisdom in Chains | 2002—present | Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania | United States | [93] | |
xDeathstarx | 2002–2009, 2015–present | Redland, California | United States | Christianity | [94] |
xLooking Forwardx | 1999–present | Bel Air, Maryland | United States | Christianity | [95] [96] |
XTRMST | 2014–present | Los Angeles, California | United States | [97] | |
Youth Attack | 2002-2006 | Worcester, Massachusetts | United States | [98] | |
Youth of Today | 1985–1990, 1994, 1999, 2003-2004, 2010–present | Danbury, Connecticut | United States | Vegetarianism | [99] [100] |
The punk subculture includes a diverse and widely known array of music, ideologies, fashion, and other forms of expression, visual art, dance, literature, and film. Largely characterised by anti-establishment views, the promotion of individual freedom, and the DIY ethics, the culture originated from punk rock.
Hardcore punk is a punk rock subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk scenes in San Francisco and Southern California which arose as a reaction against the still predominant hippie cultural climate of the time. It was also inspired by Washington, D.C., and New York punk rock and early proto-punk. Hardcore punk generally disavows commercialism, the established music industry and "anything similar to the characteristics of mainstream rock" and often addresses social and political topics with "confrontational, politically charged lyrics".
Earth Crisis is an American metallic hardcore band from Syracuse, New York, active from 1989 until 2001, reuniting in 2007. Since 1993, the band's longest-tenured members include vocalist Karl Buechner, lead guitarist Scott Crouse, bassist Ian Edwards, and drummer Dennis Merrick. Their third and current rhythm guitarist Erick Edwards joined the band in 1998.
Karl Buechner is an American musician from Syracuse, New York, best known as the frontman for the hardcore band Earth Crisis. He is also the singer of Freya, Path of Resistance, Vehement Serenade, Apocalypse Tribe and 1000 Drops of Venom.
Refused is a Swedish hardcore punk band originating from Umeå and formed in 1991. Refused is composed of vocalist Dennis Lyxzén, guitarist Kristofer Steen, drummer David Sandström, and bassist Magnus Flagge. Guitarist Jon Brännström was a member from 1994, through reunions, until he was fired in late-2014. Their lyrics are often of a non-conformist and politically far-left nature and were for a time associated with the straight edge subculture.
Hopesfall is an American post-hardcore band from Charlotte, North Carolina, formed in 1998. They are currently signed to Equal Vision Records. The band dissolved in 2008 after all members, with the exception of singer Jay Forrest, left the band. Following this, the lineup of the band's first two albums got together temporarily and played reunion shows in 2011. The band finally reformed with the majority of their last album's members and original drummer Adam Morgan in 2016 with a new label Equal Vision Records. Arbiter was released on July 13, 2018.
Youth crew is a music subculture of hardcore punk, which was particularly prominent during the New York hardcore scene of the late 1980s. Youth crew is distinguished from other punk styles by its optimism and moralistic outlook. The original youth crew bands and fans were predominantly straight edge and vegetarian.
John "Porcell" Porcelly, also known as Paramananda Das, is an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the 1980s hardcore bands Young Republicans, Violent Children, Youth of Today, and Judge. He also sang in Project X, and has had stints in other bands such as Bold and Gorilla Biscuits. More recently he has played in bands like Shelter, Never Surrender and Last of the Famous.
Mathcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk and metalcore influenced by post-hardcore, extreme metal and math rock that developed during the 1990s. Bands in the genre emphasize complex and fluctuant rhythms through the use of irregular time signatures, polymeters, syncopations and tempo changes. Early mathcore lyrics were addressed from a realistic worldview and with a pessimistic, defiant, resentful or sarcastic point of view.
Melodic hardcore is a broadly defined subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melody in its guitar work. It generally incorporates fast rhythms, melodic and often distorted guitar riffs, and vocal styles tending towards shouting and screaming. Nevertheless, the genre has been very diverse, with different bands showcasing very different styles. Many pioneering melodic hardcore bands, have proven influential across the spectrum of punk rock, as well as rock music more generally.
Toby Morse (born April 8, 1970) is an American vocalist who is best known as the lead singer for punk rock band H2O. He is also one of the vocalists for hardcore punk group Hazen Street.
Have Heart are an American straight edge hardcore punk band formed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2002. The band recorded a demo that was released in 2003. In 2004, they released the What Counts EP, with their debut full-length, The Things We Carry arriving in 2006. Their last full-length, Songs to Scream at the Sun, garnered much critical acclaim from hardcore critics and fans alike, winning 'album of the year' from many hardcore-oriented websites.
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs in reaction to the punk subculture's excesses. Some adherents refrain from engaging in promiscuous or casual sex, follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and do not consume caffeine or prescription drugs. The term "straight edge" was adopted from the 1981 song "Straight Edge" by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat.
Title Fight was an American rock band from Kingston, Pennsylvania, formed in 2003. They released three studio albums – Shed (2011), Floral Green (2012) and Hyperview (2015) – gradually shifting from a hardcore punk-oriented sound towards shoegaze and indie rock. Hyperview was released through Anti-, a record label to which the band signed in July 2014.
Counterparts are a Canadian hardcore punk band formed in 2007 in Hamilton, Ontario, that currently consists of vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarists and bassists Tyler Williams and Jesse Doreen, and drummer Kyle Brownlee. Their two most recent albums, released through Pure Noise Records, have received critical acclaim from Rock Sound and Exclaim! magazines. They are among the most visible bands within contemporary melodic hardcore, while they are also considered one of the major powers of the metalcore revival wave.
Animal rights are closely associated with two ideologies of the punk subculture: anarcho-punk and straight edge. This association dates back to the 1980s and has been expressed in areas that include song lyrics, benefit concerts for animal rights organisations, and militant actions of activists influenced by punk music. Among the latter, Rod Coronado, Peter Daniel Young and members of SHAC are notable. This issue spread into various punk rock and hardcore subgenres, e.g. crust punk, metalcore and grindcore, eventually becoming a distinctive feature of punk culture.
Firestorm is the second EP by American metallic hardcore band Earth Crisis. It was released in 1993 and marked the band's first release through Victory Records. Firestorm has been described as a landmark release in hardcore punk for its metal influences and political, militant lyrics, along with helping "pioneer what would become both a signature sound for the band, as well as metalcore as a whole – right alongside the likes of Integrity." The title track is considered Earth Crisis' best-known song.
[...] Step Forward existerade mellan åren 1989 och 1991 och var ett av de första svenska banden som uppmärksammade straight edge. [...]
[...] Five or six years later we met again, when Jens and Dennis had a punk band called Afro Jetz. That eventually became Umeå's first straight edge band Step Forward. [...]
[...] Notorious partiers such as Ray "Raybeez" Barbieri had turned his long-running band Warzone into a full-fledged straight-edge band. [...]
Three of us in the band are SXE [...] We respect the movement and we feel part of the movement. [...]