In a recent interview with Metal Magnitude, Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy opened up about how metal has shaped her path to veganism and how she maintains her lifestyle while on tour.
Alissa highlighted the deep-rooted connection between punk, metal, and vegan ideologies, referencing her friend Moby’s documentary, Punk Rock Vegan Movie, which explores this very link. “Moby, obviously, is a well-spoken animal rights activist as well, and he’s a friend of mine. His documentary dives into the connection between the punk mentality—and by extension, the metal mentality—and veganism. I think it’s a really cool and fascinating facet of the movement,” she shared.
A lifelong vegetarian and a committed vegan since the 1990s, White-Gluz has long been an outspoken advocate for animal rights, using her platform to challenge animal exploitation.
Back in 2020, during an interview with Mercy For Animals’ Facebook page, she expressed why she believes veganism embodies the spirit of metal: “In my opinion, metal is all about rebellion — it’s about carving your own path, thinking against what everyone’s trying to make you think. And veganism is the ultimate form of rebellion because you’re rejecting norms that deep down you know aren’t right. It’s about questioning what society has conditioned you to accept, like what you eat, wear, or buy.”
She added, “People say it’s normal to exploit other living beings for those things, but it’s not. Taking a stand against that—that’s what veganism is. And that is really metal.”
Further cementing her activism, Alissa was named an executive producer for the documentary I Could Never Go Vegan in 2024. The film tackles common misconceptions about veganism and features interviews with athletes, health professionals, and animal rights advocates, aiming to inspire thoughtful conversations around the lifestyle.