ALISSA

VHF:  When and why did you go vegan?
ALISSA:  I went vegan in 1998 or so. I don’t remember the exact date, it didn’t seem like something I needed to remember because the transition happened so naturally. I was born and raised vegetarian and decided to go vegan when I realized there was no possible way the immense demand for animal products was being met humanely. I decided to research the dairy and egg industries (this was before the internet gave us all the answers instantaneously) and my suspicions were confirmed. It was WAY more difficult to be vegan back then, but focusing on the victims makes it quite easy. I don’t have ANY urges or cravings for animal products whatsoever. Eating the flesh or secretions of an animal is gross and the process of getting these products is even more disgusting.

VHF:  Were there any initial challenges or difficulties in making the transition?
ALISSA:  The word vegan was not commonplace when I first became vegan. It wasn’t like today where almost everyone knows what it means. Finding something as commonplace as soy milk was very tricky at the time. Finding information was also trickier back then since the global community that the internet provides wasn’t yet flourishing at that point.

VHF:  What are the biggest benefits you have noticed?
ALISSA:  I live my life un-hypocritically. My actions reflect my beliefs. I sincerely LOVE animals. I am fascinated by them and their existence brings me joy. I don’t need to feel guilty when I eat, I can have a comfortable conscience while enjoying my life. That is a really good feeling. I literally went vegan before even becoming an adult so I’m not sure what life would have been like otherwise.

VHF: Tell us about the histories of your respective careers.
ALISSA:  I started my first metal band in 2003 and went through a few of those before landing in Arch Enemy where I am today. I also sing as a guest with Kamelot sometimes. I do a LOT of guest appearances actually, because I love exploring different sides of my voice. I’m probably most known for my death metal vocals but I also enjoy singing rock, blues, jazz, etc.

VHF: What are some of your favorite memories/stories of building your music career?
ALISSA:  My career has been full of crazy ups and downs, as I imagine all careers are. I learned about betrayal, but also about loyalty. I learned about selfishness and selflessness all at once. It really is a crazy industry and the people I meet are all fascinating. I really learned that you just have to ride it out.

VHF: How has being vegan affected your artistic projects?
ALISSA:  I was really pleased when, upon signing my first record deal, the label actually encouraged me to speak out about animal rights! I was sure they would want to squash that side of me, but it was so intertwined with the lyrics and music that they embraced it. I’m really happy to be in Arch Enemy where we all share the same non-conformist, rebellious beliefs.

VHF: Any favorite foods or recipes to share?
ALISSA:  Doyle’s seitan recipe!

VHF: Any tips for a rocking vegan Halloween celebration?
ALISSA:  I am really not one to celebrate holidays but Halloween is one that I wish I could celebrate every day. I LOVE everything about Halloween - the costumes, the community aspect of going door-to-door, the pumpkin carving and eating, the spooky aesthetic, etc. Making a vegan Halloween costume is super simple. Lots of theatrical make up companies are cruelty-free, so just check for vegan products (watch out for non vegan ingredients like beeswax or carmine). Make sure you use natural plant-based or synthetic fabrics. Then, enjoy eating vegan pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkin seeds, bobbing for apples, lighting candles and freaking out your neighbours! Maybe even go adopt a black cat from your local shelter and give him or her a good home!

VHF:  Any new projects readers should look out for?
ALISSA:  Yes! I have something really cool brewing right now… keep your eyes peeled for something epic next year…

Workouts: I really like changing up my workout pretty frequently, I get bored easily both physically and mentally. Depending on the season and where I am in the world, I enjoy nice, long jogs outdoors with intermittent sprints. I train at Monster Gym in Montreal when I am there, and I love doing heavy resistance training, although about once a week I will do one workout of super light-weight/super high rep. I also LOVE doing high box jumps, ropes, and general jumping sprints to get my heart rate way up in between weight-training sets. The key really is consistency - you HAVE to get your body active EVERY DAY. A consistently healthy diet is also key - what you don’t eat is just as important as what you do eat. It is totally possible to be an unhealthy vegan with so many high-sugar and high-sodium processed vegan foods available.

DOYLE

VHF: When and why did you go vegan?
DOYLE: I was turned onto veganism by girlfriend Alissa White-Gluz in 2013. She's been vegetarian her whole life. She has never eaten a piece of meat ever! I think she went vegan at around 13 years old I believe, so she's been vegan for like 17 years. She started to explain it to me and teach me about it the very first conversation we had with each other, which actually made me fall in love with her immediately.
She had come to visit me in New York City and I had to get her back on a plane to get her back on tour. We were starving and running around trying to get back to the airport and she said "if we can't find me something to eat, we’ll find something for you to eat." I told her "fuck that I will never ever eat something in front of you that bothers you or disrespect you in any way ever!"
So, we would always go to vegan restaurants, and every time she would order all the food for us. Every time that I would take a bite, I would just look at her and go, "holy shit this is so good!" Right then and there I was hooked. Combining the ethics, she taught me about how animal products are made with all of the enslavement and torture, with the delicious vegan food was just amazing!

VHF: Were there any initial challenges or difficulties in making the transition?
DOYLE: No they're actually was not. All that I was eating that wasn't vegan was two chicken breasts a day for dinner, and whey protein throughout the day, and that's it. So the only things I had to really change where those two things. It is very easy when you really want to do something, you can.

VHF: What are the biggest benefits you have noticed?
DOYLE: The biggest benefit I have noticed, is that I'm happy. Being vegan makes me happy. I was in a restaurant in New York City not long ago, called Blossom. It’s one of our favorites (try the Little Italy and the Butterfinger Shake). And, I was waiting for my food, and these two little teenage girls, maybe 14-15 years old, came in and looked at me. They said, "Are you vegan?" I looked at them and said, "Yeah! It makes you happy doesn't it?!" They laughed and smiled and said, "Yeah it does!” So cute!

VHF: Tell us about the histories of your respective careers.
DOYLE: At 15 years old, in 1980, I join the Misfits. I was with the misfits until 2001. In 2013 I started my own band called Doyle (we have one album out called "Abominator" and we have another one coming out very soon called “As we die."

VHF: What are some of your favorite memories/stories of building your music careers?
DOYLE: Meeting people that stay in your life and become part of your life, like Alissa. Also, playing festivals to upwards to 100,000 people at a time in Europe. All kinds of crazy, funny things happen every day.

VHF: How has being vegan affected your artistic projects?
DOYLE: I would say the only way it has affected my projects is that it gives me a platform to enlighten people who don't know about VEGANISM and teach them and show them what's up. Also, I like to show them that you can be an absolute beast and Be VEGAN. So I get my protein the same place they do. The fucking store.

VHF: Any favorite foods or recipes to share?
DOYLE: Here’s my recipe for SEITAN, or as we call it “Satan.”
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 90 minutes
WHAT YOU NEED:

•  3 cups of vital wheat gluten
•  1 1/2 cups of nutritional yeast
•  1 1/2 tsp cumin
•  1 1/2 Tbs garlic powder
•  1 1/2 Tbs onion powder
•  1 1/2 tap of smoked Paprika
•  2 1/4 tsp of sage
•  2 1/4 cups of vegetable broth and 3/4 of a cup of water, OR just 3 cups of water to avoid sodium
•  3/8 cup of organic ketchup
•  3 Tbs olive oil

I add a lot of oregano and black pepper as well, and a splash of "Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein's Made-in-Hell Hot Sauce!" This ingredient is optional, depending on how hot you think you are.

1.  Preheat oven to 325F/ 165 C.
2.  Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, then slowly add the wet ingredients to the mix with clean hands.
3.  Let it firm up into dough, sitting out on a cutting board or a plate for several minutes.
4.  Shape into a tube or log form, wrap in tinfoil and cook for 90-minutes, placing the tinfoil wrap directly on the oven rack.
5.  Turning it over about halfway through the cooking (at about 45 minutes in).
6.  Let cool and enjoy! HAIL SEITAN!

VHF: Any tips for a rocking vegan Halloween celebration?
DOYLE: Simple, serve vegan food only!

VHF: Any new projects we should look out for?
DOYLE: I will be releasing a new "Doyle" CD called “As we die" this month.

VHF: Tell us about your workout and diet to maintain that physique.
DOYLE: My philosophy for working out now is one word: "consistency." I've been working out for lack of a better word, "religiously," for 42- years-straight. I like to do a different body part every day. I like to work out both heavy and light.
Foods I like for working out include the above-mentioned SEITAN, also, tofu, tempeh, beans, nuts, and all kinds of vegetables. Also I like to use a vegan protein powder, and I take vitamins as well. I also drink plenty of distilled water.