Originating in Nordhausen, Germany, in 1998, Maroon is currently one of the premier vegan straight edge hardcore bands in the world today. Heavily influenced musically and politically by mid-1990s vegan straight edge hardcore acts such as Earth Crisis, Day Of Suffering, Loxiran and Morning Again, their music also displays influences from metal acts such as At The Gates, Metallica, Sepultura and Slayer. The year of 1999 saw Maroon releasing a demo cassette entitled The Initiate, signalling a new era of vegan straight edge culture in Germany. All four of the songs were to be found on later releases, and they hinted at the storm that was to come. ...show more

Originating in Nordhausen, Germany, in 1998, Maroon is currently one of the premier vegan straight edge hardcore bands in the world today. Heavily influenced musically and politically by mid-1990s vegan straight edge hardcore acts such as Earth Crisis, Day Of Suffering, Loxiran and Morning Again, their music also displays influences from metal acts such as At The Gates, Metallica, Sepultura and Slayer. The year of 1999 saw Maroon releasing a demo cassette entitled The Initiate, signalling a new era of vegan straight edge culture in Germany. All four of the songs were to be found on later releases, and they hinted at the storm that was to come.

Their first cd, Captive in the Room of the Conspirator, was recorded at Headquarters Studion in Berlin in spring 2000 and released that year on the now-defunct Kerosene Recordings label, featuring songs like The Solution strongly advocating a vegan lifestyle and support for animal liberation and earth liberation. The band began touring Europe, opening for many hardcore acts including their idols Earth Crisis and Morning Again. Later in the year Maroon released an untitled split 7" with Absidia on the Crap Chords label, featuring the song Wasted. That winter the band went back to the studio to record a split CD with Self Conquest entitled The Key[/album artist], this time using 101 Studios, also in Berlin.

On the heels of this recording, released by Beniihana Records the band went back on the road once more, touring Europe and opening for bands including Heaven Shall Burn and Caliban. In November 2001 Maroon entered Rape of Harmonies Studios to record their debut full-length, [album artist=Maroon]Antagonist, released on legendary US vegan straight edge hardcore label Catalyst Records (http://www.xcatalystx.com). Catalyst is run by Kurt Catalyst, frontman for defunct hardcore legends Birthright and a newer band, Risen. Antagonist featured Maroon's best work to date both musically and lyrically, delivering a number of hard-hitting songs including the vegan straight edge anthem Still Believe in What Has Fallen Apart and a cover of Canon's classic animal liberation rallying call Declaration. ...show less