Vegan straight edge is a sub-genre of hardcore-punk. It speaks about living a life free from drink or controlled drugs and an adherence to a cruelty free lifestyle, thus band members do not consume or use any products which are directly or indirectly derived from animals.

To this end the lyrics typically speak about animal rights and clean living. There tends to be a social-political message in XVX music. Vegan straight edge bands vary in their approach to the genre some bands are militant in the sense of having a personal strong belief in their chosen lifestyle; whilst other bands, who also endorse the former point are more aggressive with their views to those who they deem to be 'weak' beings unable to transcend pleasures they hold to be gravely immoral.