Carry On will reunite for the Sound and Fury Festival at Los Angeles' Exposition Park on August 15-16. The performance commemorates the 25th anniversary of the band's first album, 'A Life Less Plagued.'
How God's Hate sparked the Carry On reunion
The catalyst for this return was an unexpected invitation during a previous iteration of the Sound and Fury Festival. According to the report, Colin Young of the Van Nuys-based metallic-hardcore band God's Hate approached guitarist Todd Jones,asking him to perform a Carry On song on stage. Jones agreed to the request on the condition that vocalist Ryan George also participate in the performance.
This impromptu collaboration created a surge of energy that convinced the members to pursue a more formal return. guitarist Corey Williams noted that seeing the reaction from the crowd during that specific collaboration was an "incredible" experience, which helped pave the way for the full reunion scheduled for August 15-16 at Exposition Park.
Celebrating 25 years of 'A Life Less Plagued'
The upcoming performance at the Sound and Fury Festival serves as a double milestone, marking 20 years since Carry On played their final shows and 25 years since the release of their debut record, 'A Life Less Plagued.' To bring the vision to life, Todd Jones and Ryan George will be joined by bassist Greg Bacon and drummer Nick Jett .
As the report says, the band's early sound was a fast, aggressive interpretation of straight-edge hardcore punk. This reunion places Carry On alongside other heavy hitters at the festival, including Obituary, Koyo, Beton Arme, and Angel Du$t, signaling a diverse gathering of the hardcore and metal communities in Los Angeles.
Bringing New York's straight-edge youth crew to the West Coast
Carry On played a pivotal role in establishing a West Coast presence for the "youth crew" hardcore subculture, which primarily originated in New York. This movement was defined by an optimistic morality and a strict adherence to straight-edge values, including veganism, veegtarianism, and the total avoidance of drugs and alcohol. The band drew inspiration from East Coast pioneers such as Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Judge, and Chain of Strength.
While the ideological core of Carry On was rooted in the brotherhood and community values of bands like Minor Threat and 7 Seconds, their musical palette was broader. Todd Jones and Corey Williams crredited Southern California's radio landscape for introducing them to the sounds of Metallica and Slayer, while Williams also cited the crososver influence of Anthrax and Suicidal Tendencies. This blend of thrash metal and melodic hardcore is most evident in the "galllop picking" heard on the track 'Roll with the Punches' from 'A Life Less Plagued.'
Why Todd Jones is limiting the reunion's scope
Despite the excitement surrounding the return, Todd Jones has been clear that Carry On will not return as a fully active entity. Jones stated that the group intends to keep these reunion shows limited and will not be writing new music or operating as a permanent band following the festivities. corey Williams echoed this sentiment, urging fans to secure tickets quickly because there will not be many opportunities to see the group perform.
Several specific details remain unverified in the current reporting. While the band mentions "a few shows," the exact number of dates beyond the Sound and Fury Festival has not been disclosed. Additionally, it remains unclear if Carry On intends to perform the entirety of 'A Life Less Plagued' or a curated selection of tracks from their time as both Carry On and their earlier incarnation, Preserve.
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