Carry On (Avenged Sevenfold song)

"Carry On"
Single by Avenged Sevenfold
from the EP Black Reign
B-side"Instrumental"
ReleasedSeptember 24, 2012 (September 24, 2012)
RecordedAugust 2012[1]
GenrePower metal[2][3]
Length4:15
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Elizondo
Avenged Sevenfold singles chronology
"Buried Alive"
(2011) 		"Carry On"
(2012) 		"Hail to the King"
(2013)
Audio sample

"Carry On" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The song was released on iTunes on September 24, 2012.[4][5][6]

Music style and lyrical themes

The song is a fast, up-tempo song inspired by "classic metal" and thrash metal.[7]

In an interview with the band's lead singer M. Shadows about the song's meaning he said, "I wanted to be more vague. Sometimes, I feel like my lyrics meander a little bit, and our songs are so big I need to write more words than are necessary. I wanted to leave these lyrics more open-ended. I felt that the term 'Carry On' was perfect not only for the characters but for AVENGED SEVENFOLD moving forward. I stuck with that. I just wanted to write some epic lyrics you could think about when you were driving down the street or on your horse."[7]

The song plays after the end credits of Call of Duty: Black Ops II in a non-canon music video, showing the band as well as two characters from the game, Raul Menendez (voiced by Kamar de los Reyes) on guitar (guitar played by 'Scarlett') and Sergeant Frank Woods (voiced by James C. Burns) on drums, as the song plays a montage of cutscenes and gameplay elements. It is also used in the reveal trailer for the game's Zombies mode.

Record Store Day release

For Record Store Day 2013, the band released the song on a 12-inch picture disc. The A-side has the album artwork, while the B-side has the band's Deathbat logo in black on a white background.. The numbers '75' and '60' are written above the wings.

12-inch picture disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Carry On"
  • M. Shadows
  • Synyster Gates
  • Zacky Vengeance
  • Johnny Christ
4.15
2."Carry On (Instrumental)"
  • M. Shadows
  • Synyster Gates
  • Zacky Vengeance
  • Johnny Christ
4:15
Total length:8:30

Personnel

Avenged Sevenfold
  • M. Shadows – lead vocals
  • Zacky Vengeance – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Synyster Gates – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Christ – bass, backing vocals
  • Arin Ilejay – drums

Charts

Chart (2012–14) Peak
position
Czech Republic Rock (IFPI)[8] 11
UK Physical Singles (OCC)[9] 53
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)[10] 2
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[11] 25
US Heatseekers Songs (Billboard)[12] 18
US Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[13] 70
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[14] 20
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[15] 18

References

  1. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Singer Says New Album Is 'Coming Along Nicely'". Blabbermouth.net. November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  2. ^ https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/best-avenged-sevenfold-song/ Best Avenged Sevenfold Songs: 20 Essential Gothcore Tracks
  3. ^ https://www.guitarworld.com/news/avenged-sevenfold-premiere-shepherd-fire-music-video Avenged Sevenfold Premiere "Shepherd of Fire" Music Video
  4. ^ Ouellette, Mary (September 24, 2012). "Avenged Sevenfold Unleash New Song 'Carry On' for 'Call of Duty: Black Ops II' Video Game". Loudwire.
  5. ^ Avenged Sevenfold Release New Song, “Carry On” Archived September 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Carry on (Call of Duty: Black Ops II Version) - Single by Avenged Sevenfold". iTunes. September 24, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Avenged Sevenfold Singer Says 'Carry On' Song Was Inspired by 'Classic Metal' Bands". Blabbermouth. November 18, 2012. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "CZ - Radio - Top 20 Modern Rock" (select "Top 20 Modern Rock" into the search box, then select "201246"). hitparada.ifpicr.cz. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "Official Physical Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. July 20, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. September 30, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Heatseekers Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  14. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  15. ^ "Avenged Sevenfold Chart History (Rock & Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2024.