Pennsylvania easycore outfit Carousel Kings were formed by singer David Alexander in the city of Lancaster. Influenced by the city's metal scene but with an ear for pop melodies, Alexander and his crew melded tuneful songwriting with hardcore and pop-punk and soon signed with hometown label CI Records. After making their debut with 2010's Speak Frantic, Carousel Kings followed up with A Slice of Heaven two years later. They would deliver one more EP and a full-length third album, Unity (2014), before leaving CI and signing with Victory Records. The band's lineup shuffled frequently over the years before Alexander recruited core members Will Barovick on guitar, Cody Williams on bass, and Danny Wilkins on drums. After releasing a split Christmas EP in 2015 with Maryland's the Great Heights Band, Carousel Kings decamped to Lancaster's Atrium Audio the following year to record their next LP. Charm City, their fourth album and first for Victory, was released in early 2017. Their second album for the label, Plus Ultra, followed in 2019; it saw the band expand their sound, on both a basic songwriting level and by way of adding new musical elements, including ukulele, saxophone, and touches of electronica. Plus Ultra also featured a slew of guests, such as Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), Rory Rodriguez (Dayseeker), and their first female guest Lexxe. ~ Timothy Monger