Hawthorne Heights may be celebrating 20 years of If Only You Were Lonely, but they’re also celebrating joining a new record label. The band just announced that they’ve officially joined the Thriller Records roster and revealed their label debut “Carry Me.”
Frontman JT Woodruff says, “The real challenge for me in writing new music, this far into our career, is trying to go down roads we’ve never explored. What does the heavier side of Hawthorne Heights really sound like, and how far down are we willing to swim in those waters? I felt really good just starting with a riff, and letting the riff lead the way. I’ve always listened to heavy music, which has subtly paved the way for our guitar parts. From early 2000’s bands like Snapcase, Poison The Well, and From Autumn To Ashes to modern bands like Knocked Loose, Beartooth, and Turnstile, we’ve always loved heavy music. The real question was how far we could go before it stopped sounding like Hawthorne Heights.”
He continues, “Lyrically, I am always a bit of a mess. I hold everything in until I am ready to scorch the earth, or detonate, if you will. Songwriting is a massive outlet for me, and I spend a lot of early mornings grinding through the problems in my head. Death is a massive issue for me. I lost both of my parents way too early, and I often feel I lack an adult support system, so I’ve had to become an adult on my own many years ago. Those are feelings I carry every day. I try to find ways to find hope in the darkness, and that is where ‘Carry Me’ is coming from. It feels pretty bleak right now, mostly due to things people can’t change on their own, so I currently feel a lot of anger. This song brought out an anger in my voice that hasn’t been there for a while, and I embraced it.”
Check out the new track below and stay tuned for more.
Hawthorne Heights are currently on tour throughout the U.S. with letlive. and Creeper. Check out all their upcoming performances below and secure your tickets here.
Tour Dates:
- Oct. 30—Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27
- Oct. 31—Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
- Nov. 01—Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall
- Nov. 03—Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
- Nov. 04—Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom
- Nov. 05—Nashville, TN @ Cannery Hall
- Nov. 06—Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
- Nov. 07—Birmingham, AL @ Iron City
- Nov. 08—New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues New Orleans
- Nov. 10—Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
- Nov. 11—Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues Orlando
- Nov. 12—St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
- Nov. 13—Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live
- Nov. 14–15—Orlando, FL @ Vans Warped Tour Orlando 2026
- Nov. 17—Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
- Nov. 18—Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Chicago
- Nov. 20—Fort Wayne, IN @ Clyde Theatre
- Nov. 21—Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation @ Intersection
- Nov. 22—Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall
- Nov. 23—Kansas City, MO @ Warehouse On Broadway
- Nov. 24—Tulsa, OK @ Vanguard
- Nov. 25—St. Louis, MO @ The Hawthorn
- Jan. 22-26—Miami, FL @ Emo’s Not Dead Cruise 2027
- Feb. 05-06—Estes Park, CO @ The Stanley Hotel
