He has also contributed to albums by artists such as Zaum, Green Jellö, Pigface, Skinny Puppy, Adrian Belew, Carole King, Collide, Meat Puppets, Lusk, and the Melvins.

As Carey progressed through high school and later college at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, he began expanding his studies in percussion with theory into the principles of geometry, science, and metaphysics as well as delving into the occult.

He would later find his way to Tool after coming to know singer Maynard James Keenan and guitarist Adam Jones and practicing with them in place of drummers the two had requested but had never shown up.

[13] Carey's drumming influences include Neil Peart, Billy Cobham, Buddy Rich, Bill Bruford, Lenny White, Stewart Copeland, Tony Williams, John Bonham, Barriemore Barlow and Tim Alexander.

Paiste and Jeff Ocheltree (noted drumtech for Billy Cobham, John Bonham, Lenny White, etc) teamed up in the late 90s to develop an entire drumset made out of recycled cymbals.

Shortly after the completion of the Monad set, it was announced that a snare drum replica called "7empest" (after Tool's grammy award winning song) would be made available as part of a limited collection of 33 individual pieces.

[21][22] Carey's popularity among drummers and non-drummers alike stems from the diversity of his sound and dynamics through his years of learning jazz music, his technical ability, frequent use of odd time signatures, polyrhythms, and polymeters.

In search of new techniques, Carey has studied tabla with Aloke Dutta, who can be heard playing on the live version of the song "Pushit" (from Salival).