Joy is perhaps best known for his role in Moss Icon, a band that played a significant part in the development of the post-hardcore and emo scenes with their complex song structures and introspective lyrics.

Moss Icon's music, especially their album Lyburnum Wits End Liberation Fly, has been highly influential in shaping the sound of later emo and post-hardcore bands.

Each of these projects has contributed uniquely to various sub-genres of punk and hardcore, with UOA being notable for their intense, chaotic sound and The Convocation Of... blending post-rock and experimental elements.

Having been inspired by his father Bill's early '70s acid rock band Grok and previous group The Verdicts, Joy began playing music as a teenager.

He was drawn to the loud, distorted sounds of 1970s hard rock and metal bands that his parents and older cousin, who loaned him records by Joy Division and Throbbing Gristle.

Throughout his teenage years, Joy remained open-minded with his tastes, enjoying a variety of styles including psychedelic rock, metal, and any "weird" or unique music.

These diverse influences from his early life helped inform the unconventional sound that Joy and Moss Icon would go on to create in the 1980s DC underground scene.

Shortly thereafter, following a brief period playing guitar in and contributing artwork to Lava, Joy co-founded Universal Order of Armageddon, another influential post-hardcore group.

When asked why he preferred Fenders and single coils over Gibsons and humbuckers, Joy explained that Strats felt more comfortable and he appreciated working within their limitations.

Overall, Tonie Joy’s guitar style is a blend of aggressive punk energy, experimental creativity, and complex rhythms, all delivered with a raw and authentic DIY spirit.

This experimentation adds an atmospheric and sometimes chaotic feel to the music, setting it apart from more traditional punk and hardcore styles[15] He frequently employs various effects pedals to create a wide range of sounds, from reverb and delay to more flanger and phaser.

This complexity is a hallmark of his work with bands like Universal Order of Armageddon and The Convocation[17] Influenced by the DIY ethic of the hardcore punk scene, Joy’s style also reflects a hands-on, unpolished approach that emphasizes authenticity and emotional expression over technical perfection[16] His playing is deeply emotive, often conveying a sense of urgency and passion that resonates with listeners.