Metal is a genre that has an insane amount of subgenres, and many metalheads will find their preferred subgenre and stick with it. Some bands can break through the genre mold, and Fit for a King is one of those bands. They have a perfect mix of harsh vocals mixed with melodic singing and aggressive riffs that work so beautifully. Not only are they brilliant musically, but their live show is one of the best I have seen. They are releasing their eighth album on August 1st, 2025, titled Lonely God through Solid State Records, and it is an incredible album full of important topics and happens to be their first lore-type album.
Fit for a King began in 2007 out of Tyler, Texas, and includes members: Ryan Kirby (vocals), Bobby Lynge (guitar, backing vocals), Ryan O’ Leary (bass, backing vocals), Daniel Gailey (guitars, backing vocals), Trey Celaya (drums). They have made some crazy progress in the scene and continue to plow through some of the seasoned bands and come out on top. Lonely God is a very inspirational album full of extraordinary musicianship and compositions. I have listened to it an insane number of times and will continue to, as it for sure will be on my top albums list of 2025 at the end of the year. It begins lighter with “Begin the Sacrifice” and sets the mood for the beginning of the “story”. When “Extinction” hits, it changes dramatically to a much heavier sound and feeling. “No Tomorrow” tells a heartbreaking story, add in the music video, and I doubt you can get through it without a heavy, sorrowful emotion. “Between Us” shocked me since it is a slower and more melodic song, not usually what ends up being a favorite on an album, but I have found some intense feelings with that track. My favorite has been consistent, though, “Blue Venom”, a really short but, according to Kirby, “knuckle-dragging” song. It is so heavy and I could listen to it a million times over and over. “Monolith” is another favorite, also heavy, with some breathing here and there of synths and a catchy chorus.
Ryan was kind enough to sit down with Metal Nation and discuss this release, as well as other important topics. (If you are viewing from your phone, please scroll to the bottom and click, “View Desktop Version” to gain interview and video access).