Fit For A King are perhaps one of the most relentless forces within the modern metal core scene- unafraid to evolve while staying true to their foundations. With their 2018 record Dark Skies, the Texas five-piece struck a rare balance between brutal heaviness and heartfelt honesty which catapulted them to a new tier of success. Now, on the brink of releasing perhaps their most ambitious album yet, Lonely God, frontman Ryan Kirby reflects on the journey that’s brought them here- the lessons learned, the risks taken and how this cinematic, story-driven record represents a rebirth for the band. Out August 1st, Lonely God is a layered, cohesive work that plays like a concept album- rich with narrative, scale and purpose.
2018’s Dark Skies was a defining chapter for Fit For A King. Hailed by both fans and critics alike, it felt like a lightning-in-a-bottle moment. For Kirby, the response was almost surreal, and this newfound success marked a turning point as it allowed the band to quit their day jobs and make music their full-time careers. With the follow-up record, The Path, they leaned into a grander vision, aiming for arena-ready anthems. But bigger wasn’t necessarily better and this record was met with a lot of criticism from hopeful listeners.
This experience prompted a shift in approach for Lonely God. This time, the band slowed things down and intentionally went into the studio with no agenda. “We took three years in between records this time, instead of our normal two, because we really wanted to take our time… we had new members, like our drummer, so we took extra time because we were like, ‘we need to figure out how to like write together.’ So we wrote more than we ever have, and then went to the studio and it just went incredible.” Kirby explains.
Integral to the sound was acclaimed producer Dan Braunstein, who worked with the band for the first time on this record. Known for his cinematic production style and attention to detail, Braunstein played a key role in unifying the creative voices in the room. “He was kind of the glue guy, really,” Kirby says. “He figured out how to get everybody to work together.”
Also joining the process, albeit briefly, was Spiritbox bassist and vocalist Josh Gilbert, a longtime influence on Kirby. “Josh helped a lot on the song “Shelter“,” he shares. “The softest song on the record — everybody’s probably waiting for the most brutal song ever, and it’s actually like the most melodic. Josh is somebody whose voice is like — I grew up listening to it. I think he’s one of the best singers ever in metalcore. He was only in the studio with us for one day and we got a song out of it that all of us love, so that’s really all you can ask for for working one day with somebody.”
While Lonely God was written without any calculated agenda, the band remain attuned to their audience. “I’d be lying if I say I didn’t watch all the reactions I can watch or the comments,” Kirby admits. “But I think the difference now is I am better at accepting it — if somebody doesn’t like it, it’s fine.”
There’s a depth to Lonely God that invites more than a casual listen. It has a vivid narrative arc with each track bleeding into the next, building an immersive world of sound and story. vivid narrative arc, each track bleeds into the next, building an immersive world of sound and story. “It’s probably the most work we’ve put into building a world and having a story with the record,” Kirby says. “I know a lot of bands try to treat new records like new chapters, but like I said, it’s the first time we’ve written an album equally as a group instead of it being just one or two people, so it’s genuinely like a new chapter of how we do things in our band — and I hope people can hear that.”
And part of this new chapter will be their upcoming tour with The Plot In You, which will see them play a string of shows in Australia next January. Though an opening set, Kirby promises dans can expect to hear plenty of fresh material. “That this rate, like how well things are going, I think there will be a lot of new material.”
Lonely God feels both deeply personal and grand in scale. It’s a rare kind of record that tells a story while standing tall in each individual moment. As they prepare to bring it to fans around the world, including Australia, it’s clear that Fit For A King are buzzing right now and there’s no denying the hard work and love that’s been poured into this release.
Lonely God is out today, and Fit For A King will be hitting Aussie shores with The Plot In You in January, you can grab tickets HERE.
The Plot In You Australian Tour with Fit For A King
WEDNESDAY 21 JANUARY 2026 – METROPOLIS, FREMANTLE 18+
FRIDAY 23 JANUARY 2026 – HINDLEY ST MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE LIC AA
SATURDAY 24 JANUARY 2026 – CHELSEA HEIGHTS HOTEL, CHELSEA HEIGHTS 18+ SOLD OUT!
SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2026 – PICA, MELBOURNE 18+ VENUE UPGRADE
WEDNESDAY 28 JANUARY 2026 – ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY LIC AA
FRIDAY 30 JANUARY – FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE LIC AA SOLD OUT!
Header photo Credit: Jonathan Weiner
