Fit For A King brought their The Lonely God Tour to the O2 Ritz. 156/Silence, Acres, and Memphis May Fire all brought different variations of metalcore to the night.
One band that has finally made its way to the UK was the Pittsburgh band 156/Silence (which can either be pronounced ‘One-Five-Six’ or ‘One Fifty-Six’). With only about a 35 set to impress, the band brought instant power. The stage was bathed in a dominating red light and their creepy album artwork cover as a backdrop, which the band claim was inspired by Aphex Twin. They wanted to depict an uncanny valley feeling of psychological discomfort and bring connection between art and the human psyche.
Before playing the song Product Placement, vocalist Jack Murray wanted the Manchester audience to show them what they were made of. As the track showcases a dominating guitar intro, the instrumentals go on to feel industrial and abrasive. This controlled chaos also delves into a mechanical and suffocating energy, swinging between spoken-word tension and panicked shouting from Murray.
Our Parting Ways depicts a song in the setlist that leans into a more emotional direction. It still has that underlying sense of heaviness, although it is paired with this tone of vulnerability. The instruments in this case feel more spacious, which allows for the soundscape to go between harsh and moments of softness, allowing for the fundamental themes of grief and loss to make more of an impact for the audience. It gives it this honest and raw feeling, especially for those who can relate to this notion of grief and experiencing the physical absence of losing someone close to themselves.
Better Written Villain is one of their most known songs that both the band and audience love, since it leads with a sound that is sharp and with intention. It balances guitar riffs that are punchy and direct, and in a live performance, Murray’s vocals are precise and have a biting visceral edge.
The last track on the setlist, Character Development, brings forth this dynamic sound, making it a perfect song to end on. It plays on this contrast of being restrained and explosive, having this progression of soundscapes that feels narrative-driven and self-aware. The band consistently crafts a unique sound that blends the unusual with an eerie atmosphere and it’s executed perfectly.
Next up was Acres, who were the only UK-based band on the lineup, and showcased a set that blended insurgent melodies, soundscapes, and intense grooves. Not So Different was the song that kicked off the set, which is from the band’s newer material on the album The Host. It depicts a modern metalcore tone, with low-tuned and rhythmic guitar riffs.
Before the song Nothing, vocalist Ben Lumber wanted the audience to get off their feet and jump along. Nothing brought a more moody atmosphere to the performance, showcasing a melancholic tone that blends clean vocals with aggressive screams from Lumber.
Bloodlust makes for a more experimental and electronic-infused sound for Acres, expanding and pushing beyond the band’s usual musical territory. The song starts with a distorted tone that then explodes into a more aggressive soundscape. It depicts different layers of instrumentals from the sounds of EDM-style ambience to djent, punchy and chugging guitar riffs. A highlight of the band’s set was drummer Parker Adsit, who never wavered from performing with technicality and precision, adding a driving force that elevated the entire set.
Lost was the track to close off their performance. It makes for a balanced variety of heaviness with melody. Out of all the songs that they performed in this set, Lost sonically played on the more emotional and resonant side, leaving their set with a reflective tone for the audience.
Following suit was Memphis May Fire from Denton, Texas. Their performance was both filled with energy and fierceness. The band’s setlist had a mix of newer material and nostalgic favourites. Starting off with an older one, The Sinner, it depicts an urgent and gritty tone, leaning into an unfiltered sound of fast riffs and frustration.
Paralyzed showcased their newer direction, with vocalist Matty Mullins’ vocals shifting from harsh screams to emotional and soaring vocals. Especially with the anthemic chorus, the track depicted controlled and catchy hooks. As the performance went on, the love that the audience had for them was undeniable.
During the performance, Mullins made the poignant statement of talking about learning and growing from pain and the idea that it won’t last forever. Overdose is a track that contains this bouncy, electronic atmospheric sound, combining fast and intense instrumentals with this pop-like chorus. It felt like it was delving into the modern metalcore trope.
Blood & Water was the song to end their performance, throwing it back into their heavier sound, but with an emotional undertone and pairing it with punchy breakdowns. You could tell that the fans connected with the band as they played their set. Don’t get me wrong—the band had moments where I even joined in with the head banging, and from a live perspective, they sounded fine. But overall, they weren’t to my taste.
Then it was time for the Texan headliners, Fit For A King. Their set was mostly songs from their Lonely God album, kicking the performance off with Begin The Sacrifice. It became a song that perfectly captured the night’s atmosphere, which was a blend of anguish and despair. It also showcased a texture of different soundscapes, from electronic synths to djent-inspired sounds, that were paired with vocalist Ryan Kirby’s haunting yet visceral vocals, giving the audience a sense of emotional release.
Extinction made for a cathartic track that had a menacing and prowling feel to it. It made for one of the night’s heavier songs, with crushing guitar riffs that could be felt through the venue. It provided a perfect opportunity for the crowd to amplify this energy towards moshing.
Before the song Monolith, which continued this intensity, the band demanded that the crowd open the pit as wide as they could, to which the crowd obliged. It’s hard to resist this sentiment, especially after hearing the whiplash riffs that followed.
Keeping Secrets captured the feeling of being an emotional song for the performance, as it contained melodic hooks, which were paired with clean vocals from Kirby. But, underneath this anthemic sound, it still had heavy instrumentation. Technium brings instant heaviness with its intense and synthetic sound. It also carried a mechanical sense of being industrial, mixed with a dystopian atmosphere.
The night concluded with Witness The End, a song inspired by the show Midnight Mass, particularly its exploration of good versus evil. The overall tone of the track depicted a darker sense, with a religious soundscape underpinning the song. It also contained a drilling guitar solo that was paired with a guttural scream from Kirby. This sense of anguish, a constant undercurrent to their performance, is further amplified. Thus, it left the audience with a lingering sense of catharsis from this deathcore song.
Words by Zena Morris
Photos by Will Robinson (Instagram)
