Fit for a King

Fit for a King (FFAK), the Tyler, Texas metalcore quintet, exploded onto the scene in 2007. Initially featuring Jared Easterling, Aaron Decur, Justin Juno, Jared McFerron, Alex Danforth, and Jed McNeill, the band honed their ferocious sound through relentless local and regional gigs, culminating in the release of two self-released EPs. A pivotal moment arrived in 2009 when the band committed to full-time touring, leading to the departure of McNeill and McFerron to focus on their studies. The lineup solidified further in 2010 with the addition of vocalist Ryan Kirby (formerly of Fort Worth's Bodies Awake), replacing Mason Wilson, who himself had previously filled the vocalist role after Danforth's exit. This lineup – Kirby on vocals, Bobby Lynge and Daniel Gailey on guitars, Ryan "Tuck" O'Leary on bass, and Trey Celaya on drums – would go on to define the band's sound. Their independent era yielded the 2008 Fit for a King EP, the 2009 Awaken the Vesper EP, and the 2011 full-length Descendants. This independent foundation propelled them to a major label deal with Solid State Records, launching their next phase of explosive growth. Following the signing, they released a redux of their debut album and subsequently six critically acclaimed studio albums: Creation/Destruction (2013), Slave to Nothing (2014), Deathgrip (2016), Dark Skies (2018), The Path (2020), and The Hell We Create (2022). Fit for a King’s journey showcases a band that not only persevered through lineup changes but also evolved their sound, cementing their place as a major force in modern metalcore.