Fit for a King / Rock City / Nottingham

Mar 24

Mar 24 Fit for a King / Rock City / Nottingham

Another trip into Nottingham and to Rock City, to catch Fit for a King on their 2026 ‘Lonely God’ tour, and a metalcore bill that is stacked from start to finish.

First up on stage are American metalcore band 156/Silence from Pittsburgh, who were founded in 2015. The band’s line up currently consists of Jimmy Howell (guitar), Mike Ernst (vocals), Jack Murray (vocals), Ryan Wilkinson (guitar) and Kyle O'Connell (drums).

They released their debut album “And Everything Was Beautiful” in 2016, followed by “Undercover Scumbag” in 2018, “Irrational Pull” in 2020, “Narrative” in 2022 and their most recent album “People Watching” in 2024.

It was great to see Rock City pretty full for the first support band again, which I think goes to show the popularity of metalcore right now. Jack’s vocals were incredible and the set was a nice mix of tracks from their album back catalogue. The heavy metalcore sound was complimented by equally dark and brooding lighting which added to the atmosphere and feel of the set. The Rock City crowd that came early certainly enjoyed a great set, and I think they made a few new fans here tonight.

Setlist

Target Acquired

Product Placement

Our Parting Ways

High Dive in a Low Well

Wants I Need

Better Written Villain

Character Development (Cold Start)

Next up were home grown metalcore band Acres, who hit the scene in 2019 with their stunning debut release “Lonely World” which hit a sweet spot balance between stunning melodies and . sombre melancholy. Acres are Ben Lumber (vocals), Alex Freeman (guitar), Jack Rogers (bass) and Konnor Bracher-Walsh (drums). Following the success of “Lonely World” they went on to release “Burning Throne” in 2023 and their most recent album “The Host” in 2025.

A band I feel flies under the radar a bit, which is a real shame as they bring some incredible music to the table. And tonight was a great example, with fast powerful layered riffs and pounding drums driving the songs along behind some intense, and raw power vocals from Ben. The crowd responded and we saw our first surfers over.

Their music is packed with big singalong moments, which clearly goes down well with the Nottingham crowd. For anyone else that didn’t know their work, they were headbanding along enjoying the vibe. As always from Acres, they delivered a strong set and energetic performance.

Setlist

Not So Different

Built to Bleed

Take My Last Breath

Play Video

Nothing

My Everything

Bloodlust

Lost

After a short change over it’s time for Memphis May Fire. An American metalcore band formed in Denton, Texas, and currently signed to Rise Records. They are Kellen McGregor (guitar), Matty Mullins (vocals), Cory Elder (bass) and Jake Garland (drums). They released their debut album “Sleepwalking” in 2009, and have released eight so far, the most recent being 2025’s “Shapeshifter”.

Listed as special guests, it almost feels like a co-headline show, as there were a considerable consignment of Memphis May Fire fans in tonight as well. And boy, were they in for a treat ! The heart of the set tonight was wrapped about tracks form their latest album “Shapeshifter” but there was a nice selection of cuts from their back catalogue to keep the faithful happy as well such as set opener The Sinner taken from 2011’s “The Hollow” and Vices from 2012’s “Challenger”.

Matty Mullins owns the stage and moves freely interacting with the crowd who respiond in kind, a circle pit forming and horns raised as heads bang along the barrier on the front row. The atmosphere is electric and it truly does feel like a headline set. Memphis May Fire are stunning…. But there’s still more to come !

Setlist

The Sinner

Vices

Paralyzed

Misery

Shapeshifter

Bleed Me Dry

Somebody

Overdose

Chaotic

Make Believe

Blood & Water

A longer turnaround, to get the main stageset in place and ready for tonights eagerly anticipated headliners – Fit for a King. Rock City is packed now…. And buzzing ! Fit for a King, (also known by the abbreviation FFAK) is an American Christian metalcore band from Tyler, Texas, formed in 2007. The band line up currently consists of Ryan Kirby (vocals), Bobby Lynge (guitar), Ryan "Tuck" O'Leary (bass), Daniel Gailey (guitar) and Trey Celaya (drums).

They first made headlines with their debut release “Descendants” in 2011, and have released eight albums, most recently 2025’s “Lonely God”, the main feature of this tour.

If you’ve seen FFAK before, you know well what to expect – high energy and raw power, right from the off. Along with new material from “Lonely God” the set includes a number of fan favourites such as from 2018’s “Dark Skies” and Breaking The Mirror and The Path from 2020’s “The Path”. However, fans of their early material may be disappointed that there’s nothing in the set from their early albums “Descendents” (2011) or “Creation/Destruction” (2013). For me though, I like that sometimes, music is constantly evolving and developing and although classic tracks are always favourites, I do like to hear more of the more recent material given a good live ‘airing’.

FFAK have an incredible live persona, and not just frontman Ryan Kirby who darts around the stage constantly, posing on the monitors as he belts out some stunning deep growls and screams. Ryan ‘Tuck’ O’Leary, on bass is a sight to behold ! Never still for a moment, he spins his bass round him and delivers a series of high spinning leg kicks to cheers from the crowd.

The energy soon spills over into the crowd, with a circle pit constantly flowing, and a string of surfers meandering over towards the stage. FFAK take a moment to appaulled the pit crew, for keeping the fans safe.

What I love about FFAK is that there is a mix and balance to their sound, with slower more mellow tracks, and then periods of absolutely insanity and brutal riffs. You don’t get this from many metalcore bands, and I love it. As the set wraps up, we end on the fittingly entitled Witness the End from the new album “Lonely God”, which on the album features Chris Motionless, from Motionless in White. It’s the perfect set closer, with heavy sing along melody sections, and crushing drum beats and powerful riffs, which forms the perfect backdrop to the final wave of surfers.

Wow – what a night ! With 156/Silence, Acres, Memphis May Fire and Fit for a King, I’m not sure I’ve seen a better set on bands together on one bill. Each played their part perfectly, and the Nottingham Rock City crowd dispersed into the cool night air, exhausted and hyped up, like a night on triple espressos !

I’m already looking forward to their return to these shores….

Setlist

Begin the Sacrifice

The Temple

Extinction

No Tomorrow

Shelter

Monolith

Blue Venom

Backbreaker

Between Us

Keeping Secrets