Lonely God (album)

Last updated
Lonely God
Lonely God Fit For a King.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1, 2025 (2025-08-01)
RecordedLos Angeles, CA
Genre
Length40:08
Label Solid State
Producer Daniel Braunstein
Fit for a King chronology
The Hell We Create
(2022)
Lonely God
(2025)
Singles from Lonely God
  1. "Technium"
    Released: July 26, 2024 [1]
  2. "No Tomorrow"
    Released: April 25, 2025 [2]
  3. "Lonely God"
    Released: May 30, 2025 [3]
  4. "Begin the Sacrifice"
    Released: June 27, 2025 [4]
  5. "Witness the End"
    Released: July 18, 2025 [5]

Lonely God is the eighth studio album by American metalcore band Fit for a King. It was released on August 1, 2025, [6] and was produced by Daniel Braunstein (Spiritbox, Silent Planet), making it their first album since 2016's Deathgrip to not be produced by frequent collaborator Drew Fulk.

Contents

Background

On September 27, 2023, Fit for a King announced that they would be slowing down album releases, citing a focus on making "intentional albums". [7] According to vocalist Ryan Kirby, the band was worn down by the touring complications COVID-19 caused and the uncertainty of scheduling shows post-COVID. “We thought, ‘What’s the point of even trying to write? The world has so much other stuff going on, plus there is no guarantee of playing any new material, domestically or internationally.’ We felt defeated in the studio.” [8] There was also the realization that they "weren’t doing what we wanted. We were doing what other people wanted—That’s why The Hell We Create frustrated me. Not because I don’t like the songs, but because we didn’t take any real chances. With The Path , even if people didn’t like it, we tried new things. We pushed boundaries and we asked, 'What will people tolerate from us?'–we used to take risks–writing to avoid losing fans doesn’t help you grow. I like striving for bigger things – and that’s what this record became about.” [9] [10]

For the album's development, the band opted to work with Daniel Braunstein rather than their longtime producer Drew Fulk. [11] For the songwriting, they aimed for more equal collaboration amongst all five band members, giving guitarist Daniel Gailey and drummer Trey Celaya more significant contributions than they had in the past. [12] The album was recorded at Braunstein's studio in Los Angeles throughout 2024, with additional sessions during recording for better cohesion, resulting in the standalone single "Keeping Secrets" which was released in January 26 of that year. [13] "One thing we kept telling ourselves this time was: ‘Let’s give people something they can’t find anywhere else.’ On the last record, there were elements of Killswitch Engage or As I Lay Dying, and The Path had Parkway Drive vibes. That’s fine, but if people like those bands…they can just go and listen to their albums instead." [14]

The first single for the album, "Technium" was released in mid-July of 2024; [15] nine months later, on April 25th, 2025, "No Tomorrow" was unveiled. [16] On May 30th, 2025 with the title track released they announced the album and track listing; [17] two more singles, "Begin the Sacrifice" and "Witness the End", followed before the album was ultimately published. [18] [19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Wall of Sound8.5/10 [20]
Boolin Tunes7.5/10 [21]
CaliberTV9/10 [22]
Spotlight ReportStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [23]
Summa InfernoStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [24]

The album received positive reviews from critics. Wall of Sound wrote that "With Lonely God, Fit for a King invites listeners to confront their struggles head-on, offering both catharsis and hope through an album that showcases the band’s growth and uncompromising energy. This album offers the day one fans familiar styles which would never get old, while also experimenting with new dynamics, as seen in ‘Between Us’ and ‘Shelter’. The result is a record that feels both comfortingly classic and refreshingly bold, cementing Fit For a King’s place at the forefront of modern metalcore." [20] Boolin Tunes called the album an improvement over its predecessors, noting that while leaning "a bit too heavily on convention, the album nonetheless displays new strengths for the band. While themes of Armageddon and the heavily stylised production style give the album a sense of cohesion, there is definitely room for improvement in terms experimentation of structure and instrumentation. As it is, Lonely God is a glimpse into a new Fit for a King; one that could turn out to be sharper than before with subsequent releases." [21] Writing for CaliberTV, Matthew Abraham concluded: "All in all, Lonely God feels like a true return to form for Fit for a King and feels like their best record since 2018’s Dark Skies . These songs feel more fresh and provide a pretty pleasant experience across 12 tracks, and fans of the band will be very pleased with this record." [22] The Spotlight Report was also positive, noting that "Created in the context of our current, highly fractious times, Fit for a King has ignited, unleashing their eighth studio album into a world divided. Lonely God provides a poignant soundtrack to the constructs which challenge us, and is delivered in a quintessential manner: embracing strength, unity and belief in the enduring ‘Brotherhood’ of man." [23] Jorge Tapia of Summa Inferno concluded: "The general consensus is positive: it's a convincing comeback (even being called 'the best since Dark Skies'), a focused evolution without forgetting its heavier roots. While it doesn't reinvent the genre, it reinforces what it does best. Still, Lonely God proves that Fit For a King is far from running out of steam. It’s emotionally charged, technically precise, and crafted with vision. A sharp evolution without losing their core." [24]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Fit for a King and Daniel Braunstein, with additional writers noted.

Lonely God track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Begin the Sacrifice" 3:59
2."The Temple" Jonathan Gering 3:46
3."Extinction" 2:12
4."No Tomorrow" 4:12
5."Shelter" Josh Gilbert 3:26
6."Monolith" (featuring Alpha Wolf) Ryan Leitru 2:48
7."Lonely God" 3:18
8."Between Us" 3:41
9."Sentient" 3:40
10."Blue Venom" 1:53
11."Technium" (featuring The Plot in You) 3:05
12."Witness the End" (featuring Chris Motionless) 4:08
Total length:40:08

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. [25]

Fit for a King

Additional contributors

Charts

Chart performance for Lonely God
Chart (2025)Peak
position
French Rock & Metal Albums (SNEP) [26] 79

References

  1. Fit for a King Share Cinematic Music Video for New Song "Technium" – Sonic Perspectives
  2. Fit for a King Released Their Latest Single "No Tomorrow" – MetalSucks.net
  3. Fit for a King Announce New Album "Lonely God", Unleash Title Track – LoadedRadio.com
  4. Listen to Fit for a King's New Single, "Begin the Sacrifice" – Kerrang!
  5. Hear Fit for a King Team With Chris Motionless on New Song "Witness the End" – Revolver Magazine/
  6. "Fit for a King Explode with Lonely God Album Announce + Title-Track - Wall of Sound".
  7. "Fit For A King To Step Away From Traditional Album Cycle, Plan More Singles & EPs". ThePRP. September 27, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  8. "Fit for a King are ready to rule once again".
  9. "Fit for a King, 'Lonely God' | the Album Story".
  10. "No Gods, No Expectations: Fit for a King Reset with 'Lonely God'".
  11. "Ryan Kirby - Fit for a King 'Lonely Gods, Self Reflection & Accepting Constructive Criticism' - Wall of Sound".
  12. "No Gods, No Expectations: Fit for a King Reset with 'Lonely God'".
  13. "Song of the Day: Fit for a King - 'Keeping Secrets'". 26 January 2024.
  14. "No Gods, No Expectations: Fit for a King Reset with 'Lonely God'".
  15. "Fit for a King Release New Song and Music Video for "TECHNIUM"". 26 July 2024.
  16. "Fit for a King Return with Explosive Single 'No Tomorrow'". 25 April 2025.
  17. https://www.melodicmag.com/news/fit-for-a-king-unveil-eighth-studio-album-lonely-god-and-release-title-track/
  18. "Fit for a King Drops 'Begin the Sacrifice' Video". 27 June 2025.
  19. "FIT FOR a KING release new single, 'Witness the End', featuring Chris Motionless". 18 July 2025.
  20. 1 2 Rice, Adam (July 25, 2025). "Fit for a King - Lonely God (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  21. 1 2 Tan, Jonathan (July 30, 2025). "Album review: Fit For A King – Lonely God". Boolin Tunes. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Abraham, Matthew (July 31, 2025). "Fit for a King Return with Impressive Consistency with "Lonely God"". CaliberTV. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  23. 1 2 Quick, Belinda (July 29, 2025). "Album Review – Lonely God – Fit for a King". Spotlight Report. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  24. 1 2 Tapia, Jorge (August 1, 2025). "Fit for a King: Lonely God". Summa Inferno. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  25. Lonely God (Media notes). Fit for a King. Solid State Records. August 1, 2025.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. "Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums de la semaine 32, 2025" [Top 100 Rock & Metal Albums of Week 32, 2025] (in French). Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique . Retrieved August 11, 2025.