Concert review: Fit for a King w/ Make Them Suffer, Spite, & 156/Silence | 11.12.25, The Pageant (with photo gallery)

Photo of Fit for a King’s Ryan Kirby by Katie Pinkston

There’s something special about walking into The Pageant on a crisp November night. There’s a mix of anticipation and beer in the air. As I was weaving my way through the crowd to get to the barricade, I saw a tall guy in a monkey onesie wandering about and I knew it was going to be a rowdy night.

Fit for a King (FFAK) brought their Lonely God Tour to St. Louis, backed by a stacked lineup: Make Them Suffer, Spite, and 156/Silence. FFAK is an American metalcore band from Texas and while they were formed almost two decades ago, their sound is still fresh. When it comes to FFAK, I think they offer something for everyone. Maybe not your mom, but then again, I don’t know your mom…

I love photographing shows like this. I love the music, the lights, and the energy both from the band and from the fans. Nights like these make me happy I have a camera in hand, because they sometimes end up being one big blur. The Pageant was packed and everyone was ready for the show to start. From the moment the lights dimmed, it was clear this night was going to be crazy.

The night kicked off with Pittsburgh’s 156/Silence, who wasted no time getting the crowd wound up. Their set was the perfect warmup for what was to come.

Spite then took the stage and immediately cranked the energy up to eleven. I love the intensity Spite has with their music and their performance. Their sound could be best described as vicious. You can tell that these guys really believe in the music they’ve created. You would have thought they were the headliner for this tour based on how wild the crowd was. Everyone was drenched in sweat. Maybe blood. I don’t really know this point.

Australia’s Make Them Suffer are true professionals and they hit the stage after Spite. They brought plenty of emotion into the mix without losing any of the night’s intensity. Alex Reade plays the keyboard and keytar. I’m a sucker for a keytar. Make Them Suffer really did make us suffer but in a good way of course!

When the lights dropped and Fit for a King finally hit the stage, The Pageant exploded. They were perfectly warmed up from the other three bands and people were ready. You can feel how much these guys pour their lives into their music. Every scream, every riff, every drum hit, all carries weight.

The Pageant’s floor had to be just covered, in blood, sweat and tears from this entire night. Every band gave everything they had, and the fans matched the energy right back. All four bands showed and really gave St. Louis a performance to remember.

This tour is truly a gift for all metalcore fans and maybe your mom. | Katie Pinkston