Fit For A King with Acres, Ten56 and Invent Animate
Manchester Music Hall
Lexington, Kentucky
May 31, 2026
Show review by James Stamper
It’s a Sunday evening in the commonwealth of Kentucky. It’s peaceful, everyone is enjoying the lukewarm spring evening. But what was about to happen, no one was ready for! The masterminds that are, Fit For A King, brought Invent Animate, Ten56 and Acres to Manchester Music Hall to show Lexington, KY what metalcore is all about! Let’s dive in and show exactly the destruction these 4 tremendous metal bands brought!
First, on this incredible bill, were Acres, hailing from Portsmouth, United Kingdom. From the moment they took the stage, Lexington knew they were in for something special! This British Post Hardcore band started the night with a powerful set of atmosphere, emotion and soaring melodies! Performing tracks, such as “Not So Different”, “Built To Bleed” and “Bloodlust”, the crowd was not standing still! The energy these guys unleashed at Manchester Music Hall was intoxicating! Their ability to blend haunting clean vocals with crushing breakdowns that hit so hard, you think a freight train hit you, was the perfect way to start the evening! If Acres is not on your playlist, fix that now! You will not be disappointed!
Following Acres were French Heavyweights Ten56. Hailing from Paris, France, Ten56 took the energy left from Acres and shifted into overdrive! They were relentless with their set, featuring tracks such as “Snapped Neck”, ‘Diazepam”, and “Earwig”. Ten56 were full of thick, punishing riffs and explosive vocals that caused Manchester to start an uproar! These guys are no joke, and they proved to Lexington, KY why they’re becoming one of the most talked about metal bands in all of modern metal! If you’re a fan of heaviness, these guys are for you! Do your ears a favor and bless them with Ten56!
Next on the lineup, was Invent Animate. Invent Animate hails from Port Neches, Texas! These guys brought a more technical and emotional side to the evening. Their overall performance was top notch, showcasing intricate guitar work, massive soundscapes and heartfelt vocals! The melodies that came out of Invent Animate were superb! Their songs flowed effortlessly between crushing heaviness and soulful moments that captivated Manchester Music Hall. Some of the amazing tracks performed last night were “Sleepless Deathbed”, “Heavener” and their latest released single “Fall Like Rain”. The musicianship of this band was nothing short of incredible! As I always say, if these guys are not on your playlist, fix that quick!
Last but not least, closing out the show was none other than Tyler, Texas’s own, “Fit For A King”! Fit For A King demonstrated last night exactly why they’ve become one of metalcore’s premier acts! This show last night was their last stop on the “Lonely God” tour, I was ecstatic that they chose Lexington to close it out! The setlist was insane, having tracks such as “The Price Of Agony,” “Begin The Sacrifice” and one of my personal favorites “God Of Fire”. Fit For A King brought thunderous breakdowns, mixed with an energy that was blended from the other 3 bands, and never let up for one second! Their stage presence was commanding, with nonstop movement from the start of the set to the finish! Powerful vocals, tight musicianship, with incredible production, proved exactly why Fit For A King makes any stage their own! I will also mention that last night someone had a kid, couldn’t have been no more than 5-6 years old, with him as he crowd surfed. I thought that was amazing. Manchester erupted when this happened and even Ryan Kirby, vocalist, noticed and quoted “That’s what I’m talking about”. This shows that music is for everyone, no matter what age!
In conclusion, this tour showcased four incredible metalcore bands operating at an incredibly high level! This is a show that left it’s mark on Manchester Music Hall and will not be forgotten any time soon! Support live music and support these artists!
All photos by Tom Biggs at TRB Photography LLC
©2026. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
Acres:
Ten56:
Invent Animate:
Fit For A King:
