Slave to Nothing is the third studio album by American metalcore band Fit for a King. It was released on October 14, 2014, through Solid State Records and was produced by Will Putney.[1][2]

Slave to Nothing
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 14, 2014 (2014-10-14)
Recorded2014
StudioThe Machine Shop, Belleville, New Jersey, U.S.[1]
GenreMetalcore
Length39:41
LabelSolid State
ProducerWill Putney
Fit for a King chronology
Creation/Destruction
(2013)
Slave to Nothing
(2014)
Deathgrip
(2016)
Singles from Slave to Nothing
  1. "A Greater Sense of Self"
    Released: August 27, 2014
  2. "Young & Undeserving"
    Released: September 24, 2014
  3. "Slave to Nothing"
    Released: October 9, 2014

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
ChristCore8.3/10[3]
Indie Vision Music     [4]
Jesus Freak Hideout     [5]
     [6]
Louder Sound     [7]

Awarding the album four and a half stars from Jesus Freak Hideout, Scott Fryberger states, "Slave to Nothing is the result of Fit For A King's hard work and dedication to their craft, and it's one of the best hardcore albums to have been released in an otherwise seemingly lackluster year for Christian hardcore."[5] Dylan Minson, rating the album four stars at Jesus Freak Hideout, writes, "This album employs quite a bit of chugging, which tends to get old on this record, but doesn't entirely detract from the quality."[6] Giving the album four stars for Indie Vision Music, Brody Barbour describes, "The band has continued to mature and push the envelope on their sound rather than sit idle and rake in some quick cash."[4] Anthony Ibarra, indicating in an 8.3 out of ten review by ChristCore, says, "Fit For a King continues to reinvent themselves and the boundaries of their genre."[3] Louder Sound gave the album a slightly negative review and stated: "Sophomore release Slave to Nothing is, on the surface, no different to the latest from scene heavyweights Upon a Burning Body, but it lacks their knack for a hook. Instead they fade further into the ether as the album rolls on. This isn't to say it's a poor record; the percussive assault on the title track is admirable and the clean vocals throughout are a cut above the majority of their peers, but that's where the uniqueness ends. There are nods towards more experimental territory – and it does sound like they've thrown the kitchen sink emporium around the studio – but the missing cohesion leaves the record floundering and struggling to grab you."[7]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Fit for a King[1]

No.TitleLength
1."Kill the Pain"3:20
2."Young & Undeserving"3:53
3."Slave to Nothing" (featuring Mattie Montgomery of For Today)3:56
4."Break Away"3:40
5."Hooked"3:12
6."Selfish Eyes"3:42
7."A Greater Sense of Self"4:01
8."Forever Unbroken"3:14
9."Impostor"3:03
10."Cleanse My Soul"3:25
11."The Final Thoughts of a Dying Man"4:10
Total length:39:41[1]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from AllMusic.[1]

Fit for a King

  • Ryan Kirby – lead vocals
  • Bobby Lynge – guitars, backing vocals
  • Ryan "Tuck" O'Leary – bass, clean vocals
  • Jared Easterling – drums

Additional musicians

Additional personnel

  • Will Putney – production, engineering, mixing, mastering
  • Brandon Ebel – executive production
  • Randy Laboeuf and Tom Smith – engineering
  • Adam Skatula – A&R
  • Sol Amstutz – illustrations
  • Matt Naylor – design, layout

Charts

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Chart (2014) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[8] 49
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[9] 3
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[10] 3
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[11] 8
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[12] 11

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Fit for a King Slave to Nothing". AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "Fit for a King's Ryan Kirby Talks 'Slave to Nothing' Album, Fall Tour + More". Loudwire. October 31, 2014. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Ibarra, Anthony. "Slave to Nothing". Christ Core. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Barbour, Brody (24 October 2014). "Review : Fit for a King – Slave to Nothing". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Fryberger, Scott. "Fit for a King, "Slave to Nothing" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Minson, Dylan. "Fit for a King, "Slave to Nothing" Review – Second Staff Opinion". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Morton, Luke (November 11, 2014). "Fit For A King: Slave To Nothing". Louder Sound. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "Fit for a King Album & Song Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  9. ^ "Fit for a King Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Christian Albums. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  10. ^ "Fit for a King Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  11. ^ "Fit for a King Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Independent Albums. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  12. ^ "Fit for a King Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Top Rock Albums. Retrieved June 15, 2015.