Music has a funny way of catching you off guard. Sometimes you’re just looking for something to get you through a workout, and then a song like Speak About Destruction by Fit For A King comes along and basically kicks the door down. It isn't just loud. It’s heavy in a way that feels like it’s actually carrying the weight of the world on its shoulders.
Heavy music often gets a bad rap for being "angry" for the sake of being angry. People who don't listen to metalcore usually just hear the screaming and the double-bass drumming and assume it’s all noise. But if you actually sit down and listen to what Ryan Kirby is yelling about, you realize it's a plea. It's a mirror.
The Raw Reality of Speak About Destruction
When the band dropped The Hell We Create in 2022, "Speak About Destruction" stood out immediately. It wasn’t just a lead single; it was a mission statement. The song tackles something most people are terrified to talk about: the cycle of self-sabotage and the way we tear ourselves apart from the inside out.
Mental health isn't a "soft" topic in this context. It's a war zone.
Kirby has been pretty open about the inspiration behind this record. The band went through a lot. Real-life trauma. Health scares involving his wife. When your life feels like it's burning down, you don't write a pop song. You write something that sounds like the fire.
The lyrics in Speak About Destruction hit on that specific feeling of watching someone you love—or maybe yourself—descend into a dark place. It’s that helpless sensation where you’re watching the walls crumble and you don't know if you should grab a bucket of water or just let the whole thing go up in flames. Honestly, that’s why it resonates. It’s honest.
Why the Breakdown Matters
In metalcore, the "breakdown" is the climax. It’s the part where the rhythm shifts, the tempo often drops, and the sheer sonic pressure increases. In this specific song, the breakdown feels like a physical manifestation of the lyrics.
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Most bands just throw a breakdown in because it’s what the fans want. Fit For A King does it differently. They use it to emphasize the "destruction" they're singing about. When the guitars chug and the vocals hit those lower registers, it feels like the weight of depression or anxiety actually landing on your chest. It’s catharsis.
I’ve talked to plenty of fans who say this song is their "emergency" track. You know the one. The song you put on when you feel like you’re losing control because hearing someone else scream about the chaos makes you feel a little less alone in it.
The Production Behind the Chaos
Let’s talk about the sound for a second. Drew Fulk (WZRD BLD) produced this, and you can tell. The guy has worked with everyone from Motionless In White to Disturbed. He knows how to make a song sound massive without losing the grit.
The guitars on Speak About Destruction are tuned low—real low. But they aren't muddy. There is a crispness to the distortion that lets the melody breathe, which is a tricky balance to strike. If it’s too clean, it loses the "destruction" vibe. If it’s too dirty, it’s just a wall of static.
The drumming from Trey Celaya is another standout. He’s not just keeping time; he’s punctuating the emotional shifts. The way the double kick mirrors the heartbeat during the more frantic sections is a subtle touch that most casual listeners might miss, but it’s what makes the song feel so urgent.
The Lyricism of Despair
"You speak about destruction / Like it's the only way out."
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That line right there? That’s the core of the song. It challenges the listener. It’s a confrontation. It’s asking: Why are we so obsessed with our own downfall?
Fit For A King has always walked a fine line with their messaging. They’ve got roots in the Christian metal scene, but they aren't preachy. They’re human. They talk about doubt. They talk about failure. This song is the peak of that transparency. It acknowledges that sometimes, the "destruction" feels inevitable, even when we're the ones holding the match.
Cultural Impact in the Modern Metal Scene
The metalcore scene in the mid-2020s has shifted. We've moved away from the "neon" era of the 2010s where everything was overly polished and synthy. Now, there’s a return to this raw, visceral sound that Fit For A King helps lead.
Speak About Destruction became a staple of their live set for a reason. When that opening riff starts, the energy in the room changes. It’s not just a mosh pit; it’s a collective release. You’ve got a thousand people all yelling the same words about their own internal struggles. It’s powerful stuff.
People often overlook the "hope" in heavy music. They see the album art—which, for The Hell We Create, is pretty haunting—and they assume it’s all doom and gloom. But you don't speak about destruction unless you’re looking for a way to build something back up. That’s the nuance people miss.
Common Misconceptions About the Song
A lot of people think this song is about literal physical violence or global collapse. It’s not. Or at least, that’s a very surface-level take.
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- It’s not an "angry" song: It’s an empathetic song. It’s written from the perspective of someone watching a friend or partner self-destruct. That’s a very different emotion than just being mad at the world.
- It’s not just "more of the same": Some critics say Fit For A King has a "formula." Maybe. But this song breaks that formula by stripping away some of the more melodic "radio" tropes they’ve used in the past and leaning into the atmosphere.
- The "Destruction" isn't the end: In the context of the whole album, this song serves as a low point that makes the eventual resolution feel earned.
Why You Should Care if You Aren't a Metalhead
If you usually listen to folk or pop, "Speak About Destruction" is going to be a shock to the system. But the theme is universal. Everyone knows what it’s like to feel like they’re their own worst enemy.
Music is a tool for processing things we can’t put into regular conversation. Sometimes a polite chat over coffee doesn't cut it. Sometimes you need a 3-minute-and-change assault on the senses to remind you that you’re still alive.
The band’s ability to weave technical proficiency with genuine, heart-on-sleeve vulnerability is why they’re still at the top of the genre. They aren't trying to be cool. They’re trying to be real.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Next Listen
To really get the most out of Speak About Destruction, don't just play it through your phone speakers. You’ll miss 60% of what’s happening.
- Use decent headphones: You need to hear the sub-bass and the way the guitars are panned. The "space" in the track is intentional.
- Read the lyrics while you listen: Follow the narrative. Notice the shift from the first verse to the final chorus. It’s a descent.
- Listen to the full album: Don't just cherry-pick the singles. This song carries way more weight when you hear what comes before and after it on The Hell We Create.
- Watch the music video: The visual storytelling adds another layer to the "destruction" theme, showing the cyclical nature of trauma and how it passes from person to person.
Understanding the context of a song like this changes it from "noise" to "narrative." Fit For A King isn't just making music for the sake of selling records; they're documenting the struggle of being human in a world that feels like it’s constantly falling apart. If you’ve ever felt like the walls were closing in, this is your anthem. Stop avoiding the heavy stuff. Sometimes, you have to speak about the destruction before you can start the reconstruction.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Connection to the Music:
- Explore the "The Hell We Create" Documentary: The band released behind-the-scenes footage discussing the specific family traumas that birthed this song. Watching it provides a staggering amount of context for the lyrics.
- Compare Live vs. Studio Versions: Search for high-quality live footage from their 2024 or 2025 tours. The vocal delivery on the "Destruction" lines is often much more raw in a live setting, offering a different emotional experience.
- Analyze the Song Structure: If you’re a musician, look at the tab for this track. The use of syncopation in the verses is a masterclass in creating tension without needing high-speed tempos.
By engaging with the music on a technical and emotional level, you move past being a passive listener and start to understand why tracks like these become pillars of the heavy music community.