Canada’s IRON KINGDOM Announces 6th Studio Album “Shadows and Dust”

Canada’s IRON KINGDOM Announces 6th Studio Album “Shadows and Dust”
Reveal Album Artwork and Teaser + Headline Hometown Show in Vancouver!

Canadian traditional heavy metal torchbearers Iron Kingdom will release their sixth studio album, “Shadows and Dust,” on June 6, 2026, marking a powerful milestone in the band’s history. The date aligns with the group’s 15th anniversary when they formed in June 2011, and the 82nd anniversary of D‑Day, a coincidence the band describes as “the planets aligned… but we will let the music speak for itself.”

Alongside the announcement, Iron Kingdom has revealed the album’s striking cover artwork by Alan Lathwell and a first-look teaser, offering fans a glimpse into their darkest and most ambitious record yet.

Album Teaser

Recorded entirely in the band’s newly completed home studio, another first in their career, “Shadows and Dust” explores themes of death, hardship, impermanence, and resilience, wrapped in the band’s signature blend of classic heavy metal, power metal, and NWOBHM influences.

“A fantastic collection of songs that will really open up our live sets… it comes from a little bit more of a rock n’ roll edge overall, but there are so many elements hidden within, and I think it will be a real journey to experience it front to back. Lyrically, the album plays in quite a dark realm of topics… but I also think that’s exactly what will make this album accessible to people going through tougher times, and hopefully a place of hope, and to help them see that they are not alone,” adds frontman Chris Osterman (Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar).

Bassist Leighton Holmes also comments:

“The newly unveiled cover art draws directly from the song “Blood and Steel”, depicting an army marching across a brutal, unforgiving landscape, some soldiers falling to the elements as others push forward. The imagery was inspired by the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson. Many die, many lose hope, and many don’t understand why they do what they do… Life is often like this: we have to go through things that are uncomfortable, even dangerous, to reach the position we need to be to accomplish what it is we are trying to do.” 

To celebrate the release, Iron Kingdom will headline their biggest hometown show to date at Vancouver’s iconic Rickshaw Theatre on Friday, June 5, 2026, a significant milestone for the band. For more info, please visit https://orangetickets.ca/detalles_evento.php?id_evento=2127

“It is the same venue we got to open for headlining bands such as HammerFall, Angra, Sanctuary… and to feel in some way that we have worked our way up to headline a venue of that size is very exciting.”

In addition to the album launch festivities, Iron Kingdom will also appear at the 2026 editions of Armstrong Metal Fest and Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, bringing their new material to one of Western Canada’s premier heavy metal gatherings. These performances will mark some incredible highlights for the year to come.

Formed in Vancouver in 2011, Iron Kingdom has spent 15 years championing the classic heavy metal spirit of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, and the Scorpions. Known for their high-energy stage presence, intricate melodies, and raw, no‑backing‑tracks live performances, the band has toured across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Brazil, sharing stages with Night Demon, Blaze Bayley, HammerFall, Angra, and more.

Their discography includes Curse of the Voodoo Queen (2011), Gates of Eternity (2013), Ride for Glory (2015), On the Hunt (2019), and The Blood of Creation (2022). “Shadows and Dust” marks their sixth full-length album.

Album pre-order (release date June 6th, 2026) available at the following links:

Official Merch store: https://www.iron-kingdom.com/shop
Bandcamp: https://iron-kingdom.bandcamp.com/music