Iron Kingdom
From:
Canada
Last Known Status: Active
Latest Iron Kingdom News
Below is our complete Iron Kingdom news coverage, including columns and articles pertaining to the band. Some articles listed may be indirectly related, such as side projects of the band members, etc.
Iron Kingdom Shares "Blood And Steel" Lyric Video
Vancouver, Canada’s traditional heavy metal torchbearers Iron Kingdom return with the second single from their upcoming sixth studio album "Shadows And Dust," due out June 6, 2026, marking their first release under their new label partnership with Steel Shark Records (France), which will offer an exclusive EU edition limited to just 300 double-CD copies. Disc 1 will contain the full "Shadows And Dust" album, while Disc 2 will feature a "Best Of" collection highlighting tracks from Iron Kingdom’s previous five releases. In addition, the label will introduce a third vinyl colour (100 copies) available only to EU fans.
Following the momentum of their first single and music video "Defenders," the band now unveils the powerful new track "Blood And Steel," accompanied by an epic lyric video that dives deep into the album’s themes of endurance, mortality, and the human cost of ambition.
Bassist Leighton Holmes explains further:
"The inspiration for ‘Blood and Steel’ came from two places. One draws from Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen, and the other from imagining myself as a soldier in Alexander the Great’s army, twelve years into a campaign, thousands of miles from home, questioning how I got there. The endless marching, the battles, the weight of the gear… It’s a brutal life, and in a small way, it parallels the blood, sweat, and tears of touring in a band." More...
Iron Kingdom To Release New Album In June
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.”
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.
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?“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).
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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.” More...
Hyperspace Metalfest Announce First Batch Of Bands
Canada's premier melodic and power metal festival HYPERSPACE Metal Fest returns for its 5th edition after selling out its first two of three nights during its 2023 event. Gearing up to present its 2024 lineup, HMF is proud to announce its first batch to perform at the festival from April 11th to 13th in Vancouver, BC at Wise Hall and Rickshaw Theatre.
The HMF 2024 lineup will feature headliners Greenville, North Carolina's Æther Realm set to unleash their blend of melodic death metal and folk metal, with lyrical themes of fantasy and mythology. They are joined by festival alumni local Vancouver heavy metal warriors Iron Kingdom, who have been touring hard for their new and fifth album “The Blood Of Creation”. The Metal Temple has described them as "A distinctively distinguished experience in Heavy Metal... an injection in infectiously venomous momentum most definitely deserves interest - do check it out."
Making their first appearance at HMF will be Borealis, a power/progressive metal band from Orangeville, Ontario. Their latest album "Illusions" has gotten praise from across the metal community, My Global Mind has stated "Borealis have proven themselves to be one of the most consistent band’s when it comes to producing excellent dark power/prog metal, and this album is no exception, standing as possibly their best work to date. Longtime fans should be very pleased with this album, and newcomers are highly recommended to start with this album."
Other bands joining the lineup will be Edmonton's Tyler Dory Trio, Calgary's Osyron and much more to be later announced. (1st batch of bands listed below).
Festival organizer Joey Hockin of Journeyman Productions adds:
"Here we go with another Hyperspace Metal Festival! This year was absolutely incredible and we are going to keep the momentum up and try to top it again next year! Next year will feature many bands' first appearances in Vancouver including Aether Realm, Borealis, Tylor Dory Trio, Transgressive, Syryn, and Balrogath! Watch for the rest of the lineup to be announced in the fall and we'll see you all again next April!" More...
Iron Kingdom Debuts New Lyric Video
Canada's Iron Kingdom presents its new lyric video for its latest single "Sheathe The Sword," which draws inspiration from the fantasy series "Wheel of Time." For years now, Iron Kingdom has been gracing the world with its traditional heavy metal, weaving grand stories and teleporting listeners to far-off lands. This latest single refers to a sword move in which you willingly accept your opponent’s sword into your body in order to inflict a killing blow. The band comments on the single:
"We were looking to do something pretty fast and driving, and once we had the ideas for the first couple of riffs we knew it had to be about Lan Mandoragon - the uncrowned king of a lost and scattered kingdom and is highly respected by neighbouring kingdoms who recognize him as the battle lord of the borderlands. Musically this song is a speedy, driving power metal tune in the vein of early Hammerfall. 'Sheathe The Sword' is a warrior's last chance at victory, but that victory comes with a heavy cost."
Watch and listen to "Sheathe The Sword" below. More...
Hyperspace Metal Festival Reveals Full Lineup
Hyperspace Metal festival, organized by Journeyman Productions is returning to the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver, Canada on April 17-19, 2020 and the final lineup is now out!
“Feast your eyes on the full lineup for Hyperspace Metal Festival III! Unleash The Archers have been the most requested band by fans of the festival since the beginning and we are beyond excited to finally have them on the bill. Check out the rest of the bands on the lineup and we’ll see you at the Rickshaw Theatre in April!”
Over the three years that Hyperspace Metal Festival has been running, bands from all over the world have come to play power, prog, and speed metal on the west coast of Canada. The lineup is now finalized with the following additions: Novareign, Tribal X, Viathyn, Tzimani, Ophelia Falling, Arkenfire, Forsaken Rite, Opus Arise and hometown favorites Unleash The Archers who will be headlining on Saturday.
Unleash the Archers have been a standard in the Canadian music scene for many years with their genre-bending metal, guttural screams, and wild guitar solos and are hugely entertaining to watch with their high energy show. Headlining on Friday will be locals Iron Kingdom, who are inspired by the legends of heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Scorpions, and Rush. With an incomparable live performance, they bring listeners back to a time when heavy metal was in its prime. More...
Iron Kingdom Announces North American Shows
Announcing the release of their new album "On The Hunt" on October 4, 2019, Vancouver heavy metallers Iron Kingdom are excited to share the first batch of North American tour dates in support of the full-length. The tour will kick off in Vancouver, BC on October 3rd and take the band on a 2-month trek across Canada, the USA and Mexico, ending in Everett, WA on December 1st (dates listed below).
The band comments:
"Our upcoming 'Road Warriors North American Tour 2019' marks the beginning of a new era for Iron Kingdom, we're returning to many of our favourite cities across the continent with a new lineup and a new album! We can't wait to see our fans and friends and bring 'On The Hunt' into a live setting. It's due time we make our mark across the land once again!"
Inspired by legendary pillars of heavy metal such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, The Scorpions, and Rush, Iron Kingdom is well known for their energetic and electrifying stage presence, as well as intricate musical melodies that bring listeners back to a time when the genre was in its prime. More...
Iron Kingdom Crashes On Tour
After just releasing the "Ride For Glory" album and kicking off a Canadian / U.S. tour scheduled to run through the end of September, Iron Kingdom has had to put the breaks on the trek early. The band comments:
"Iron Kingdom has had a terrible accident on our way to Calgary to play our 2nd show on the tour. We do not know the full extent of the damage to our equipment or our possible options yet for the remainder of the tour, but will do everything we can to keep on rocking!
"All 4 band members have survived the crash thankfully with minor scratches and bruises. Sadly we have not been able to make tonight's gig in Calgary," More...
Iron Kingdom Rides For Glory!
Traditional metal outfit Iron Kingdom will "Ride For Glory" this coming July 30th, 2015 and today a promo video drops giving you a taste of the glory to come.
The clip features part of the album's eighth track "The Veiled Knight" and can be heard below. Pre-orders are available at this location, while the full track listing is as follows:
1. On The Eve Of Battle
2. Leif Erikson
3. Ride For Glory
4. Lady Trieu And The Kingdom Of Wu
5. The Samurai
6. Night Attack
7. A Call To Arms
8. The Veiled Knight More...
Iron Kingdom Streaming New Album
Iron Kingdom has teamed up with Metalrecusants.com to stream the entire "Gates of Eternity" album online. Give it a listen at this location. The following press release was also issued about the band:
"Iron Kingdom is a traditional heavy metal band from Surrey, B.C. Canada bringing back the classic sounds of 70s and 80s Metal. Inspired by groups such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Blind Guardian, The Scorpions, and Rush.
"The group was re-formed in 2011 by Chris Osterman, along with Amanda Osterman and Leighton Holmes. Chris brings star power and is an exhilarating guitarist with a wide vocal range that leaves audiences wanting more. Amanda (Chris' sister) has been classically trained, laying the refined beat that sets the dynamic foundation for the group.
"Bass guitarist Leighton Holmes brings poetically dark lyrics and classic finger style playing that adds to the tight rhythm section. In the fall of 2011 Kenny Kroecher joined the group adding the excitement of duel lead guitars and intricate guitar rhythms that compliment Chris' guitar style." More...