International symphonic metal titans KAMELOT — celebrated for their captivating melodies, cinematic songwriting, and powerful live shows — are set to return with their dark and atmospheric new album, “Dark Asylum”, due for release on August 28, 2026 via Napalm Records. Marking the 14th studio album in their illustrious career, and following acclaimed releases such as “Haven”, “The Shadow Theory”, and most recently “The Awakening”, the band continues to reinforce its status as one of the most influential and enduring forces in modern symphonic metal after more than thirty years of musical excellence.
Set in a dark, Neo-Victorian-inspired world, “Dark Asylum” draws listeners through the gates of RavenHill Asylum — a towering institution that was once a magnificent cathedral but has since been transformed into a place where science, religion, and insanity collide in unsettling harmony.
KAMELOT founder and guitarist Thomas Youngblood comments: “‘Dark Asylum’ follows a soul trapped inside a world of masks, fractured memories, and psychological torment, wandering the endless halls of RavenHill in search of truth, identity, and redemption. What begins as a descent into darkness gradually transforms into a journey of awakening, where beneath the fear, illusion, and chaos lies the possibility of healing, hope, and ultimately a path out of the shadows into Sanctuary. The album explores the duality between despair and salvation, blurring the lines between reality and madness through theatrical storytelling, haunting atmospheres, and deeply emotional themes.”
KAMELOT frontman Tommy Karevik adds: “‘Dark Asylum’ invites listeners into the hidden chambers of the human mind. A journey where every door reveals a different story, yet all remain deeply connected. At its core, the album explores the duality of human nature: the constant tension between fear and hope, chaos and stillness, destruction and healing. ‘Dark Asylum’ reflects the struggle to remain sane within a cold and barren world, while ultimately discovering that salvation is not something found externally, but something that already exists within us all. Through self-exploration, awareness, and inner peace, healing becomes possible. This concept opened the door to a more cinematic and haunting sonic landscape, allowing us to experiment with darker, more eerie musical themes.”
Veteran KAMELOT producer Sascha Paeth once again takes charge of the album’s production, while Jacob Hansen handles the mixing and mastering duties.
Karevik concludes: “The imagery was intentionally painted with delicate strokes, capturing the fine line between beauty and disorder, and the way chaos and tranquility coexist within the same space. The result is an immersive experience that feels both unsettling and deeply human. A descent into darkness that ultimately searches for light”.
“Dark Asylum” track listing:
01. Sanctorium
02. Ashen World (feat. Ignacia Fernández)
03. Dark Asylum
04. Sanctuary (feat. Clémentine Delauney & Ignacia Fernández)
05. Nocte Veritas
06. One Last Masquerade (feat. Tobias Sammet)
07. Ivy, My Dear
08. Godlike Alchemy
09. The Sleeping Mind (Orphic Paradigm)
10. Kaleidoscope
11. Enigma (Think Of Me)
12. Cassandra’s Disease
13. Beneath the Moon (Tunglið) (feat. Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir, Sólveig Sara Leupold, Lea-Sophie Fischer)
14. The Puppet King
15. Sanctum Requiem
