Former Kamelot frontman Roy Khan is no stranger to questions about reunion rumors, but his latest appearance in the headlines has rekindled hope among longtime fans. With the 20th anniversary of The Black Halo approaching, Khan is set to return to the stage on July 5, 2025, at Tokio Marine Hall in São Paulo, Brazil, for a one-night-only tribute to the album many fans still regard as the band’s creative pinnacle.
“The Black Halo is undoubtedly possibly the most important album in my catalog,” Khan said during a recent interview with PowerOfMetal.cl.
“Well, like you said, it’s 20 years since it came out. And ‘The Black Halo’ is undoubtedly possibly the most important album in my catalog. So I just felt that it was in its place to do some sort of celebration in connection with the 20th anniversary. And that’s what we’re doing in São Paulo on the 5th of July.”
It’s not just nostalgia fueling this moment. According to Khan, there was a unique energy at the time of the album’s creation, one that still resonates.
“I think it was in a very important phase of the band’s development, both as a group and as the members individually. The time was right. There were some new collaborations that took place. It was the first record we recorded with SPV, so we had a good budget and we could do whatever we wanted,” he reflected.
“We could try our stuff and tear things down in the studio, build them up again… And I think the lyrics hit some sort of nerve that I think a lot of people can relate to. But most of all, I think it’s a bunch of people that happened to align with each other and managed to make something that is really greater than the sum of them all. And The Black Halo has definitely stood the test of time. I mean, the album is a classic in the genre.”
In many ways, The Black Halo became more than just a metal album. It turned into a defining moment in Kamelot’s career. “Most of all, I think it’s a bunch of people that happened to align with each other and managed to make something that is really greater than the sum of them all. And The Black Halo has definitely stood the test of time. I mean, the album is a classic in the genre.”
While his return for the São Paulo show is a clear nod to the past, the question on many minds is whether there’s room for a future collaboration with Kamelot — something more permanent or at least more frequent. Khan didn’t dismiss the idea outright.
“Thomas [Youngblood, Kamelot founder] and I, talk on the phone now and then. We kind of have to, ’cause we still have business together that we need to deal with. I also talk to Casey [Grillo, former Kamelot drummer] now and then. I mean, I talked to him a couple of weeks ago when he was in Norway with Queensrÿche. So, yeah, we keep in touch.”
As for a formal reunion? It’s complicated—but possible.
“We’ve been talking about it, but there are a lot of things that need to fall in place for something like that to happen,” Khan explained. “Kamelot, with the current lineup, they need to have time for Thomas to do something different. I have my schedule. But as a starting point, both Thomas and I are open to doing something at some point, I think. But who’s gonna do what? Where is it gonna happen? When? Finances. Who’s gonna do what? So many things need to be taken care of. The logistics are… yeah. But we’ll see.”
In the meantime, fans can indulge in the newly released The Black Halo (20th Anniversary Edition), which dropped via Napalm Records on March 14, 2025. It’s a fitting tribute to an album that not only defined a genre but continues to ignite discussion two decades on.
The special release includes formats that go far beyond the standard reissue. A standout is the limited-edition wooden box set, complete with splattered vinyl, a collector’s chalice, a ring, a pendant in a velvet bag, a 20-page booklet, and an exclusive autographed card. Other versions include deluxe marbled vinyl, a slipmat, and a digipak CD.
It is still undetermined if Khan and Kamelot will officially reunite, but at this moment, fans in São Paulo will experience a unique moment in metal history, live and loud.
