A hard rock troika of Iron Maiden [ tickets ], Queensryche [ tickets ] and Rob Halford [ tickets ]’s Halford are readying for a six-week North American trek that will visit arenas and amphitheaters through mid-September. Headliners Iron Maiden will link with the other acts on Aug. 1, when they open their North American tour following the completion of a two-month European outing.

Iron Maiden released a new album titled “Brave New World” in May after vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith returned to the fold following lengthy absences. The album served to boost the group’s lagging record sales of recent years, and reached the top 20 in at least 14 different countries, mostly in Europe. The album entered the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 39.

Queensryche’s 1999 album “Q2K” was billed as a return to the hard rock for the group. The album was the progressive metal band’s first for Atlantic Records. A greatest-hits package encompassing Queensryche’s pre-Atlantic years is scheduled for a June 27 release.

Halford, the latest band to be headed by former Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford, is scheduled to release its debut album on Aug. 8. Titled “Resurrection,” the album is also being billed as a return to metal for Rob Halford, who in recent years was dabbling in electronic music with guitarist John Lowery in their band Two.