charon (band)

Despite their death metal beginnings, the Finnish band Charon play goth-rock-influenced metal nowadays, and rely on a combination of melody and atmosphere to deliver their own melancholic brand of music. Formed in 1992, it took them five years to secure a record deal with Emanzipation Productions. Charon proceded to release their debut album "Sorrowburn" in 1998. Its follow-up "Tearstained" was released by Danish label Diehard Records in 2000. After touring with the legendary band Sentenced in Spring 2000, they signed to Spinefarm Records, Finland's premier heavy metal label. Charon hired the services of the acclaimed Mikko Karmila to mix their third album "Downhearted" eventually released in 2002. It's lead-up single "Little Angel" proved to be a major commercial success for the band, charting at #5 on the Finnish singles chart in December 2001. On its release, "Downhearted" charted at #3 on the Finnish album chart. After touring with two of Europe's most popular symphonic metal bands Nightwish and After Forever, in 2002, Charon scored two more chart successes in their homeland with their 2003 singles "In Trust of No One" (#1) and "Religious/Delicious" (#8). Both of these songs feature on Charon's latest album "The Dying Daylights", which was released in autumn 2003 and managed a #16 position on the Finnish album chart. After its release, guitarist Jasse von Hast left the band.