Metal from Finland: Charon

They come from Finland and were originally a brutal death metal band but are now labelled as a gothic metal. Charon was founded in 1992 and since then has released 5 full-length albums and a compilation album. Currently there are 4 members: Juha-Pekka "JP" Leppäluoto, Lauri Tuohimaa, Antti Karihtala and Teemu Hautamäki.

The first full-length album Sorrowburn was released in 1998 followed by Tearstained in 2000.  In 2001 Charon released successful album Downhearted and did a lot of touring to promote this album. In 2003 they went on tour with Nightwish and After Forever. You might recognise this band from Nightwish’s End of Innocence DVD, when Marco ran half naked on the stage dressed like “angel” with torch while Charon was playing song Little Angel.

After several more tours Charon released albums The Dying Daylights  in 2003 and Songs for the Sinners in 2005. A compilation album A-Sides, B-Sides & Suicides was released in June 2010.

JP Leppäluoto, a vocalist of Charon and Harmaja, is also known from another successful project Northern Kings where he sings among great Finnish singers such as Marco Hietala (Nightwish/Tarot) or Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica).