Charon (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 in Raahe, Finland |
| Founder | Antti Karihtala, Teemu Hautamäki, Pasi Sipilä, Jasse Hast |
| Headquarters | Raahe , Finland |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Charon was a gothic metal group originating from Raahe, Finland.
History
Established in 1992 by Antti Karihtala, Teemu Hautamäki, Pasi Sipilä, and Jasse Hast, Charon initially performed brutal death metal. After independently producing three promotional recordings and two demos, they secured a deal with Emanzipation Productions, under which they released their debut albums, Sorrowburn (1998) and Tearstained (2000). Following a tour alongside the Finnish band Sentenced, they transitioned from Emanzipation to Spinefarm Records.
In the summer of 2001, Charon recorded their third studio album, Downhearted. The track Little Angel climbed to number 5 on Finland’s singles chart. Upon its release in early 2002, Downhearted reached number 3 on the Finnish Album Charts, while the music video for Little Angel secured the top position on the Nordic Video List.
After touring across Finland and Europe with Nightwish and After Forever, Charon released the single In Trust of No One in April 2003, which debuted at number 1 on the Finnish Singles Chart. This was succeeded by the single Religious/Delicious and their fourth album, The Dying Daylights, followed by a supporting tour throughout Finland.
Guitarist Jasse von Hast left the band in November 2003 due to diminishing enthusiasm; he was succeeded by Lauri Tuohimaa in January 2004. The band continued touring Finland to promote The Dying Daylights album.
After extensive touring and releasing the single Colder, Charon unveiled their fifth album, Songs for the Sinners, on 31 August 2005. They embarked on comprehensive tours across Europe and Russia. By mid-2005, six new compositions were prepared for recording, and later five demo tracks were produced while negotiating a fresh record contract.
In June 2011, Charon announced their breakup following summer performances in Finland. Lead vocalist Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto attributed this decision to creative fatigue and internal disputes dating back to 2005.
In October 2015, Leppäluoto along with other members briefly reassembled Charon for a Halloween show at Tavastia. Since then, the band has remained inactive aside from occasional social media activity promoting other musicians.
In March 2025, Charon revealed plans for a reunion tour consisting of six concerts in Finland to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Songs for the Sinners. The tour took place from late August through mid-September, concluding in Jyväskylä.
Current members
- Juha-Pekka Leppäluoto – vocals (1995–2011, 2015, 2025)
- Lauri Tuohimaa – guitar (2003–2011, 2015, 2025)
- Jasse von Hast – guitar (1992–2003, 2025)
- Antti Karihtala – drums (1992–2011, 2015, 2025)
- Teemu Hautamäki – bass (1992–2011, 2015, 2025), vocals (1992–1995)
Former members
- Pasi Sipilä – guitar (1992–2010)
Albums
- Sorrowburn (1998)
- Tearstained (2000)
- Downhearted (2002)
- The Dying Daylights (2003)
- Songs for the Sinners (2005)
Singles
- "Little Angel" (2001)
- "In Trust of No One" (2003)
- "Religious/Delicious" (2003)
- "Ride on Tears" (2005)
- "Colder" (2005)
- "The Cure" (2010)
- "Fall Of Angels" (2025)
Compilation albums
- A-Sides, B-Sides & Suicides (released in 2010)
Music videos
- "November's Eve"
- "Little Angel"
- "Colder"
- "Ride on Tears"