Finnish hard rockers HIM [ tickets ] have canceled their upcoming US tour in order to spend more time in the recording studio working on their next album.

The cancellation of the 10-city tour, which would have kicked off Oct. 18 in Lowell, MA, comes after a hectic year that saw the band spend months on the road at a time backing its most recent release, 2005's "Dark Light."

"You haven't seen the last of us yet," lead singer Ville Valo said in a press release announcing the cancellations. "We just want to keep it fresh for you and stump you with new material. I didn't feel that I could do that without rehearsing some of this stuff that's stuck in my heart.

"We're happy to have new fans come aboard the ship, but I feel we've got to keep it exciting and new. We've started writing and I can't wait for you guys to hear what we're working on."

The tour was scheduled to include supporting help from Papa Roach [ tickets ], Lostprophets [ tickets ] and Kill Hannah [ tickets ]. Those holding tickets for the canceled shows should contact their point of purchase for information on ticket refunds, the press release said.

In addition, the band had recently announced a second US tour leg kicking off Nov. 3 in Denver. Tickets for these shows had not yet gone on sale, and those plans are likewise canceled.

"Dark Light," released last September, is currently on the verge of selling 500,000 copies, which will make the band the first Finnish act to go gold in the US, according to a press release. The set debuted in the Top 20 of The Billboard 200 album chart, and spawned the single "Wings of a Butterfly," which garnered attention from alternative radio stations.