Iron Maiden lead the UK Albums Chart race with 'Book Of Souls'

Veteran heavy metal rockers Iron Maiden are way ahead in the race to top the Official Albums Chart this week.

The band’s 16th studio album 'Book Of Souls' is currently over 30,000 combined chart sales ahead of nearest rival Jess Glynne, putting them in with a good chance of scoring their fifth Official Albums Chart No.1 this coming Friday.

Iron Maiden, led by Bruce Dickinson, last topped the chart in summer 2010 with 'The Final Frontier'.

Jess Glynne’s former chart-topper 'I Cry When I Laugh' holds firm at No.2, while singer-songwriter Troye Sivan’s EP 'Wild' enters at No.3 today, meaning he’s looking good for an Official Albums Chart debut in the Top 10.

There’s another heavy metal group hoping for a Top 5 this week – Five Finger Death Punch’s 'Got Your Six' enters at No.4. This could give the band a new Official Albums Chart personal best on Friday; their previous highest peak position was Number 21 with 2013’s 'The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Of Hell'.

Rounding off the midweek Top 5 is last week’s Number 1 from The Weeknd, 'The Beauty Behind The Madness'.

There are ten further albums new into the Official Albums Chart Update Top 40, kicking off with Norwegian band A-ha, whose 10th studio album 'Cast In Steel' enters at No.7. 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of the band’s first UK hit.

Scottish rockers The View look set to land a fifth Top 40 album with 'Ropewalk', new at No.13, and Duran Duran’s classic 1982 album 'Rio' returns at No.20. Rapper Travis Scott’s debut album 'Rodeo' enters at No.21 and there’s another debut up next at Number 22 for synth-pop duo Oh Wonder’s eponymous release.

British rockers Public Image Ltd, led by punk legend John Lydon, look set to score their first Top 40 album for 25 years, with 10th studio album 'What The World Needs Now' (25), while US punk band Fidlar enter at Number 30 with 'Too'.

There are also new entries for Arcs’ 'Yours Dreamily' (31), Etherwood’s 'Blue Leaves' (36) and Wonder Years’ 'No Closer To Heaven'. Three albums hop back into the Top 40 on today’s update: Stereophonics’ 'Best Of' (35), Gregory Porter’s 'Liquid Spirit' (38) and Michael Jackson’s 'Number Ones' (39).

The highest climber in today’s Update goes to Lionel Richie – his 'The Definitive Collection with the Commodores' leaps 20 places to stand at No.9.

Watch Iron Maiden's music video for 'Speed Of Light' here: