AKO released two more EPs and toured in support of Alkaline Trio, AFI, Stiff Little Fingers, Avenged Sevenfold and Stonesour, amongst others, and were featured on Mike Davies’ BBC Radio 1 show The Lock Up at Maida Vale Studios.
In his review,[7] Classic Rock Magazine’s Geoff Barton scored the album 8/10 and made a point of commending both Christo's lead playing (comparing him to Neal Schon) and lyrics.
Turunen and Finnish producer Jaani Peuhu (Swallow the Sun, Lord of the Lost), with artist & bassist Adam Lightspeed joining shortly after to help create the band's identity.
On 12 December, a limited-edition physical copy of the single was released from the band's website, selling out in 2 hours, which included Christo's hand-written lyrics as part of the CD package.
In August 2022, it was announced that the band would move forward as a three-piece, with Christo adopting lead vocal duties, with a UK tour supporting Esprit D'Air scheduled for February 2023.
Summer 2023 UK dates followed with Lord of the Lost and in spring 2024, Diamond Black embarked on another tour with Esprit D'Air, this time expanding into mainland Europe.
As a studio session guitarist and vocalist, he has recorded with Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers), Tom Dalgety (Royal Blood, Pixies, Ghost), Raymond Watts (KMFDM, PIG), Steve Lima (Corrine Bailey-Rae) and Bob White of NFD.
As a live musician, Christo has also headlined or played shows and festivals alongside Depeche Mode, Metallica, Placebo, Editors, Strung Out, Serj Tankian, The Cult, Faith No More, Marilyn Manson, Tricky, OMD, Machine Head (band), Linkin Park, Rob Zombie, Iron Maiden, Skunk Anansie, Manic Street Preachers, Prophets of Rage and Limp Bizkit and headlined Bloodstock and Grona lund.
In 2002, Christo was selected as one of eight songwriters, alongside Jonny Kalsi, chosen from thousands of members of PRS for Music for their The Song's The Thing workshop, led by Boo Hewerdine.
In 2004, Ben co-wrote and directed a comedy short, "Sold Out", with fellow University of Bristol graduate David R. Watson, featuring Ninian Doff (Kasabian, Royal Blood, Miike Snow, Chemical Brothers, Get Duked!)
In 2011, Christo wrote and performed live for Lauren Harris’s band, Six Hour Sundown, when previous guitarist Richie Faulkner, who left to join Judas Priest, personally asked Ben to take his place.
[9] In May 2019, The Revelation, a song Ben co-wrote and performed with Raymond Watts was featured in DC Comics' Legends of Tomorrow, as John Constantine prepares to battle demons in the night club ‘Hell’.
In May and August 2018, Christo accompanied Nathan Gray (Boysetsfire) on his solo tour of Germany as guitarist, backing vocalist and keyboard player, the recordings of which were released in February 2019 as a live album and DVD.
Ben then co-wrote and performed guitars and backing vocals on a number of Nathan's new recordings, featured on the 2019 EP Split (with Jesse Barnett of Stick to Your Guns ) and the 2020 album Working Title, both produced by Pete Steinkopf of the Bouncing Souls, the new songs from which were debuted on a February 2020 European tour.
He also appeared on Rob Lane's Straight to Video podcast, joining a roster of guests that includes members of Steel Panther, Slash and the Conspirators and The Alice Cooper Band.
On January 18, 2022, it was announced that Ben would join Ricky Warwick (The Almighty, Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy) on his upcoming solo tour of the UK and Ireland, as lead guitarist and backing vocalist, alongside Jack Taylor (Tax the Heat) and Richard Vernon (The Mission).
Mid 2023, Ben contributed a guitar solo to Khalil Turk & Friends' Don't Surrender, featuring Robin McAuley (Michael Schenker) and Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake).
2024 saw the release of Ovdan by Tomorrow's Rains, on which Ben composed and recorded guitar parts onTurnaround (Gothic Rock Version), featuring John Denner of Mercyful Fate / King Diamond.