Hillsong Rush US Charts As Lorde Continues Climb

Australian-based megachurch Hillsong have once again made their presence felt in the American market with new album Live: Glorious Ruins debuted at 18 in the overall albums Billboard 200 chart this week.

The US Christian market has been a successful stomping ground for Australian Christian acts, particularly Hillsong, and Queensland-originating God-pop band Newsboys are still featuring in the top 200 with God's Not Dead steady at 124. It is the records' 41st week in top 200.

Emerging 16-year-old New Zealand songstress – who is quickly becoming an adopted Australian – Lorde continues her remarkable climb up the chart with her The Love Club EP up to 74 from 86 last week. It is its fourth week in the chart.

Empire Of The Sun's Ice On The Dune continued its slide, however, with the outfit's second album down to 179 from 90in its third week. They're faring better on the Dance/Club Play charts though, with lead single Alive up to its highest position of eight this week. Tommy Trash's number with Sebastian Ingrosso and John Martin, Reload, is at four in the same chart. Kylie Minogue enters at 37 with her track Skirt.

In the Dance/Electronic Songs, for which the Dance/Club Play is an early indicator, Reload is up to 16 from 20 and Dirty South and Alesso's City Of Dreams, featuring Ruben Haze, jumps to 37 this week.