Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
In a week where digital albums outsold physical CDs for only the fourth time ever, Within Temptation reigns supreme. The band’s sixth album sold 3,000 more copies than their last one did three years ago, which is truly impressive given the state of album sales. There was plenty of other metal on the chart too, with Christian metalcore band For Today narrowly edging out Behemoth’s The Satanist, and both of them selling over 10,000. Plenty of other debuts this week too, so while streaming might be cannibalizing album sales, metal is still selling.
Notable Debuts:
Within Temptation, Hydra (Nuclear Blast) #15, 15,150 sold
So Howard Jones, Xzibit, Soul Asylum, and Tarja Turunen walk into a studio… This album also features covers of songs by Lana Del Rey, Imagine Dragons and Enrique Iglesias, among others.
For Today, Fight The Silence (Razor & Tie) #31, 10,625 sold
This is a pretty solid debut, but it’s less than the band’s last album, Immortal, which sold 14,750 its first week back in 2012. Maybe a backlash against their homobophic former guitarist?
Behemoth, The Satanist (Metal Blade) #33, 10,225 sold
Many are calling this the band’s best record in years, and following Nergal’s battle with cancer, it’s a nice return to form to see the band’s first album in five years have such a strong debut.
Capture the Crown, Live Life EP (Self-Released) 1,400 sold
After being dropped by Sumerian after one album, the band’s EP, which is self-released, has a nice first week.
Sunn O)))/Ulver, Terrestrials (Southern Lord) 590 sold
We’re not good at math, but it appears that 295 Sunn O))) and 295 Ulver fans picked up their collaborative EP.
Caliban, Ghost Empire (Century Media) 550 sold
Back in Germany where the band are from, this debuted at #7. We’re not sure how many records it takes to crack the top ten there, but good job, boys.
Exmortus, Slave To The World (Prosthetic) 540 sold
One of the best things about this heavy thrash band is that their Facebook page describes them as “METAL.TREE. BEER. MEAT. FIRE. SWORDS. DRAGONS. CROM.”
Grand Magus, Triumph & Power (Nuclear Blast) 500 sold
Why are Swedish bands so damn good? The band’s second album for Nuclear Blast has a pretty solid debut.
Truckfighters, Universe (Fuzzorama) 340 sold
One of the best things to know about Truckfighters (another Swedish band!) first release on their own label is that they have a song called “Mastodon’t.”
Notable Sales:
Of Mice & Men, Restoring Force (Rise) #32 10,475 sold
While the band has an 80% drop from last week, it still sells almost 10,500 albums, and have moved over 60,000 in two weeks.
Periphery, Clear (Sumerian) #80, 3,925 sold
Let’s be clear here. This mere 32% second week drop isn’t bad at all for the EP, which will easily cross 10,000 sold next week.
Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King (Warner Bros.) #82, 3,850 sold
This sold roughly the same amount as it did last week, which isn’t bad for an album that’s been out nearly half a year.
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2 (Prospect Park) #83, 3,800 sold
This will likely cross 200,000 sold in two weeks.
Skillet, Rise (Atlantic), #105, 3,125 sold
This is inching it’s way up to 250,000 sold.
A Day To Remember, Common Courtesy (Self-Released) #113, 2,950 sold
This just goes to show that if you have four really successful albums and a protracted fight with your formal record label, you don’t need a label to do really well! Up to 171,000 sold.
In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #131, 2,425 sold
New Atlantic signing has sold over 227,000, and will likely be halfway to gold by the time the next record is released.
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 (Prospect Park) #137, 2,375 sold
A 6% boost brings this past 350,000 sold in 28 weeks.
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #146, 2,275 sold
In about two months, if this keeps selling like it is, it will pass 200,000 sold.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #152, 2,150 sold
The band’s tour is about to kick off, but it’s doing really well sales-wise regardless.
Queens of the Stone Age …Like Clockwork (Matador) #175, 1,850 sold
While this album has sold almost 230,000, that’s about 1.7 million less copies than Imagine Dragons has.
Metallica, Through The Never (Blackened) #186, 1,700 sold
The band’s re-entry onto the albums chart last week was no doubt due to the film being released. It dropped from 148 last week and will probably fall off the chart next week.
Transatlantic, Kaleidoscope (InsideOut) 680 sold
This has sold 3,000 in two weeks.
Ice Nine Kills, The Predator Becomes the Prey (Outerloop) 520 sold
This is the first release on management company Outerloop’s label.
Primal Fear, Delivering The Black (Frontiers) 490 sold
A 50% second week drop for the German power metallers.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 490 sold
This has sold 52,000 copies, and I’m pretty sure I don’t know anyone that owns it.
Deafheaven, Sunbather (Deathwish) 410 sold
This will likely cross 25,000 sold next week, which is a pretty monumental achievement whether they’re a “hipster metal” band or not.
Fit For A King, Creation/Destruction (Tooth & Nail) 410 sold
This takes an impressive 60% jump this week.
Righteous Vendetta, The Fire Inside (EBM) 390 sold
Devour the Day, Time & Pressure (Fat Lady) 380 sold
Up to almost 5,500 sold.
Gemini Syndrome, Lux (Warner Bros.) 380 sold
This has been on the chart for 22 weeks and keeps selling.
Butcher Babies, Goliath (Century Media) 310 sold
Currently on the road in the UK, the band made it into this month’s Revolver on account of two of them being hot chicks.
After The Burial, Wolves Within (Sumerian) 300 sold
11,000 copies in eight weeks isn’t bad.
Our Last Night, Oak Island EP (Self-Released) 280 sold
Wanna hear this band’s cover of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball?” We don’t either.
