Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week as well as what’s getting played at metal radio courtesy of radio trade magazine FMQB, whose metal panel consists of about 80 college and commercial stations that have metal shows, as well as SiriusXM, Music Choice, and more.
Last week’s charts brought debuts by the likes of Overkill and Fear Factory. This week, instead of household names, it was about up and comers, with Deathcore merchants Carnifex having the top debut of the week, as well as new stuff from Obscura and Karnivool.
Notable Debuts:
Carnifex, Hell Chose Me (Victory) #175, 3100 sold
This is the band’s third album, and second for Victory.
Chelsea Grin, Desolation of Eden (Razor and Tie) 1,500 sold
This band is named after the practice of cutting someone from the corners of their mouth to their ears. That’ll leave a mark.
Obscura, Retribution (Relapse) 550 sold
This is like the ninth metal record called Retribution in the last year.
Karnivool, Sound Awake (SIN/Sony Australia) 450 sold
This is a must-own for fans of Tool and Porcupine Tree. Imagine a really chill Meshuggah.
Notable Sales:
Rob Zombie, Hellbilly Deluxe 2: (Loud and Proud/Roadrunner) #52, 12,000 sold
Zombie’s up over 80,000 in only three weeks. That’s pretty impressive for just about anyone that was putting records
Them Crooked Vultures, Them Crooked Vultures
Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy and Geritol!
H.I.M., Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice (Reprise) #83, 7,250 sold
A 72% decrease from last week, but it still brings them over 33,000
Alice In Chains, Black Gives Way To Blue (Virgin) #95 6,250 sold
The exception to the rule of once-great bands putting out mediocre comeback albums.
Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer
A 15% increase from last week, these guys will have sold 200,000 soon.
Mudvayne, Mudvayne (Epic) #127, 4,500 sold
Hell yeah these guys are selling records! Bad choice of words, maybe?
Fear Factory, Mechanize (Candlelight) #128, 4,500 sold
Another exception to the rule of once pretty-good bands putting out terrible comeback albums.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner) #140, 4,100 sold
It’s pretty impressive how consistent Slipknot is continuing to sell after all this time.
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline) 2,700 sold
Anyone see Satriani jamming with the Roots on Jimmy Fallon a few weeks ago? With no disrespect to this, that was much cooler.
Overkill, Ironbound (E1) 1,900 sold
I wonder what Overkill thinks about Avenged Sevenfold stealing their logo?
Between the Buried and Me, The Great Misdirect (Victory) 1,100 sold
The album being on sale on Amazon almost doubled their sales from last week.
Charred Walls of the Damned, Charred Walls of the Damned (Metal Blade) 800 sold
The band still hasn’t played a live show yet, but that’ll probably happen soon.
Through the Eyes of the Dead, Skepsis (Prosthetic) 750 sold
If you’re not sure about this album, are you Skepsis-tical?
Annotations of an Autopsy, Reign of Darkness (Nuclear Blast) 750 sold
Still don’t know anything about this band, they still have a pretty cool name.
Fozzy, Chasing the Grail (Riot Entertainment) 700 sold
Wonder how much higher profile Chris Jericho’s profile will get after he hosts the Golden Gods awards?
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 675 sold
Remember when I said I ran out of things to say about them? Still the case.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season
This has been on the chart for 66 weeks in a row.
Otep, Smash the Control Machine (Victory) 600 sold
Where can you buy a control machine. Amazon?Wal Mart?
Living Sacrifice, The Infinite Order (Tooth & Nail) 600 sold
Pretty ironic that their sales total is 3,666 (emphasis mine)
Bruce Kulick, BK3 (Rocket Science) 850 sold
When will other former KISS member Mark St. John release a solo album?
Baroness, Blue Record (Relapse) 470 sold
This has crossed 20,000 sold.
FMQB Most Added
1. High On Fire, Snakes for the Divine (E1) 45 adds
2. Bullet for my Valentine, “Begging For Mercy” single (Jive/Zomba) 42 adds
3. Ekotren, “The Confessions of Gladys White” EP (Red Rocket) 37 adds
4. Devil to Pay, Heavily Ever After (Lax Wax Records) 36 adds
5. Droids Attack, Must Destroy (Crustacean) 35 adds
FMQB Top Ten
1. Overkill, Ironbound (E1)
2. Fear Factory, Mechanize (Candlelight)
3. Freya, All Hail the End (Victory)
4. Living Sacrifice, The Infinite Order (Tooth & Nail)
5. Rob Zombie, Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (Roadrunner/Loud and Proud)
6. Ihsahn, After (Candlelight)
7. Through the Eyes of the Dead, Skepsis (Prosthetic)
8. Shadows Fall, Retribution (Everblack Industries)
9. Mutiny Within, Mutiny Within (Roadrunner)
10. Slayer, World Painted Blood (Sony)
