Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top sellers 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.
You want some numbers? Here’s one: 236. That’s the combined age of the members of Heaven & Hell, the #8 album in the country this week. Here’s another one: 30,000. That’s what Black Sabbath’s first studio album in 19 years sold. Er, make that Heaven & Hell. It’s also the only notable metal debut on this week’s chart. Mastodon maintains their death grip on the top of the metal radio chart at FMQB as H&H, Isis and CkY claim Most Added
Notable Debuts:
Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino) #8, 30,000 sold
It’s amazing to see Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler in the top ten in 2009. Oh yeah, and you too, VInny.
Violent J, The Shining (Psycopathic) #48, 10,000 sold
This isn’t metal by a long shot, but the Juggalos turned out in force. When’s the Shaggy 2Dope solo album coming out? And why do we know his name?!
Notable Sales:
Hollywood Undead, Swan Songs (Octone) #46, 10,900 sold
Speaking of Violent J…
Lacuna Coil, Shallow Life (Century Media) #59, 8,200 sold
Even with a steep second week drop off, the band’s sold about 30,000 albums in two weeks.
Kid Rock, Rock N’ Roll Jesus (Atlantic) #63, 7,500 sold
Kid Rock and Skynyrd are touring all summer long. Get it? This should help sustain this album, which is pretty much unstoppable.
Metallica, Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.) #78, 6,200 sold
Up to 1.75 million sold, which is phenomenal in this day and age.
Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret) #88, 5,500 sold
Insert your own swine flu joke!
Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise) #107, 4,600 sold
Nearly 83,000 cracked so far.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner), #110, 4,600 sold.
Selling about the same as they did last week, this is getting up towards the 800,000
Lamb of God, Wrath (Epic) #150, 3,300 sold
Seriously, guys, how good is this album?
AC/DC, Black Ice (Columbia) #157, 3,100 sold
Not too many bands can sell 2 million copies in less than a year.
Queensryche, American Soldier (Rhino) #164, 3,000 sold
They sold the same exact number of albums as the Jonas Brothers this week!
Zakk Wylde and Black Label Society, Skullage: Greatest Hits (Eagle Rock) #169, 3,000 sold
Almost 8,000 bikers and shred fans have picked up the pride of Jackson, NJ’s greatest hits comp.
All That Remains, Overcome (Razor & Tie/Prosthetic) #175, 2,900 sold
Now that they’ve got a top ten active rock hit, ATR pop back on the chart with 150,000 sold total.
Seventh Void, Heaven is Gone (Big Vin) 1,400 sold
Not quite Type O numbers, but a decent, solid second week for this side project.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 1,300 sold
They’re selling at least as many copies of this every week.
Oceano, Depths (Earache) 850 sold
And in a month, Earache’s deathcore signing has sold over 5,000 copies.
Impending Doom, Serpent Servant (Facedown) 800 sold
800 people like metal, Jesus, and buying records.
God Forbid, Earthsblood (Century Media) 600 copies sold
15,000 people have picked this up so far, and it’s selling a consistent amount week to week.
Murder 1, “Escape From New York” Single (EFNY Entertainment) 0 copies sold
This hasn’t sold anything yet, but it’s a subtle way to let MI readers know that new music from my band is available online!
FMQB Most Added
1. Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino)
2. The Devil Wears Prada, With Roots Above and Branches (Ferret)
3. CkY, Carver City (Roadrunner)
4. Autumn Hour, Dethroned (Rock Ridge)
5. Isis, Wavering Radiant (Ipecac)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise)
2. Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret Music)
3. Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino)
4. Lamb of God, Wrath (Epic)
5. Hatebreed, For The Lions (E1)
6. Daath, The Concealers (Century Media)
7. Static-X, Cult of Static (Reprise)
8. Lazarus A.D., The Onslaught (Metal Blade)
9. God Forbid, Earthsblood (Century Media)
10. Oceano, Depths (Earache)
