Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
I know what you’re thinking to yourself at this moment. With 10 metal/hard rock releases debuting this week (seven of which debuted in the top 200), why in the hell are we reporting on Incubus’ album sales? Well, it might be hard to remember a time when Incubus wasn’t an average alt/pop rock group, but back in the day Incubus use to be relatively heavy. They’ve even appeared on Ozzfest two times before breaking it big with the pop hit “Drive.” So naturally, they deserve at least a little mention.
However, the TRUE top metal debut this week comes from Suicide Silence, whose third album The Black Crown sells a little less than 15,000 copies and cracks the top 30. It’s pretty awesome for any metal band nowadays to sell more than their previous release. And with the band currently in the midst of Mayhem Fest, we’d be surprised if this album doesn’t stick around the charts for a little while.
Notable Debuts:
Incubus, If Not Now, When? (Epic) #2, 79,560 sold
While their seventh studio album debuts at #2, it does sell considerably less than Incubus’ last effort 2006’s Light Grenades (which debuted at #1 and sold 165,000 copies).
Theory Of A Deadman, Truth Is (Roadrunner) #8, 37,620 sold
We personally don’t consider these guys metal (even if they opened for Motley Crue before). But if we’re going to include Incubus, we have to at least mention these Canadian rockers. Even if their A&R guy is that jesus-looking dude from Nickelback.
Suicide Silence, The Black Crown (Century Media) #28, 14,400 sold
Oh, did we mention that we’re giving away a free Suicide Silence guitar?! Well…we are, so there.
Fair to Midland, Arrows & Anchors (eOne) #64, 6,700 sold
Also experiencing their highest ranking debut is the Texas progressive metal group with their first album via eOne Music.
Tesla, Twisted Wires (Tesla Electric/Ryko) #94, 5,200 sold
A pretty solid first week for the California hair rockers’ latest acoustic album.
Sleeping Giant, Kingdom Days in an Evil Age (Ain’t No Grave) #125, 3,940 sold
The metalcore group’s first album via Ain’t No Grave Records has a very solid first week.
Sepultura, Kairos (Nuclear Blast) #196, 2,460 sold
The Brazilian metal legends’ first album via Nuclear Blast Records is also their best selling one since 2003’s Roorback. Kairos still falls short, though, of the Cavalera-era’s album sales.
Decapitated, Carnival is Forever (Nuclear Blast) 2,130 sold
The band’s solid first week is also bittersweet, as this is Decapitated’s first album since the 2007 car accident that killed drummer Witold “Vitek” Kieltyka and left vocalist Adrian “Coven” Kowanek in a coma.
Megadeth, Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying? 25th Anniversary Edition (Capitol) 1,770 sold
Everybody is loving this reissue, including Pitchfork. Oh, and did we mention that we’re giving away a copy of the deluxe edition for free?!
Rhapsody of Fire, From Chaos to Eternity (Nuclear Blast) 890 sold
The Italian symphonic metaller’s eighth studio album has a solid debut.
Earth Crisis, Neutralize the Threat (Century Media) 630 sold
Not an awful first week for the straight edge metalcore group’s second album since reforming in 2008.
Notable Sales:
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #46, 9,420 sold
Dave Grohl and co. experience an 11% increase in sales despite remaining at the same chart position as last week.
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #70, 6,520 sold
A 9% decrease isn’t enough to kick the one time American badass out of the top 70.
Seether, Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray (Wind-Up) #74, 6,480 sold
Though Seether fall twelve spots down the charts thanks to a 6% decrease in sales, we are relatively surprise by this album’s lasting power.
Limp Bizkit, Gold Cobra (Interscope) #103, 4,850 sold
Another 36% decrease for the Bizkit crew, falling 49 spots down the charts in their third week. This is pretty bad compared to the album sales Bizkit saw in their heyday. However, it’s following a similar pattern most new releases experience nowadays in regards to declining sales.
Hollywood Undead, American Tragedy (A&M/Octone) #116, 4,280 sold
Still hanging around outside the top 100 after fifteen weeks on the charts.
Def Leppard, Mirrorball (Mailboat) #129, 3,760 sold
The 80’s hair rockers’ latest live album experiences another 20% decrease. This album is sliding down the charts faster than a stripper sliding down a pole while “Pour Some Sugar On Me” is playing.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #133, 3,630 sold
Despite falling down the charts by nine spots, A7X’s sale barely budge.
August Burns Red, Leveler (Solid State) #139, 3,480 sold
Another 25% decrease for the metalcore group as they fall down the charts by 40 spots.
Black Veil Brides, Set the World on Fire (Universal Republic) #141, 3,430 sold
BVB only experience a 9% decrease despite falling 22 spots down the charts.
In Flames, Sounds of a Playground Fading (Century Media) #162, 2,960 sold
Roughly around the same place that the Swedish gang saw themselves in last week.
Pop Evil, War of Angels (eOne) #166, 2,900 sold
After debuting in the top 50 last week, Pop Evil get kicked out of the top 160 with a massive 69% decrease.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) 2,770 sold
For some reason, despite selling well above 2,700 copies, FFDP have been left off of the top 200. They were, however, mentioned in the Hard Rock Album Charts.
Unearth, Darkness in the Light (Metal Blade) #180, 2,650 sold
The Masscore group remain in the top 180 (after debuting outside of the top 70) after experiencing a 59% decrease.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #188, 2,530 sold
The one time rap-metal kings are only 12 spots away from exiting the top 200 in their 44th week.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) 2,150 sold
Who would have thought that this could be the last Disturbed album?
The Black Dahlia Murder, Ritual (Metal Blade) 1,800 sold
The death metal group gets kicked out of the top 200 with a 22% decrease in sales.
Queensryche, Dedicated to Chaos (Roadrunner/Loud & Proud) sold
Also kicked out of the top 200 is the Seattle prog rockers with another 39% decrease in sales.
Symphony X, Iconoclast (Nuclear Blast) 1,360 sold
A modest 15% decrease for the NJ progressive metallers in their 4th week.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 1,160 sold
A modest 3% increase for the Danish boys during their 35th week on the charts.
Art Of Dying, Vices And Virtures (Reprise/Intoxication) 590 sold
A nice 7% increase in sales for the Canadian rockers.
Burn Halo, Up from the Ashes (Rawkhead) 500 sold
Another 34% decrease for the group in their third week on the charts.
Morbid Angel, Illud Divinum Insanus (Season of Mist) 540 sold
Despite the mixed reviews (mostly being not so favorable), Morbid Angel’s latest release has had done moderately well for the past six weeks.
Headcat, Walk The Walk Talk The Talk (Niji) 490 sold
A 31% decrease for Lemmy’s rockabilly group in their second week on the charts.
The Devin Townsend Project, Deconstruction (HevyDevy/Inside Out) 450 sold
The heavier album of Hevy Devy’s two latest releases experiences another 13% decrease. This isn’t taking into account, though, the sales of the deluxe edition (which features both this album and Ghost).
