Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
For the past month or so, we’ve seen major releases from the biggest bands in metal from Mastodon to Overkill. So it’s only natural that we’d get an off-week where not only are there only two debuts that classify as hard rock, but both bands are described as “alternative metal, post-grunge, hard rock” according to Wikipedia. Not that that’s inherently bad, but one could certainly deem it less exciting. In fact, the most noteworthy thing about this week’s edition is that there’s a brief mention of Rascal Flatts, which rarely happens on this site and hopefully will not happen again for a very, very long time. Otherwise, it’s just the usual round of boosts for summer tours with two classic rock acts (Tom Petty and Eric Clapton, respectively) taking the #1 and #2 spots on the chart this week.
Notable Debuts:
Theory of a Deadman, Savages (Roadrunner) #8, 28,425 sold
The band’s fifth album lands in the top 10 and is the band’s second best debut ever. It also features guest vocals from Alice Cooper (which is cool) and Joe Don Rooney from Rascal Flatts (not so cool).
Adelitas Way, Stuck (Virgin) #30, 7,725 sold
The band’s third album grants them their best debut yet.
Notable Sales:
Rise Against, The Black Market (Interscope) #35, 7,050 sold
A 42% drop but this is still selling well.
Linkin Park, The Hunting Party (Warner Bros.) #37, 7,050 sold
It won’t be long until this crosses over the 200,000 mark.
Various Artists, 2014 Vans Warped Tour Compilation (Side One Dummy) #38, 6,775 sold
A 14% drop doesn’t bring this down too far.
Judas Priest, Redeemer of Souls (Epic) #51, 5,350 sold
A drop of 27%, but this will likely see some boosts soon.
Seether, Isolate & Medicate (The Bicycle Music Company) #53, 5,200 sold
Maybe the 14% drop is because the album title makes people associate it with the Ebola virus.
Suicide Silence, You Can’t Stop Me (Nuclear Blast) #56, 4,600 sold
Somewhat surprisingly, this gets a boost of 8% in its third week.
Crown the Empire, The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways (Rise) #7, 4,700 sold
We’re not sure why the band made a concept album about The Runaways, but this did drop by 81% in its second week.
Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King (Warner Bros.) #94, 2,925 sold
Another boost (9%) thanks to Mayhem Fest.
Overkill, White Devil Armory (eOne) #99, 2,850 sold
A second week drop of 66%.
The Pretty Reckless, Going To Hell (Razor & Tie) #146, 2,025 sold
This is just under the 100,000 mark.
Mastodon, Once More ‘Round The Sun (Reprise) #150, 1,925 sold
A 25% drop, but possible boosts may come down the (high) road.
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2 (Prospect Park) #155, 1,900 sold
Oh, whatever shall we talk about now that there’s only one FFDP album on here?
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #162, 1,825 sold
A slight drop of 2%, but this is still going.
Fozzy, Do You Wanna Start a War (Century Media) #160, 1,750 sold
A second week drop of 69%.
For All Those Sleeping, Incomplete Me (Fearless) #166, 1,700 sold
A 47% boost brings this back up on the charts (again) after dropping off last week (again).
Chevelle, La Gargola (Epic) #168, 1,675 sold
A 15% drop might have them seeing red again.
Of Mice & Men, Restoring Force (Rise) #193, 1,500 sold
Just under 125,000 sold.
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #197, 1,675 sold
This is at the tail end of the charts after dropping off last week. An impressive 236,000 sold.
Nothing More, Nothing More (Eleven Seven) #151, 1,450 sold
This popped back up on the charts too. I’m sure the band would love nothing more than to stay on.
Vanna, VOID (Pure Noise) 890 sold
If the band ever makes their own ice cream it obviously has to be called “Vanna Vanilla Banana Nana Fo Filla”.
Fallujah, The Flesh Prevails (Unique Leader) #101, 860 sold
A second week 70% doesn’t quite prevail, but if positive buzz equaled sales, this would’ve been a lot higher.
Ice Nine Kills, The Predator Becomes the Prey (Outerloop) 730 sold
A big boost of 56% in the round of Warped Tour sales.
Get Scared, Everyone’s Out To Get Me (Fearless) 700 sold
A 55% boost here is scary.
Rival Sons, Great Western Valkyrie (Earache) 340 sold
As opposed to the Great Western Railway, which is a slightly less cooler sounding title for a hard rock band.
Fit For A King, Creation/Destruction (Tooth & Nail) 270 sold
This band’s stint on (take a wild guess) Warped Tour merits them a 56% boost.
Gemini Syndrome, Lux (Warner Bros.) 370 sold
A slight boost of 4%.
Origin, Omnipresent (Nuclear Blast) 670 sold
A 50% drop despite the band’s spot on Summer Slaughter.
Boris, Noise (Sergent House) 320 sold
After being absent for a few weeks, this reappears thanks to some shows with The Atlas Moth.
Deafheaven, Sunbather (Deathwish) 320 sold
For the people who are only just now hearing about this band.
Betraying The Martyrs, Phantom (Sumerian) 310 sold
A 32% drop.
Big Wreck, Ghosts (Zoe) 290 sold
If you have ghosts…then you’re probably either Big Wreck, Ghost, or Roky Erickson.
Babymetal, Babymetal (VAP Japan) 280 sold
A 2% boost to match the combined age of all three band members (kidding, it’s actually 46).
Monuments, Amanuensis (Century Media) 270 sold
A drop of 21%, but the band’s tour with Glass Cloud and Scale The Summit has kept this afloat.
Reflections, Exi(s)t (eOne) 260 sold
That same tour is what brought this album back up after a long absence.
