Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
While the top metal/hard rock debut actually comes from post-hardcore band Thrice, it would be unfair to not put the spotlight on Opeth. The Swedish prog metal band’s tenth studio album Heritage not only falls one spot behind Thrice’s, but also is their highest ranking debut to date, ranking in at #18. It’s pretty incredible to see a band like Opeth cracking the top 20, especially with an album as experimental as Heritage. Many have had mixed feelings for the album’s jazzier rock style, as well as its lack of death growl (the only record beside Damnation to solely use clean vocals). While the band may be further moving away from their death metal roots, it seems that fans still appreciate Opeth for being themselves. That, or they made some new fans thanks to NPR.
Notable Debuts:
Thrice, Major/Minor (Vagrant) #17, 19,600 sold
For a band who really can’t seem to get a break, a top 20 debut is very good news indeed.
Opeth, Heritage (Roadrunner) #18, 19,090 sold
The prog/death metal group’s tenth studio album sold roughly around the same amount as 2008’s Watershed, which debuted at #23. It’s remarkable for any band to sell even half of what they sold three years ago nowadays, let alone the same amount.
Betraying the Martyrs, Breathe in Life (Sumerian) 1,150 sold
A solid first week for Paris’ metal/harcore group.
Notable Sales:
Staind, Staind (Atlantic) #27, 15,000 sold
A 68% decrease for Staind’s self-titled album in its second week on the charts, though not enough to kick them out of the top 30.
Anthrax, Worship Music (Megaforce) #38, 10,080 sold
One quarter of the Big 4 experiences a 65% decrease in the charts, falling 27 spots down the charts. Depsite the major drop, Anthrax is still in the top 40 an is experiencing the best album sales they’ve had in a long time.
Dream Theater, A Dramatic Turn of Events (Roadrunner) #54, 8,030 sold
After debuting in the top 10 last week, the prog metal icons experience an enormous 78% decrease and fall 47 spots down the charts. Talk about a dramatic turn in sales.
Primus, Green Naugahyde (ATO) #59, 7,640 sold
The funk/prog rockers also feel the “second week decrease” blues with a 69% decrease, dropping down the charts by 45 spots.
The Devil Wears Prada, Dead Throne (Ferret) #65, 6,830 sold
Are starting to catch a trend? After debuting in the top 10, the metalcore Christians fall 54 spots down the charts with a whopping 79% decrease.
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #74, 6,210 sold
Bram got to see Dave Grohl and co. play at the IZOD Center in NJ the other night, the same show where Grohl’s former Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic came out and played accordion. Oh speaking of Nirvana, happy 20th Anniversary Nevermind!
Alice Cooper, Welcome 2 My Nightmare (Universal) #83, 5,470 sold
The shock rock king’s sequel to 1975’s Welcome To My Nightmare falls 62 spots down the charts with a 70% decrease in sales. Guess recording a duet with Ke$ha will only get you so far.
We Came as Romans, Understanding What We’ve Grown to Be (Equal Vision) #103, 4,320 sold
The metalcore group debuted in the top 20 last week, but have been kicked out of the top 100 in their second week on the charts thanks to a 77% decrease.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #124, 3,500 sold
An 18% increase in sales finds A7X jumping up the charts by 31 spots. Is their headlining stint on the Uproar Tour having an effect, or is Amazon’s $5.99 sale for the album the reason behind the sales boost? Either reason is possible, but we’re leaning towards the latter.
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #154, 2,740 sold
Another 15% decrease for Rock as he falls another nine spots down the charts. Could the American badass finally be losing steam? Well the fact that he’s lasted 45 weeks now would imply he won’t be exiting the charts so fast.
Hollywood Undead, American Tragedy (A&M/Octone) #173, 2,430 sold
A slight 7% decrease despite remaining in the same ranking as last week.
Hank III, Ghost To a Ghost/Gutter Town (Megaforce) #193, 2,080 sold
Another 42% decrease for Hank’s part country/part cajun double album, falling 63 spots down the charts in its third week.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 940 sold
We have a hunch that the Danish garage metallers are going to get a nice boost in sales thanks to Gigantour.
Wolves in the Throne Room, Celestial Lineage (Southern Lord) 790 sold
The black metal group experiences a 46% decrease in their second week.
Arch/Matheos, Sympathetic Resonance (Metal Blade) 660 sold
A 64% decrease for what’s pretty much Fates Warning 2.0 (lineup wise at least).
Hell Or Highwater, Begin Again (Self-Released) 640 sold
Atreyu drummer/co-vocalist Brandon Saller’s hard rock band hits the charts out of nowhere. Was the boost in sales caused by their current stint on the Uproar
Festival or thanks to a little website streaming their song “Terrorized In The Night”? Most likely the former (and the fact that the album is only $5.99), but we’d like to think we helped a little!
Hank III, Hank III’s Attention Deficit Domination (Megaforce) 610 sold
Another 50% decrease in sales for Hank’s “doom” album.
Hank III’s Bar Ranch, Cattle Callin’ (Megaforce) 530 sold
And coincidently, Hank’s auctioneer rock (?) album also experiences a 50% decrease. However, seeing that he’s has three albums still selling (one of which is still in the top 200 this week), we’re sure Hank’s not too worried about the major decreases.
Edguy, Age Of The Joker (Nuclear Blast) 430 sold
After an impressive first week, the German power metallers experience a 65% decrease in sales.
Vader, Welcome to the Morbid Reich (Nuclear Blast) 420 sold
The Polish death metal band’s ninth studio album experiences a 71% decrease in their second week on the charts.
