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.
Love them or despise them, you’ve got to hand it to Five Finger Death Punch (get it, hand?). They sold over 44,000 copies of their sophomore album, even without their guitar player being around. Children of Bodom pop up inside the top 100 as well. It’s not the juggernaut of last week, with tons of metal albums debuting, but we’ll take it. Megadeth continue to dominate at Metal radio airplay according to FMQB, while one of next week’s big sellers, Metalocalypse: Dethklok, easily snag Most Added. Complete rundown after the jump.
Notable Debuts
Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer (Prospect Park) #7 44,200 sold
Currently on tour with Shadows Fall, FFDP are one of the few newer (or is that nu-er) metal bands that have caught on a big scale. Commercial radio is helping, but they’re a straight-ahead meat and potatoes metal band
Children of Bodom, Skeletons in the Closet (Fontana Universal) #81 5,600 sold
If you haven’t seen the amazing commercial for this covers album, you should click on the link (unless midgets scare you).
Despised Icon, Day of Mourning (Century Media) #162 3,000 sold
Not a terrible start for this wiggercore/deathcore band’s fourth album.
Sonata Arctica, The Days of Grays (Nuclear Blast) 2,000 sold
Yeah Finnish power metal!
Skindred, Shark Bites and Dog Fights (Beiler Bros Records) 2,000 sold
We liked Benji more when he was in Dub War, but Skindred is still playing their brand of “Ragga Metal” over 10 years later.
Vader, Necropolis (Nuclear Blast) 1,100 sold
The 8th studio album from the Polish death metal merchants has an ok first week.
Insomnium, Across the Dark (Candlelight) 480 sold
The melodic death/doom metal band’s fourth album has a pretty slow first official sales week. Which might make them sad enough to write their next album.
Evile, Infected Nations (Earache Records) 450 sold
Am I Evile? No, I’m not. Looks like their inclusion in Rock Band didn’t really spark a ton of sales for their second album.
Echoes of Eternity, As Shadows Burn (Nuclear Blast) 450 sold
This album was produced by former Machine Head/Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader.
Notable Sales:
Megadeth, Endgame (Roadrunner) #36, 13,000 sold
A pretty steep 71% drop, but selling 13,000 copies in your second week is nothing to sneeze at. If you like guitar solos, you owe it to yourself to pick this album up. Watch Metal Insider for an exclusive interview with Dave Mustaine.
Ace Frehley, Anomaly (Rocket Science) #83 5,500 sold
Ace has gotta be psyched to have the relative success of his first solo album in years without any members of KISS taking the majority of his money.
Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11 (ATO) #85, 5,500 sold
Only a 15% drop from last week, the shredding flamenco duo have sold over 25,000 copies of their second album.
Black Dahlia Murder, Deflorate (Metal Blade) #91 5,200 sold
Staying in the top 100 for a second week, BDM are surprising the hell ouf of chart-watchers, present company included.
Porcupine Tree, The Incident (Roadrunner) #97, 5,000 sold
72% less people bought this album this week from last, but that’s to be expected with a band that’s got such a devoted fan base. Who wants to hear how good an album is from a friend. They need it now!
Every Time I Die, New Junk Aesthetic (Epitaph) #105 4,700 sold
How many metal bands have a singer that was an English teacher? How many bands have a Pete Wentz bass cameo on their album?
Insane Clown Posse, Bang! Pow! Boom! (Psychopathic) #113, 4,500 sold
OK guys, I was just kidding. ICP are about as metal as Fall Out Boy. Oh wait…
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline/Fontana) #119, 4,000 sold
These guys aren’t particularly metal either, but Sammy Hagar used to be badass back in the ’80s before he became Jimmy Buffet with a blonde wig. Google that shit.
Shadows Fall, Retribution (Everblack Industries/Ferret) #120, 4,000 sold
A pretty steep 72% dropoff from last week. They’re a touring band though, so they’ll sell city by city. This should cross 20,000 sold next week.
Dying Fetus, Descend Into Depravity (Relapse) 1,050 sold
Hard to believe Dying Fetus have been around for 18 years.
Three Inches of Blood, Here Waits Thy Doom (Century Media) 1,000 sold
These guys sold about the same number of albums this week as they did last week. If they can get into a groove and tour, they should be set for a while.
It Dies Today, Lividity (Trustkill) 950 sold
They’ll cross the 3,000 sold barrier next week. That’s not the greatest milestone three weeks in, but we’re living in a new reality.
Anvil, This is Thirteen (VH1 Classic) 800 sold
The awesome documentary will be in stores next week, which might help some sales, as should its airing on VH1 Classic this Saturday.
The 69 Eyes, Back in Blood (The End) 775 sold
Only a few days left to register to win a coffin box set of this album.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 700 sold
They’re currently touring with Every Time I Die. From what I hear, it’s a pretty young audience. Young audiences will grow up and hopefully keep loving metal.
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 600 sold
Except for Attack Attack! fans, who will probably discover ICP next.
Arsonists Get All The Girls, Portals (Century Media) 435 sold
The band’s third album, and first with vocalist Jared Monnette, will cross 5,000 sold next week.
Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media) 430 sold
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FMQB Most Added
1. Dethklok Dethalbum II (Williams Street)
2. Hatebreed, Hatebreed (E1)
3. Between the Buried and Me, The Great Misdirect Sampler (Victory)
4. Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer (Prospect Park)
5t. Arch Enemy, The Root of all Evil (Century Media)
5t. Evergreen Terrace, Almost Home (Metal Blade)
5t. Revocation, Existence is Futile (Relapse)
1. Megadeth, Endgame (Roadrunner)
2. Hatebreed, Hatebreed (E1)
3. Shadows Fall Retribution (Everblack Industries/Ferret)
4. Dethklok Dethalbum II (Williams Street)
5. GWAR, Lust In Space (Metal Blade)
6. Municipal Waste, Massive Aggressive (Earache)
7. 3 Inches of Blood, Here Waits Thy Doom (Century Media)
8. Black Dahlia Murder, Deflorate (Metal Blade)
9. Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer (Prospect Park)
10. Dirge Within, Force Fed Lies (Koch Records)