Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
While most of the East Coast is still struggling during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, album sales across the board experienced a nice boost. And while some blonde singer upset about a break up (no, not Adele) sold over 1.2 million copies, metal and hard rock also did pretty well. Case in point, Stone Sour.
The group’s House Of Gold & Bones Pt. 1 scored a top 10 debut with well over 31,000 copies sold. Granted, this is roughly 15,000 copies less than 2010’s Audio Secrecy (which also debuted in the top 10). However, that’s still better than the gap between the later album and 2006’s Come What(ever) May (roughly 35,000 copies less to be more precise). Add onto the fact that this new record is considerably heavier than its predecessor (and has a concept, mind you), we’d say Stone Sour have a lot to celebrate.
Notable Debuts
Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones (Roadrunner) #7, 31,200 sold
The first part of a double concept album, the Corey Taylor fronted Stone Sour has a strong debut as it has found its way into the top 10. The second part is due out early next year.
The Sword, Apocryphon (Razor & Tie) #17, 16,800 sold
Austin, TX metallers The Sword have the highest debut of their career with album number four. It’s the band’s first release on Razor & Tie and the first with drummer Jimmy Vela.
Pig Destroyer, Book Burner (Relapse) #94, 4,200 sold
Album number five from grindcore masters Pig Destroyer has a deluxe edition which includes a short story titled “The Atheist” by frontman J.R. Hayes. And hey, a grindcore album is in the top 100!
Wintersun, Time I (Nuclear Blast) #101, 3,900
After eight years, Finnish metallers Wintersun have finally released their second album, with Time II set to release next year (seems like this is trending nowadays).
Upon This Dawning, To Keep Us Safe (Fearless) #179, 2,300 sold
This is the debut album for the group who hail from Italy. The album artwork looks like it’s from some 300 ripoff Facebook game.
Ill Nino, Epidemia (Victory) #183, 2,300 sold
Back with album number six, this New Jersey band is looking to “redefine Latin metal” this time around according to drummer Dave Chavarri.
Sister Sin, Now & Forever (Victory) 660 sold
Described as female fronted “old-school metal,” this Swedish band puts out album number four.
Abiotic, Symbiosis (Metal Blade) 390 sold
A slow start for the Miami tech death metal group.
Surrounded By Monsters, Novella (Nuclear Blast) 370 sold
Surrounded By Monsters aren’t surrounded by album sales.
Notable Sales
KISS, Monster (UMe) #41, 9,300 sold
KISS are smart enough to know that they’ve cultivated a fan base that will still buy whatever they put out. Combine that with some reviews that are actually solid, and you’ve got an album that’ll continue to sell.
Dethklok, Dethalbum III (Williams Street) #54, 7,900 sold
After a top 10 debut, everyone’s favorite death metal cartoon group get kick out of the top 50. Hopefully their tour with Machine Head, All That Remains and The Black Dahlia Murder will extend sales (though Hurricane Sandy hasn’t helped so far).
Rock of Ages, Soundtrack (WaterTower Music) #58, 7,050 sold
Movie studios, take note: people might not want to see Tom Cruise singing Def Leppard, but these album sales prove that they don’t mind listening to him.
Coheed And Cambria, The Afterman: Ascension (Hundred Handed) #98, 4,000 sold
Another 61% decrease for the group. But if rumors are true, they could be embarking on one hell of a tour.
In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #118, 3,400 sold
At this moment, the group is doing well with only a 2% decrease.
Papa Roach, The Connection (Eleven Seven Music) #127, 3,150 sold
Despite Jacoby Shaddix vocal injuries, Papa Roach still sticking around the top 200.
As I Lay Dying, Awakened (Metal Blade) #132, 3,050 sold
After five weeks, As I Lay Dying remain awake on the charts.
Rush, Clockwork Angels (Roadrunner) #144, 2,800 sold
After 20 weeks on the charts, Rush has sold over 241,100 copies of their latest offering.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #154, 2,600 sold
What’s more impressive than Rush remaining in the top 200 after 20 weeks? Halestorm remaining in the top 200 after 29 weeks. Strange, right?
Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist (Prospect Park) #169, 2,450 sold
And then there’s FFDP, who’ve been in the top 200 for 55 weeks now.
Between The Buried And Me, The Parallax II: Future Sequence (Metal Blade) #185, 2,300 sold
A 41% decrease finds BTBAM 15 spots away from exiting the charts for good. But like Coheed And Cambria, rumors are hinting at big things for the band’s future.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 2,000 sold
It’s the album that keeps selling, having sold roughly the same amount as last week.
Propaghandi, Failed States (Epitaph) 1,850 sold
How this album received a massive 613% increase is beyond us.
In Fear & Faith, In Fear And Faith (Rise) 900 sold
Neither fear or faith could save this album from exiting the top 200 in its second week.
Witchcraft, Legend (Nuclear Blast) 860 sold
An impressive 74% increase in the group’s fifth week, just in time for Halloween.
Texas In July, Texas In July, (Equal Vision) 840 sold
Only a slight dip in sales for the metalcore group.
Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Danza IIII: The Alpha – The Omega (Black Market Activities) 690 sold
Only a 2% decrease for the group’s final album (proof that fans still love TDTE, or that Tony Danza fans are suckers? You decide).
Enslaved, RIITIIR (Nuclear Blast) 440 sold
Another 40% decrease for the most evil group to cover Led Zeppelin.
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 410 sold
Sales for the group are otherwise…wait, we made that joke already.
AxeWound, Vultures (Search and Destroy) 400 sold
A modest 7% increase for the metal supergroup.
The HAARP Machine, Disclosure (Sumerian) 380 sold
After a solid debut last week, the U.K. group experience a 82% decrease that kicks them out of the top 200.
The Devin Townsend Project, Epicloud (HevyDevy) 340 sold
Seeing Hevy Devy perform Strapping Young Lad material for the first time in years is truly epic.
Steve Harris, British Lion (UmE) 330 sold
The Iron Maiden bassist’s time on the charts is coming close to an end.
