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.
There’s one winner on the charts this week, and it ain’t Jay-Z, even if he did sell 475,000 copies of The Blueprint 3. The Beatles sold about 37,000 copies of their remastered box sets (about 26k of the stereo and 11 of the mono). At $200 a pop, that’s money in the bank for Paul, Ringo and Yoko. The closest there is to a metal band that did well is Rodrigo y Gabriela, the acoustic guitar duo who completely shred, with assistance from Testament’s Alex Skolnick. 3 Inches of Blood have the next highest metal debut, with about 2,400 sold of their Century Media debut.
In short, it’s another weak week for metal releases, with not too many debuts and a lot of stuff that’s been out falling off the chart. Next week should be a completely different story, with releases from Megadeth, Shadows Fall, Black Dahlia Murder, and Every Time I Die impacting, among others. At metal radio, Kittie are #1 Most Added, while Megadeth vault to the top of the heap.
Notable Debuts
Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11 (ATO) #34, 13,500 sold
Acoustic metalheads – If you haven’t heard it yet, you should check out their amazing cover of Metallica’s “Orion.” Then go buy this album.
3 Inches of Blood, Here Waits Thy Doom (Century Media) #195, 2,400 sold
The band’s Century Media debut is off to a great start, just inside the top 200.
Threat Signal, Vigilance (Nuclear Blast) 1,100 sold
This is Threat Signal’s sophomore album. And that’s whay I have to say about them.
Ensiferum, From Afar (Spinefarm) 900 sold
Considering they just wrapped up the Summer Slaughter tour and were on the cover of Decibel, this seems like a pretty soft debut for them.
Notable Sales:
Chevelle, Sci-Fi Crimes (Epic) #26, 16,000 sold
While they’re definitely not the most metal band out there, they did play Ozzfest a few years back, and hey, at least they’re selling better than fucking ICP.
Insane Clown Posse, Bang! Pow! Boom! (Psychopathic) #43, 11,500 sold
Congratulations, America. 61,000 Jugallos exist within you.
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline/Fontana) #103, 4,700 sold
Everyone stopped talking about these guys pretty quickly. They’re still doing solid business though.
Killswitch Engage, Killswitch Engage (Roadrunner) #165, 2,750 sold
They’re still dropping modestly, but will be at 150,000 sold in a few weeks.
Various Arists, Monster Ballads: The Ultiimate Set (Razor & Tie) #173 2,600 sold
It’s late, you’re drunk and watching TV, and the next thing you know, 60 hair bands show up on your doorstep.
Disturbed, Indestructable (Reprise) #188, 2,500 sold
Any band that sells over 1 million in this day and age begrudgingly gets my respect. OK, maybe not these guys.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 850 sold
Another tour or two in America, and these guys will crack 100,000 sold.
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 800 sold
I think I give up on music. It’s been a good run.
Municipal Waste, Massive Aggressive (Earache) 650 sold
3,700 people have brought the mosh so far. You’re probably wondering what Mike Gitter thinks of the record. Well, that’s what we’re here for.
Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media) 550 sold
They’ll cross 16,000 sold next week.
Darkest Hour, Eternal Return (Victory) 450 sold
Their last Victory album is hanging in there.
Divine Heresy, Bringer of Plagues (Century Media) 400 sold
Slowly inching their way up to 10,000 sold.
FMQB Most Added
1. Kittie, In the Black (E1)
2. Dying Fetus, Descend Into Depravity (Relapse)
3. Armed For Apocalypse, Defeat (Metal Blade)
4t. Ace Frehley, Anomaly (Rocket Science)
4t. Porcupine Tree, The Incident (Roadrunner)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. Megadeth, Endgame (Roadrunner)
2. Shadows Fall “King of Nothing/Still I Rise” single (Everblack Industries/Ferret)
3. GWAR, Lust In Space (Metal Blade)
4. Slayer, “Hate Worldwide” single (Columbia/American)
5. Municipal Waste, Massive Aggressive (Earache)
6. Otep, Smash the Control Machine (Victory)
7. Hatebreed, “Sampler” (E1)
8. Behemoth, Evangelion (Metal Blade)
9. Killswitch Engage, Killswitch Engage (Roadrunner)
10. Five Finger Death Punch, “Hard To See”/”Burn It Down” (Prospect Park)
