Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
B-side compilations are usually good for bands because they can be used to say “We don’t have a new studio album yet, but here’s some songs you might not know all the words to while you wait”. And apparently, Rise Against can break into the Top 20 just by putting out B-sides and covers. Apart from that, we have sales for a new Ministry album, Gemini Syndrome’s debut, and a Katatonia album that, once again, is technically not new material. But hey, it’s metal albums on the charts. What more could you want?
Notable Debuts:
Rise Against, Long Forgotten Songs: B-Sides & Covers (2000-2013) (Interscope) #19, 16,675 sold
Rise Against takes the top spot this week with a compilation of B-sides and covers.
Balance and Composure, The Things We Think We’re Missing (No Sleep) #51, 7,100 sold
This post-hardcore band have an amazing showing with their Pitchfork-approved sophomore full-length.
Ministry, From Beer To Eternity (AFM) #130, 2,716 sold
Ministry just put out an album last year, but now the band is already back with album number thirteen. Apparently it’s their last one, which is something they haven’t said for at least two albums now.
Gemini Syndrome, Lux (Warner Bros.) #135, 2,625 sold
The debut album from Gemini Syndrome gets a solid entry into the Top 200.
Fit For An Autopsy, Hellbound (eOne) 1,300 sold
The latest from the New Jersey death metallers is fit for a debut.
Katatonia, Dethroned & Uncrowned (Kscope) 1,075 sold
This isn’t a new album per se but rather an acoustic version of 2012’s Dead End Kings.
Down To Nothing, Life On The James (Revelation) 630 sold
The latest from the Virginian hardcore act makes its debut.
Death Ray Vision, We Ain’t Leavin’ Till You’re Bleedin’ (Bullet Tooth) 320 sold
Current members of Killswitch Engage and Shadows Fall and ex members of Overcast and Cannae unite for this new project.
Notable Sales:
Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks (Columbia) #12, 22,975 sold
This is still sticking to strong sales in its second week.
Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King (Warner Bros.) #13, 22,900 sold
The new album is just outside of the top 10 in week #3, and it’s also in the crosshairs of a certain other metal musician. But with over 224,000 sold in three weeks, I’m sure A7X aren’t losing any sleep.
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 (Prospect Park) #35, 9,250 sold
This is at the same position as last week but it dropped 31%. And by the time Vol. 2 comes out, this will be halfway to gold.
Skillet, Rise (Atlantic), #90, 4,000 sold
Sales drop 19% in week 12.
Kid Rock, Rebel Soul (Atlantic) #108, 3,400 sold
This has a high chart position but dropped just a tad by 9%.
Black Sabbath, 13 (Universal) #117, 3,100 sold
Fun fact: this album now holds the record in the UK for longest gap between studio albums that debuted at number 1, with Paranoid having been 43 years ago.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #124, 2,875 sold
Just under 280,000 sold.
Asking Alexandria, From Death To Destiny (Sumerian) #146, 2,400 sold
These guys will soon have a tour going with Sevendust and All That Remains.
Queens Of The Stone Age, …Like Clockwork (Matador) #119, 2,200 sold
At week 15, this has sold over 180,000 in total.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #160, 2,175 sold
A 20% drop this week, but it’s sold 105,000 already.
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #161, 2,175 sold
It’s no surprise that this has already gone gold in Denmark.
DevilDriver, Winter Kills (Napalm) #164, 2,100 sold
A 43% drop is driving this downward, but it’ll likely hit 20,000 sold next week.
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #171, 2,000 sold
The sales boost streak ends with a 30% drop.
Alice In Chains, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (Virgin) #184, 1,875 sold
In case you missed it, the band put out two music videos a few weeks back.
Born Of Osiris, Tomorrow We Die Alive (Sumerian) #197, 1,750 sold
This is in danger of falling off the Top 200. The upcoming tour with Periphery may change that.
Modern Life Is War, Fever Hunting (Deathwish) 1,100 sold
After debuting last week, this got a huge boost of 164%.
Gorguts, Colored Sands (Season of Mist) 710 sold
Frontman Luc Lemay said he was inspired by Opeth and Porcupine Tree on this album. That’s never a bad thing.
Vista Chino, Peace (Napalm) 600 sold
At least we don’t have two versions of Kyuss running around, unlike Queensryche.
Deafheaven, Sunbather (Deathwish) 590 sold
You know you’ve made it when your band’s music is used during Apple’s latest keynote and launch campaign.
Watain, The Wild Hunt (Century Media) 490 sold
The wild hunt for more sales.
Portnoy, Sheehan, MacAlpine, Sherinian, Live In Tokyo (Eagle Rock) 460 sold
This might not last much longer on the charts, but chances are Mike Portnoy will be featured on some other album in a few weeks.
Fit For A King, Creation/Destruction (Tooth & Nail) 430 sold
This dropped off the charts for a while, but not it’s back with just under 12,000 sold.
Kreator, Dying Alive (Nuclear Blast) 370 sold
Hopefully this can kreate more sales.
Fleshgod Apocalypse, Labyrinth (Nuclear Blast) 535 sold
Apparently, the band’s drummer Francesco Ferrini is (or at least was) selling his drum kit, presumably because he beat it to shit while on tour.
Annihilator, Feast (UDR) 310 sold
This isn’t exactly feasting on sales.
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 310 sold
What does eventually die is how many times we can make a joke about the album title.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 300 sold
This might have a falling out with the charts soon.
