Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Last week, we saw a number of strong metal debuts, including two top twenty’s. This week, we’ve got one album in the top ten and the top fifty. Plus, a couple of high-profile albums that dropped off a few weeks ago have popped back up because of touring, sales specials, or blood magic (I’m assuming at least one band on here practices animal/human sacrifice). And next week, we’ll see where the likes of Disturbed, Ghost, The Sword, and more end up on the charts. Our guess: pretty high (that is not a stoner metal pun).
Notable Debuts:
Bullet For My Valentine, Venom (RCA) #7, 26,250 sold
The band’s fifth album debuted higher but sold less than their previous effort Temper Temper, which sold around 43,000 in its first week. Still,top ten!
Soulfly, Archangel (Nuclear Blast) #45, 4,875 sold
The tenth album from Soulfly gets a solid debut in the top fifty.
Stray From The Path, Subliminal Criminals (Sumerian) #75, 3,220 sold
The band’s seventh release falls short of it predecessor, selling less than half the amount records in its first week.
Dead Letter Circus, Aesthesis (The End) 480 sold
The progressive Aussies release their third album, following up The Catalyst Fire.
Notable Sales:
Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn (Hollywood) #32, 6,700 sold
This gets a tiny boost of 2%, no doubt thanks to their current tour.
Kid Rock, First Kiss (Warner Bros.) #39, 5,525 sold
This only moved one spot from last week. Big whoop.
Lamb of God, VII: Sturm Und Drang (Epic) #57, 4,375 sold
A 29% drop, but this is still doing well with just under 70,000 sold.
Cattle Decapitation, The Anthropocene Extinction (Metal Blade) #72, 3,450 sold
This only dropped 41% in week two, which is pretty good.
Fear Factory, Genexus (Nuclear Blast) #78, 3,150 sold
This, on the other hand, took a typical second week drop of 71%.
Faith No More, Sol Invictus (Ipecac) #95, 2,425 sold
This dropped off for a few weeks, but a giant boost blasted this back into the top 100.
Saint Asonia, Saint Asonia (RCA) #107, 2,200 sold
A 31% drop, though the band’s current tour may pick up some numbers.
Slipknot, .5: The Gray Chapter (Roadrunner) #137, 1,750 sold
This still manages to sell consistently.
Halestorm, Into the Wild Life (Atlantic) #159, 1,525 sold
A tiny 2% drop.
Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways (RCA) #169, 1,435 sold
Another boost, this time of 31%.
We Came As Romans, We Came As Romans (Equal Vision) #192, 2,875 sold
A drop of 56% almost takes this off the charts.
Miss May I, Deathless (Rise) #195, 1,225 sold
A second week drop of 87% takes this from the top twenty to the bottom five.
Teenage Time Killers, Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Rise) 520 sold
I’M EIGHTEEN…percent drop. That’s a teenager joke.
Red Sun Rising, Polyester Zeal (Razor & Tie) 480 sold
A second week drop of 74%.
Babymetal, Babymetal (VAP Japan) 370 sold
Over 26,000 sold.
Counterparts, Tragedy Will Find Us (Pure Noise) 350 sold
A 25% drop.
Northlane, Node (Rise) 350 sold
A slight drop of 4%.
Kataklysm, Of Gods & Ghosts (Nuclear Blast) 320 sold
A 44% drop.
Nekrogoblikon, Heavy Meta (Mystery Box) 300 sold
Looks like the band’s current tour has won them new fans.
Krisiun, Forged In Fury (Century Media) 290 sold
A second week 42% drop.
Lindemann, Skills In Pills (Warner Bros.) 290 sold
In a week or two this will hit the 10,000 mark.
Black Fast, Terms of Surrender (eOne) 270 sold
This surrenders a 35% drop.
From Ashes To New, Downfall (Bette Noise) 240 sold
This gets boosted back up just in time for the band’s upcoming tour.
Amaranthe, Massive Addictive (Spinefarm) 240 sold
This continues to persevere with a 14% boost.
Refused, Freedom (Epitaph) 200 sold
A 14% drop.
We Are Harlot, We Are Harlot (Roadrunner) 200 sold
This might drop off soon, the band’s tour next month could bring it back up.
