Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Yet another stout list of metal debuts has graces Metal By Numbers this week with a total of twenty bands. I would have definitely missed a few if I hadn’t used Chris Colgan’s handy-dandy list for guidance. This makes up for a few big names that have dropped off here after a long run including Slipknot and Foo Fighters, but they’ll likely turn back up again at some point. Some albums just don’t stay down for long. And anyway, other big name albums are always on the way. Take for example the top five debut of Shinedown as well as new albums from Atreyu, TesseracT, and The Black Dahila Murder to name a few. If you thought the metal train was stopping soon, this week should tell you nothing is further from the truth.
Notable Debuts:
Shinedown, Threat To Survival (Atlantic) #5, 61,425 sold
Shinedown’s latest has a strong opening, but doesn’t match up to the debut of their previous album that sold 106,000 in its first week.
Chris Cornell, Higher Truth (UMe) #15, 17,800 sold
This is the fourth studio album from the Soundgarden frontman and his first since 2009. Fortunately, Timabaland isn’t involved in this one.
Blessthefall, To Those Left Behind (Fearless) #16, 16,375 sold
The band’s fifth album falls short of topping the first-week sales of its predecessor, but charts just as high.
Atreyu, Long Live (Spinefarm) #17, 14,700 sold
Atreyu’s first album in six years indicates a solid comeback with its debut.
The Black Dahlia Murder, Abysmal (Metal Blade) #28, 9,800 sold
The band’s anticipated followup to Everblack has an excellent debut despite not topping it’s predecessor.
TesseracT, Polaris (Kscope) #57, 5,025 sold
Equipped with original vocalist Daniel Tompkins, TesseracT’s third album marks their best debut yet.
Metal Allegiance, Metal Allegiance (Nuclear Blast) #65, 4,600 sold
This all-star project originally conceived by David Ellefson, Mike Portnoy, Alex Skolnick, and Mike Menghi makes a solid debut.
Scale The Summit, V (Prosthetic) #95, 3,125 sold
The instrumental band’s fifth album is their highest charting yet.
Reflections, Color Clear (eOne) #96, 3,025 sold
The band’s sophomore effort marks their biggest debut yet.
Windhand, Grief’s Eternal Flower (Relapse) #102, 2,825 sold
The third album from this doom act makes more than triple the debut of their previous album.
Operation: Mindcrime, The Key (Frontiers) #122, 2,475 sold
Formerly known as “Queensrÿche-no-not-that-one-the-other-one”, Geoff Tate releases the first in a projected trilogy of albums.
Mindless Self Indulgence, Pink (Metropolis) #172, 1,575 sold
This compilation album is fronted by a cover of “Personal Jesus”.
Devil City Angels, Devil City Angels (Century Media) 1,150 sold
This group features members of Poison, L.A. Guns, and Whitesnake.
XXI, Inside Out (Tooth & Nail) 1,075 sold
This is the debut album from the band formerly known as A Feast For Kings.
Stratovarius, Eternal (Edel) 950 sold
The band’s fifteenth album features the songwriting credit of Sonata Arctica’s Jani Liimatainen.
Crossfaith, Xeno (Razor & Tie) 920 sold
This is the third album from this Japanese industrial act.
My Dying Bride, Feel The Misery (Peaceville) 830 sold
The band’s twelfth studio album tops the sales of its predecessor.
Annihilator, Suicide Society (UDR) 750 s0ld
The fifteenth album from Annihilator hits the charts.
Leaves’ Eyes, King of Kings (AFM) 570 sold
The band presents a double concept album concerning Viking lore.
Christian Mistress, To Your Death (Relapse) 550 sold
The band’s third album debuts about the same as its predecessor.
Tsjunder, Antiliv (Season of Mist) 340 sold
The black metal act returns with their second album.
Slayer, Repentless (Nuclear Blast) #20, 11,000 sold
This sticks in the top 20 after a 77% drop.
Bring Me The Horizon, That’s The Spirit (Columbia) #21, 10,875 sold
A 80% in week two flips the band just beneath Slayer this week.
Iron Maiden, The Book of Souls (BMG) #26, 9,950 sold
This clears the 100,000 mark in week three.
Disturbed, Immortalized (Reprise) #40, 7,025 sold
Just under 150,000 sold after five weeks.
Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn (Hollywood) #62, 4,700 sold
A 2% boost as this crosses over 250,000 sold.
Hollywood Vampires, Hollywood Vampires (UMe) #63, 4,700 sold
A 47% drop in week two. Hopefully Johnny Depp will be able to afford to eat.
Scorpions, Return To Forever (RCA) #111, 2,675 sold
A 59% drop in week two.
Ghost, Meliora (Loma Vista) #131, 2,275 sold
The postponed Philly show originally advertised as the “Pope-off” happened last night. Hopefully Papa wasn’t missing Francis too badly.
Lamb of God, VII: Sturm Und Drang (Epic) #153, 1,800 sold
A drop of 20% is such a dra(n)g.
Bullet For My Valentine, Venom (RCA) #159, 1,725 sold
A 19% drop.
Meytal, Alchemy (Light Drop) #163, 1,700 sold
A behemoth sized boost brings this way back up on the charts.
Pop Evil, Up (eOne) #178, 1,525 sold
A heard a song from this album the other day. It was not quite pop, nor was it evil.
A 35% drop as the band manages to finish their US tour.
Halestorm, Into the Wild Life (Atlantic) #144, 1,400 sold
Just under 125,000 sold.
Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, The Night Creeper (Rise Above) #148, 970 sold
This is still keeping up pretty well after a 36% drop.
Full Devil Jacket, Valley of Bones (eOne) 660 sold
This gets a huge boost back onto the charts.
From Ashes To New, Downfall (Bette Noise) 560 sold
This doesn’t fall after a 13% boost.
Nile, What Should Not Be Unearthed (Nuclear Blast) 550 sold
A 25% drop should not be unearthed.
Amorphis, Under The Red Cloud (Nuclear Blast) 420 sold
A cloudy drop of 12%.
Riverside, Love, Fear, and the Time Machine (InsideOut) 320 sold
Fear a 38% drop.
Red Sun Rising, Polyester Zeal (Razor & Tie) 300 sold
This rises with an 11% boost.
Battlecross, Rise To Power (Metal Blade) 240 sold
Doesn’t power through a 43% drop.
Spock’s Beard, The Oblivion Particle (InsideOut) 240 sold
A 31% is getting kind of hairy.
Hate Eternal, Infernus (Season of Mist) 240 sold
Hopefully a 30% drop isn’t eternal.
Rivers of Nihil, Monarchy (Metal Blade) 230 sold
A 21% boost upstream.
