Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
While the list of debuts is much shorter than it was a month ago, they always have some heavy hitters in there. This week, the debuts are spearheaded by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a band that, around this time of year, always manages to reach an audience of metal lovers and Christmas lovers (though this album isn’t a Christmas rock opera). Granted, both groups will have people who probably have never listened to Savatage a day in their life but damn that TSO version of “Carol of the Bells” still kicks ass. For everyone else, Intronaut and Swallow The Sun is sure to satisfy.
Notable Debuts:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Letters From The Labyrinth (Republic) #6, 45,674 sold
The band’s sixth album lands in the top 10 and is their second best debut after 2009’s Night Castle.
Intronaut, The Direction of Last Things (Century Media) #119, 2,550 sold
Intronaut land their best debut yet on their fifth album.
Swallow The Sun, Songs From the North I, II, & III (Century Media) 820 sold
The band’s sixth release is not one, not two, but a three album set of songs.
Revocation, Empire of the Obscene (Metal Blade) 650 sold
Revocation’s self-released debut album receives the reissue treatment via Metal Blade.
Sacrilege, Behind the Realms of Madness (Relapse) 270 sold
Following the band’s return last year, their debut album has been rereleased.
Notable Sales:
Five Finger Death Punch, Got Your Six (Prospect Park) #48, 6,050 sold
Over 230,000 sold.
Def Leppard, Def Leppard (Mailboat) #57, 5,200 sold
A 41% drop is DEFinitely not welcome.
Shinedown, Threat To Survival (Atlantic) #81, 3,900 sold
Just under 120,000 sold.
Disturbed, Immortalized (Reprise) #97, 3,300 sold
A 9% drop.
Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn (Hollywood) #105, 2,900 sold
Just under 280,000 sold.
Puscifer, Money Shot (Puscifer Entertainment) #107, 2,775 sold
If you were still holding your breath for news about a Tool album, Adam Jones has an update for you (sorta).
Coheed and Cambria, The Color Before The Sun (300 Entertainment) #123, 2,450 sold
Wait, so this isn’t a concept album? Whoa.
Iron Maiden, The Book of Souls (BMG) #129, 2,325 sold
A 31% drop on the books.
Bring Me The Horizon, That’s The Spirit (Columbia) #131, 2,300 sold
Ten weeks on with over 95,000 sold.
Deafheaven, New Bermuda (ANTI-) #138, 2,125 sold
This got boosted back on the charts thanks to some touring boosts.
Red Sun Rising, Polyester Zeal (Razor & Tie) 460 sold
Another boost, this time of 23%.
Saxon, Battering Ram (UDR) 430 sold
Rammed down by a 44% drop.
Myka, Relocate, The Young Souls (Razor & Tie) 300 sold
A 47% drop is soulless.
Get Scared, Demons (Fearless) 280 sold
This is back after dropping off the week after its debut.
Killing Joke, Pylon (Spinefarm) 270 sold
This sold about the same as least week.
Fit for an Autopsy, Absolute Hope Absolute Hell (eOne) 270 sold
This gets boosted back up as the band continues its tour with The Acacia Strain.
Vanden Plas, Chronicles of the Immortals: Netherworld (Path 2) (Frontiers) 210 sold
A second week drop of 55%.
