Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Every week I check out what albums are scheduled for release in the coming months and it always gets me giddy (the absence of a new Tool album notwithstanding). Things look pretty stacked from here till May, and who the hell knows what will come up after that? Maybe Metallica will drop a new album out of nowhere and then the Big Four will all have put out a new album within a year. Or maybe they’ll just watch The Black Album drop another 5,000 copies into the bucket.
Notable Debuts:
The Word Alive, Dark Matter (Fearless) #31, 7,250 sold
The band’s fourth studio album doesn’t quite outdo their previous LP, but it’s still a great debut.
Boris/Merzbow, Gensho (Relapse) 870 sold
This is the third collaboration from these two Japanese drone metal acts.
Circus Maximus, Havoc (Frontiers) 830 sold
The band’s fourth album edges the band’s previous debut.
Light Up The Sky, Nightlife (Rise) 580 sold
This is the band’s debut album. They also go by LUTS, which amuses me for some reason.
Lords of Black, II (Frontiers) 270 sold
As the title implies, this is the band’s second album.
The Body, No One Deserves Happiness (Thrill Jockey) 230 sold
This is the sludge metal act’s fifth release.
Notable Sales:
Shinedown, Threat To Survival (Atlantic) #23, 8,675 sold
Two weeks ago this was at #104. Now it’s in the top 25 with just under 200,000 sold.
Disturbed, Immortalized (Reprise) #27, 7,800 sold
This sells nearly the same as last week. Also, David Draiman will shame you if you text at their shows.
Killswitch Engage, Incarnate (Roadrunner) #29, 7,375 sold
A second week drop of 78%, but it’s still in the top 30.
Megadeth, Dystopia (UMe) #73, 3,625 sold
A slight drop of 8%.
Five Finger Death Punch, Got Your Six (Prospect Park) #75, 3,500 sold
Got your six percent drop (I’ve been waiting so long to use that).
Anthrax, For All Kings (Megaforce) #82, 3,200 sold
A 33% drop with just under 50,000 sold.
Red, Of Beauty and Rage (Essential) #131, 2,125 sold
A 6% drop is not so beautiful.
Dream Theater, The Astonishing (Roadrunner) #161, 1,675 sold
A big 50% boost brings this back up onto the charts.
Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn (Hollywood) #164, 1,650 sold
A 12% drop with just under 330,000 sold.
Bring Me The Horizon, That’s The Spirit (Columbia) #169, 1,625 sold
Bring a 12% boost.
The Plot In You, Happiness In Self Destruction (Stay Sick) 450 sold
A boost of 15% is happiness.
Ice Nine Kills, Every Trick In The Book (Fearless) 440 sold
A 22% drop? NEIN.
Last In Line, Heavy Crown (Frontiers) 420 sold
A 19% drop cuts through the line.
Outline In Color, Struggle (Standby) 370 sold
A second week 68% drop.
Red Sun Rising, Polyester Zeal (Razor & Tie) 370 sold
A tiny boost of 2%.
Affiance, Gaia (Self-Released) 350 sold
A 80% second week drop.
Holy Grail, Times of Pride & Peril (Prothetic) 350 sold
A 37% boost thanks to touring magic.
Failure Anthem, First World Problems (Razor & Tie) 270 sold
This got boosted back up by 58%.
Obscura, Akróasis (Relapse) 310 sold
A 23% boost isn’t so obscure.
Avantasia, Ghostlights (Nuclear Blast) 250 sold
A slight drop of 5%.
Fleshgod Apocalypse, King (Nuclear Blast) 240 sold
A 23% dropocalypse.
Wage War, Blueprints (Fearless) 230 sold
A 28% boost back onto the charts.
Silent Planet, The Night God Slept (Solid State) 300 sold
A 25% drop, by god.
Delain, Lunar Prelude (Napalm) 220 sold
