Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Okay, well technically, the biggest selling rock/metal act of the week is Black Stone Cherry, whose butt-rock debut for Mascot landed them the #15 current album in the country, but just behind them by literally 33 albums are Babymetal. The band’s come a long way since 2014, and we don’t mean geographically. For them to have a top 20 album in the States from a Japanese-language album is pretty impressive. Either J-pop is blowing up in the States, or there’s lots of creepy people that like watching Japanese teens sing metal, but this suggests that it’s more than just novelty.
Notable Debuts:
Black Stone Cherry, Kentucky (Mascot) #15, 12,275 sold
The band’s fifth album is named after their home state.
Babymetal, Metal Resistance (RAL) #16, 12,250 sold
After the slow burn of their debut album, which was only available as an import or digital download for most of it’s time in the States, this is obviously their biggest sales week in America.
The Used , Live and Acoustic at the Palace (Hopeless) #44, 5,580 sold
Remember when The Used were on Ozzfest and the singer was dating Kelly Osbourne? Oh, us neither.
Charles Bradley, Changes (Daptone) #52, 4,650 sold
This isn’t really metal, but if you haven’t heard his cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” then you’re doing it wrong.
Mike & The Melvins, Three Men & a Baby (Sub Pop) #111, 2,500 sold
This album, featuring Melvins and former godheadSilo bassist/vocalist Mike Kunka, is 17 years old and just got released.
Entheos, The Infinite Nothing (Artery) 1,300 sold
If you’re a fan of The Faceless, Animals as Leaders or Animosity, you’ll want to listen to the band’s full-length debut. Read an interview with band mastermind Evan Brewer here.
Graves at Sea, , The Curse That Is (Relapse) 890 sold
This sludge band did swimmingly this week. Sea what we did there?
Moonsorrow, Jumalten Aika (Century Media) 685 sold
The Finnish band’s seventh album, and first in five years, has an ok debut.
Tombs, All Empires Fall (Relapse) 675 sold
The band’s third EP has a respectable debut
In Dying Arms, Original Sin (Tragic Hero) 300 sold
Is 300 records good or bad for a deathcore band? Asking for a friend.
Soto, Divak (EARmusic) 275 sold
Jeff Scott Soto, who’s sang with Journey and Yngwie Malmsteen has a solo album out.
Notable Sales:
Disturbed, Immortalized (Reprise) #26, 8,425 sold
This has sold 330,000 copies so far, and with their “Sound of Silence” cover approved by Paul Simon himself, it should keep going.
Amon Amarth, Jomsviking (Metal Blade) #45, 5,300 sold
This has sold over 25,000 copies in two weeks.
Metal Church, XI (Rat Pak) #49, 4,900 sold
The band’s in the middle of a career renaissance. Only a 54% second-week drop following the return of Mike Howe.
Halestorm, Into the Wild Life (Atlantic) #50, 4,800 sold
Good week for Halestorm. First they get two gold records, then their latest album rebounds back on to the chart.
Asking Alexandria, The Black (Sumerian) #51, 4,790 sold
A gigantic second-week drop of 83%, but at a two-week tally of about 33,000, they’re probably not complaining too much.
Coheed & Cambria, Color Before the Sun (300 Entertainment) Re-entry #76, 3,475 sold
This has a huge jump back onto the charts, with nearly a 200% increase from last week. It’s sold 75,000 so far.
In This Moment, Black Widow (Atlantic) Re-entry #79, 3,400 sold
Another band that catapults back onto the charts this week. It’s sold over 163,000.
Highly Suspect, Mister Asylum (300 Entertainment) #83, 3,300 sold
This also re-enters the chart. It’s a little sad that a Grammy-nominated rock band with a year-old album has only sold 45,000 so far.
Five Finger Death Punch, Got Your Six (Prospect Park) #89, 3,000 sold
This sells slightly less than it did last week, but it’s still moved over 300,000 so far.
Killswitch Engage, Incarnate (Roadrunner) #93, 2,950 sold
This should cross the 50,000-sold mark next week. Not bad for five weeks.
Trivium, Silence in the Snow #99, 2,900 sold
This had a big bounce back onto the charts this week, and should hit 50,000 sold in the next few weeks like their above label-mates.
Megadeth, Dystopia (Tradecraft/UMe) #110, 2,500 sold
This might still be 2016’s biggest-selling metal album.
Shinedown, Threat To Survival (Atlantic) #120, 2,450 sold
This one takes a 53% hit, but it’s sold over 200,000 so far.
Anthrax, For All Kings (Megaforce) #145, 2,000 sold
This has sold about 55,000 despite a 20% drop this week.
Red, Of Beauty and Rage (Essential) #186, 1,450 sold
This has sold 113,0000 so far.
Bring Me The Horizon, That’s The Spirit (Columbia) #192, 1,400 sold
This is in danger of dropping off the top 200, but it’s been a 30-week run.
Abbath, Abbath (Season of Mist) 410 sold
With the Decibel tour ending this week,the album’s sold a pretty respectable 7,500 or so since it was released three months ago.
Caspian, Dust and Disquiet (Triple Crown) 380 sold
Playing with Underoath still continues to pay off for the band.
American Head Charge, Tango Umbrella (Napalm) 350 sold
The band’s first album in 11 years has an 81% second-week drop.
Walls of Jericho, No One Can Save You from Yourself (Napalm) 330 sold
No one can save this from dropping 68% in it’s second week, but 330 people tried
O’Brother, Endless Light (Triple Crown) 325 sold
O’Brother, where are thou? Falling 85% in it’s second week.
Last In Line, Heavy Crown (Frontiers) 300 sold
R.I.P. Jimmy Bain.
Ice Nine Kills, Every Trick In The Book (Fearless) 275 sold
This has sold over 16,000 copies.
Cobalt, Slow Forever (Profound Lore) 250 sold
A 75% second week drop.
