Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Game of Thrones has been done for a few weeks now, and if you’re a fan you’ve likely heard by now that season seven has been delayed. Naturally, that’s led to the joke that George R.R. Martin, author of the books and often ridiculed for writing slowly, may actually finish the sixth book in that time (he’s been at it for about five years now). But those fans who also listen to metal may scoff at the amount of pissing and moaning going on over only five years between releases. After all, we’re no strangers to getting our hopes up over when new albums might be coming out. Just look at the most recent rumor regarding Tool’s new album a whole decade after their last one. When it comes to highly-anticipated releases, we should know by now that it’ll be done when it’s done and when the creators bless us with the news themselves.
Also, before we get to the charts, the total number of units sold for Megadeth’s Dystopia was requested. The album has sold over 125,700 copies so far this year and remains the top selling metal album to be released in 2016. Deftones follow in second with over 110,700 sold.
Notable Debuts:
Chevelle, The North Corridor (Epic) Debut #2 31,275 sold
Chevelle’s new album takes the number two spot, making it their highest charting album yet. It doesn’t sell quite as much as its predecessor though.
Nonpoint, The Poison Red (Spinefarm)
Debut #16
7,350 sold
The band’s latest debuts higher than its predecessor, which was the band’s highest charting album.
Invent, Animate, Stillworld (Tragic Hero)
Debut #30
4,925 sold
This sophomore effort doesn’t hit a slump in terms of sales; it sold more than double the band’s debut album.
Emarosa, 131 (Hopeless)
Debut #40
4,425 sold
The band’s fourth album, first on Hopeless records, is their highest charting yet.
Vanna, All Hell (Pure Noise)
Debut #52
3,400 sold
You may have noticed this trend, but this is Vanna’s best debut yet.
Gone Is Gone, Gone Is Gone (Rise)
Debut #87
2,175 sold
The debut EP from the supergroup consisting of Mastodon, Queens of the Stone Age, and At the Drive-In members is off to a solid start.
Big Business, Command Your Weather (Joyful Noise)
Debut #110
1,700 sold
The band’s fifth album has been gaining a bit of buzz lately and has the sales to prove it.
Inter Arma, Paradise Gallows (Relapse)
Debut #147
1,350 sold
The band’s third album lands their best debut yet.
Spellcaster, Night Hides the World (Prosthetic)
520 sold
This is this band’s third album and first on Prosthetic.
Semblant, Lunar Manifesto (EMP)
330 sold
This is the second album from this Brazilian gothic metal band.
Loathe, Prepare Consume Proceed (SharpTone)
290 sold
The re-release of the debut EP from this UK metalcore act.
Dust Bolt, Mass Confusion (Napalm)
260 sold
This is the band’s third album.
Notable Sales:
Various Artists, 2016 Warped Tour Compilation (SideOne Dummy)
#50 (from 44)
3,700 sold
A 13% drop as the comp continues to sell.
Volbeat, Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie (Universal)
#51 (from 46)
3,650 sold
Over 80,000 sold.
Five Finger Death Punch, Got Your Six (Prospect Park)
#93 (from 88)
1,975 sold
A 14% drop, but this has sold over 370,000 copies.
Gojira, Magma (Roadrunner)
#114 (from 91)
1,625 sold
A 26% drop, but this album is still hot like…well, you know.
Hellyeah, Unden!able (Eleven Seven)
#116 (from 121)
1,575 sold
!A 6% drop!
Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn (Hollywood)
#118 (from 183)
1,575 sold
A 42% boost as this nears the 350,000 mark.
Pierce the Veil, Misadventures (Fearless)
#120 (from 104)
1,550 sold
It appierce to be a 18% drop.
Whitechapel, Mark of the Blade (Metal Blade)
#132 (from 86)
1,450 sold
A 37% drop, but between Warped tour and their co-headliner with Suicide Silence, they should still get sales.
Shinedown, Threat To Survival (Atlantic)
#142 (from 152)
1,400 sold
A slight 1% boost. Also, the band’s third album The Sounds of Madness was recently certified Platinum.
Thousand Foot Krutch,
Rob Zombie, The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser (UMe)
#161 (from 143)
1,275 sold
A 10% drop is not so electric (or anything else from the album title).
Silent Planet, Everything Was Sound (Solid State)
#172 (from 21)
1,225 sold
An 82% drop in week two, but we’ll see if it has the staying power of its predecessor.
Deftones, Gore (Reprise)
#183 (from 193)
1,150 sold
A 10% boost is goregeous.
Issues, Headspace (Rise)
#189 (from 180)
1,100 sold
A 2% drop with nearly 30,000 sold.
Fates Warning, Theories of Flight (InsideOut Music)
#194 (from 62)
1,075 sold
A 65% drop in week two.
Nails, You Will Never Be One of Us (Nuclear Blast)
880 sold
A small boost of 6%.
Ice Nine Kills, Every Trick In The Book (Fearless)
840 sold
A tricky boost of 2%.
Through Fire, Breathe (Sumerian)
620 sold
A second week drop of 76%.
Stitched Up Heart, Never Alone (Another Century)
530 sold
Looks 35% boost stitches things up pretty well.
Rival Sons, Hollow Bones (Earache)
510 sold
A 16% drop breaks a few bones.
Wage War, Blueprints (Fearless)
370 sold
A boost of 6%.
The Plot In You, Happiness In Self Destruction (Stay Sick)
310 sold
A big boost brings this back up thanks to the band’s tour with Erra.
Hail The Sun, Culture Scars (Equal Vision)
300 sold
The sun shines with a 12% boost.
Dark Funeral, Where Shadows Forever Reign (Century Media)
300 sold
A 23% drop reigns.
The Browning, Isolation (Spinefarm)
290 sold
A 34% drop causes a brownout.
Melvins,
Denner/Shermann,
Ghost Bath, Moonlover (Nuclear Blast)
240 sold
The band’s first US tour has boosted this back up.
Old Wounds, 
