Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Many of you probably aren’t surprised that Skillet had a hugely successful first week with their latest album. But did you know that there’s actually two metal albums in the top ten this week? And that the second one is not a debut, but an album that’s been on the charts for over fifty weeks? That’s right, Disturbed’s latest album has boosted its way up to number seven. Now, this album has been selling well the whole time, but this is an impressive feat for any band in the industry, let alone a metal band. I’ve been doing this for about four years now, have seen bands go through multiple releases, but I don’t think I’ve seen an album do this before. I know they probably aren’t your favorite band (in which case, Skillet probably isn’t either), but it’s not something to be overlooked.
Notable Debuts:
Skillet, Unleashed (Atlantic)
Debut #2
57,550 sold
Skillet’s tenth album nabs a high debut as expected, hitting just under the 60,000 their last album debut with.
Carnifex, Slow Death (Nuclear Blast)
Debut #29
6,400 sold
Carnifex’s sixth album brings them their best debut yet in the top 30.
Jackyl, ROWYCO (Mighty Loud)
Debut #181
4,000 sold
Yeah, the Full Throttle Saloon dude’s band is back with an album that stands for “Rock Out With Your Cock Out.” Classy, but what’d you expect from a band that has a chainsaw solo?
Russian Circles, Guidance (Sargent House)
Debut #65
3,475 sold
The band’s sixth album is the highest they’ve ever charted and the most they’ve ever sold in week one.
Islander, Power Under Control (Victory)
Debut #154
1,300 sold
This sold double what the band’s debut album did in its first week.
Blues Pills, Lady in Gold (Nuclear Blast)
860 sold
The band’s second album is number two in their native Sweden.
Tarja, The Shadow Self (Earmusic)
760 sold
This is the second of Tarja’s two album releases for 2016.
Necromancing the Stone, Jewel of the Vile (Metal Blade)
310 sold
This is the debut album for the group consisting of members from Arsis, The Black Dahlia Murder, and The Absence.
Bloody Hammers, Lovely Sort of Death (Napalm)
270 sold
The fourth album from this doom duo. If you were wondering what their favorite horror movie soundtracks might be, well you’re in luck.
Sinsaenum, Echoes of the Tortured (earMUSIC)
270 sold
This is the band’s debut album.
My Iron Lung, Learn to Leave (Pure Noise)
250 sold
This is the band’s second album.
Meytal, Alchemy – Live (Light Drop)
240 sold
Meytal Cohen released her debut album last year, then released a limited edition live album. As such, there is no link to where you can by the album.
Notable Sales:
Disturbed, Immortalized (Reprise)
#7 (from 20)
13,900 sold
You don’t see this everyday; a huge 102% boost brought this back into the top 10. Might have had something to do with the fact that Google Play had it on sale for 99 cents (ok, it definitely did)
Deftones, Gore (Reprise)
#54 (from 102)
4,000 sold
Another 87% boost this weeks rockets this album back up the charts, perhaps their tour is helping people realize that Gore isn’t an album to be slept on.
Steven Tyler, We’re All Somebody from Somewhere (Dot Records)
#67 (from 45)
3,250 sold
A 24% drop with over 30,000 sold.
Volbeat, Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie (Universal)
#73 (from 71)
3,100 sold
On week 10, this gets a 10% boost.
Various Artists, 2016 Warped Tour Compilation (SideOne Dummy)
#74 (from 82)
3,075 sold
An 18% boost. This isn’t far from the 30,000 mark. Which is about the number of degrees above zero it is whenever we go to a Warped Tour.
Chevelle, The North Corridor (Epic)
#80 (from 55)
2,675 sold
This takes a dip down by 25%.
Five Finger Death Punch, Got Your Six (Prospect Park)
#85 (from 60)
2,350 sold
A 31% drop. Should’ve checked your six.
Crown The Empire, Retrograde (Rise)
#96 (from 66)
2,000 sold
A 32% drop.
Shinedown, Threat To Survival (Atlantic)
#139 (from 103)
1,500 sold
A 28% drop for this now two-year-old album.
Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn (Hollywood)
#144 (from 94)
1,450 sold
A 40% drop with just under 360,000 sold.
Pierce the Veil, Misadventures (Fearless)
#145 (from 150)
1,400 sold
A slight 4% drop.
Periphery, Periphery III: Select Difficulty (Sumerian)
#146 (from 101)
1,400 sold
A 35% drop, but they may get some touring boosts.
Thousand Foot Krutch, Exhale (TFK)
#172 (from 125)
1,150 sold
A 17% boost brings this back onto the charts.
Rob Zombie, The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser (UMe)
#173 (from 171)
1,150 sold
A 12% drop. Also, we’re holding a contest for tickets to his new movie!
Ice Nine Kills, Every Trick In The Book (Fearless)
760 sold
A big 75% boost.
Revocation, Great is Our Sin (Metal Blade)
590 sold
A 46% drop is sinful.
The New Low, Continuance (Razor & Tie)
520 sold
This bounces back from week two with a 40% boost.
Despised Icon, Beast (Nuclear Blast)
430 sold
A 40% drop is not the beast week.
Thank You Scientist, Stranger Heads Prevail (Evil Ink)
390 sold
A second week drop of 89%.
Stitched Up Heart, Never Alone (Another Century)
360 sold
An 18% drop is heart to bear.
Ghoul, Dungeon Bastards (Tankcrimes)
360 sold
A 79% drop in week two.
Nails, You Will Never Be One Of Us (Nuclear Blast)
330 sold
A 3% drop. You know, this could use some touring support…
Wage War, Blueprints (Fearless)
320 sold
An 11% boost wins a wager or two.
Vanna, All Hell (Pure Noise)
310 sold
This got boosted back up again after dropping off last week.
Through Fire, Breathe (Sumerian)
300 sold
A 19% drop really takes the breathe out of your lungs.
Infant Annihilator, The Elysian Grandeval Galèriarch (Self-Released)
300 sold
An 89% second week drop.
Rival Sons, Hollow Bones (Earache)
280 sold
Say hallow to a 35% drop.
Black Crown Initiate, Selves We Cannot Forgive (eOne)
260 sold
A 49% drop. Also, the band could use a hand.
Ringworm, Snake Church (Relapse)
260 sold
A 71% drop in week two.
Whitford St. Holmes, Reunion (Mailboat)
250 sold
A teeny tiny 1% boost.
Invent, Animate, Stillworld (Tragic Hero)
240 sold
Sales aren’t so animated after a 46% drop.
Fates Warning, Theories of Flight (InsideOut Music)
230 sold
A 14% drop fails to fly.
220 sold
Forevermore, Integral (Solid State)
200 sold
The Christian metal band’s fourth album is their best debut so far.
Save Us From The Archon, L’Eclisse (Tragic Hero)
190 sold
These guys peek up on the charts again thanks to some touring.
Scour, Scour (Housecore)
189 sold
A 48% drop is sour.