Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
If this is truly a year where bands that got huge in the 90’s are making big comebacks (Green Day, Metallica), then Korn is the latest example of such a sentiment. They’ve always been a surefire bet in terms of album sales, but the more recent ones weren’t so well received. But people seemed to be pretty pumped about this new one, and considering it’s the band’s best debut in six years, I’ll buy into the idea something has definitely clicked for bands this year. There are three other metal albums in the top 10 as well and a few re-entries further down below.
Notable Debuts:
Korn, The Serenity of Suffering (Roadrunner)
Debut #3
54,575 sold
Korn nab their best debut since Korn III, outdoing their two previous albums in both sales and chart positions.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve (Rhino Atlantic)
Debut #6
26,450 sold
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a TSO album on the charts.
The Pretty Reckless, Who You Selling For (Razor & Tie)
Debut #8
21,675 sold
The band’s third album’s debut falls a bit short of its predecessor, but this is still a debut in the top 10.
I Prevail, Lifelines (Fearless)
Debut #9
19,500 sold
The band’s first album lands in the top 10. Unlike their EP, this does not appear to have a Taylor Swift cover on it.
Amaranthe, Maximalism (Spinefarm)
Debut #56
3,925 sold
The band’s fourth album is their best debut yet.
Wovenwar, Honor is Dead (Metal Blade)
Debut #63
3,475 sold
The band’s sophomore album doesn’t debut as high as its predecessor.
Pantera, The Great Southern Trendkill (Rhino)
Debut #76
3,100 sold
This is technically not a “new” release, but the 20th Anniversary edition pushed this closer to officially being a million-seller (it’s at 968,000 and is likely already certified platinum).
The Last Ten Seconds of Life, The Violent Sound (Siege)
1,100 sold
Hey, we posted an exclusive stream of this album a few weeks ago.
I Declare War, Songs for the Sick (Self-Released)
1,025 sold
The band’s sixth album was self-released and fully funded by the band members themselves.
Riverside, Eye of the Soundscape (Inside Out)
640 sold
This is the band’s seventh album made up of older experimental pieces and their first without guitarist and founding member Piotr Grudzinski.
Darke Complex, Point Oblivion (Spinefarm)
610 sold
Nu-metal revivalists? That’s what these guys are apparently.
Khemmis, Hunted (20 Buck Spin)
540 sold
The band’s second album comes a little over a year after their debut.
Thrown Into Exile, Safe Inside (Urban Yeti)
540 sold
This is the band’s debut album.
Poured Out, To the Point of Death (Facedown)
320 sold
This is the debut album from this Christian metalcore band.
Destrage, A Means to No End (Metal Blade)
220 sold
We put up a review of this album.
Notable Sales:
Disciple, Long Live The Rebels (BEC)
#39 (from 105)
5,225 sold
Apparently, a couple of Disciple fans forgot a new Disciple album came out and so rushed out to get it.
Skillet, Unleashed (Atlantic)
#77 (from 61)
2,950 sold
Only a 5% drop.
Alter Bridge, The Last Hero (Self-released)
#97 (from 46)
2,375 sold
A 43% drop.
The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dissociation (Party Smasher Inc.)
#107 (from 8)
2,225 sold
An 82% second week drop.
Meshuggah, The Violent Sleep of Reason (Nuclear Blast)
#112 (from 51)
2,200 sold
A 42% drop for no good reason.
Five Finger Death Punch, Got Your Six (Prospect Park)
#119 (from 116)
2,075 sold
60 weeks on with over 400,000 sold.
Dance Gavin Dance, Mothership (Rise)
#126 (from 74)
1,900 sold
We can’t dance around a 30% drop.
A Day To Remember, Bad Vibrations (ADTR)
#151 (from 133)
1,600 sold
A 6% drop with over 90,000 sold.
Ghost, Popestar (Lorna Vista)
#156 (from 148)
1,550 sold
A tiny drop of 3%.
Opeth,
Megadeth, Dystopia (UMe)
#171 (re-entry)
1,450 sold
This re-enters the charts once again after a 95% boost.
Shinedown, Threat To Survival (Atlantic)
#174 (re-entry)
1,425 sold
This also re-enters the charts after a 27% boost.
Rob Zombie, The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser (UMe)
#190 (re-entry)
1,300 sold
Oh hey, another re-entry, this time for Mr. Zombie.
Volbeat, Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie (Universal)
#192 (from 178)
1,275 sold
This sold the same amount as last week and has been on the charts for 20 weeks.
Gemini Syndrome,
Darkthrone, Arctic Thunder (Peaceville)
640 sold
A 55% drop.
Infant Annihilator, The Elysian Grandeval Galèriarch (Self-Released)
480 sold
This gets boosted back onto the charts.
Epica,
Sonata Arctica,
Kyng, Breathe In The Water (Razor & Tie)
360 sold
A 25% drop of water.
Stitched Up Heart, Never Alone (Another Century)
260 sold
A boost back up by 73%.
Alcest, Kodama (Prophecy)
260 sold
A 23% drop. Might get some touring sales next year though.
Oathbreaker, Rheia (Deathwish)
250 sold
A 22% drop.
Red Sun Rising, Polyester Zeal (Razor & Tie)
250 sold
Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, Broken Lines (Cooking Vinyl)
250 sold
This stuck its neck out for a 24% drop.
Letters From The Fire, Worth the Pain (Sand Hill)
250 sold
Is a 16% drop worth it?
Neurosis, Fires Within Fires (Neurot)
250 sold
Yo dawg, we heard you like fires. So Neurosis put fires in your fires so it can burn while it burns.
