Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
I admit, the title is a bit deceiving because even though album sales have been at a crazy low this past Summer, all in all it was a very good season for metal. For the past month or so, there was at least one metal/hard rock act that cracked the top ten and in some cases even the top five (no easy task in itself). And this week is no different, with Disturbed ranking in at #1 for the fourth consecutive time and many other hard rock releases debuting very well too. Sure, the sales that garnered such high positions may be considerably less than say two years ago, but hell, let’s spend just a little time not being depressed about the industry and celebrate the metal success brought to us by Disturbed! Ok? Please?
Notable Debuts:
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #1, 179,000 sold.
Asylum may have sold less than what Disturbed previous albums did in their first weeks to top the charts. However, 179,000 is a number most bands won’t ever see in their first week and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
10 Years, Feeding the Wolves (Universal) #17, 19,100 sold
Their fifth studio album has an impressive first week, though it isn’t their highest ranking debut. That honor goes to 2008’s Division.
Papa Roach, Time for Annihilation…On the Road and On the Record (Eleven Seven) #23, 16,200 sold
The band’s first album with its new label home may not be the charting success as its predecessors, but considering that it’s part live album, part EP, making it in the top 30 warrants applause. Also, I mean…it is Papa Roach…so…
Murderdolls, Women and Children Last (Roadrunner) #43, 8,700 sold
Considering that the Joey Jordison/Wednesday 13 project has been absent for the past 6 years, this is a very good first week. Plus, the album is actually pretty kick ass!
The Word Alive, Deceiver (Fearless) #97, 4,700 sold
The band’s debut full length album makes a small but impressive appearance on the charts.
Within the Ruins, Invade (Victory) 2,000 sold
The post metalcore band has a solid first week.
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 1,700 sold
I’m sure their cover of “Tik Tok” isn’t the sole reason for their first week’s good sales…right?
Comeback Kid, Symptoms + Cures (Victory) 1,300 sold
Their newest album might not have charted in the top 200 like their previous album (2007’s Broadcasting…), but it still has an impressive first week.
Cephalic Carnage, Misled by Certainty (Relapse) 1,300 sold
Not too shabby at all for the veteran grindcore band.
The Contortionist, Exoplanet (Good Fight) 540 sold
These guys surely will be doing a crap load of touring behind this album, including a tour with The Acacia Strain, The Red Chord, Terror and Gaza.
Notable Sales:
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #18, 17,500 sold
A slight jump up the charts this week. Either Uproar Tour is continuing to attract fans to the new album, or Avenged Sevenfold has the sustainability power that many metal bands currently lack. Both are strong possibilities.
Iron Maiden, The Final Frontier (UMe) #35, 11,000 sold
A 31% decrease in the album’s third week on the charts. Though, it isn’t showing signs that it’ll be hitting its final week on the charts any time soon. And thankfully you can’t throw crap at me in person for making such an awful pun.
The Devil Wears Prada, Zombie EP (Ferret) #51, 7,900
After debuting in the top ten last week, this week The Devil Wear’s Prada’s new EP just misses the top 50.
Apocalyptica, 7th Symphony (Jive) #57, 7,100 sold
The metal cello group experiences a 44% decrease in their second week. Did we mention that the song with Gojira’s Joseph Duplantier is monstrous?! Oh, we did? Well…
Godsmack, Oracle (Universal) #61, 6,800 sold
Literally the same chart position as last week, and just about the same sold as well.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #64, 6,700 sold
The band has just announced a handful of headlining dates to coincide with their upcoming tour with Godsmack and Drowning Pool.
Ozzy Osbourne, Scream (Epic) #93, 4,800 sold
Eleven weeks after its release, Ozzy’s new album has sold just under 200,000 copies.
Black Label Society, Order of the Black (E1) #98, 4,700 sold
The berserkers are still buying around the same amount of albums as last week, but Zakk and the gang are falling down the charts fast.
Hellyeah, Stampede (Epic) #102, 4,600 sold
The nice increase in sales might be due to the fact that you can buy Stampede for just $5 throughout the month of September over at Amazon. Then again, I’m sure Uproar is contributing to the bump as well.
AC/DC, AC/DC: Iron Man 2 (Columbia) #114, 4,000 sold
I said it before, but I’m going to say it again. If AC/DC can provide the “soundtrack” to Iron Man 2, then at least one song from Amon Amarth MUST be featured in the new Thor movie!!
Korn, Korn III: Remember Who You Are (Roadrunner) #117, 4,000 sold
The fact that the album hasn’t really budge from where it was last week is good, but not great news for Korn.
The Sword, Warp Riders (Kemado) #124, 3,900 sold
A 58% decrease sees the mighty Sword take a major fall in their second week, but almost 14,000 copies in two weeks is solid.
Buckcherry, All Night Long (Eleven Seven) #141, 3,600 sold
After five weeks, Buckcherry are already out of the top 100. I bet they feel as used and worthless as the girls in their music videos…too soon?
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #164, 3,200 sold
If Motley Crue can release another greatest hits package, then Nikki Sixx can release another book. That’s how it works, right?
Bullet For My Valentine, Fever (Jive) #185, 2,900 sold
The band falls 45 rankings down the charts in their 19th week.
Blind Guardian, At the Edge of Time (Nuclear Blast) 1,700 sold
They may no longer be in the top 200, but the German metal gods’ ninth album is already one of their best selling albums in the states.
Kataklysm, Heaven’s Venom (Nuclear Blast) 830 sold
Bit of a steep drop in their second week, 65% decrease to be exact.
The Showdown, Blood in the Gears (Solid State) 660 sold
I remember The Showdown getting buzz from Ozzfest 2007, similar to the boost Kataklysm got from this year’s Ozzfest.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 630 sold
Holy crap! A 59% increase from last week for a band that pretty much is now a Metal By Numbers staple! Anybody know what the hell their secret to success is?
Pierce The Veil, Selfish Machines (Equal Vision), 470 sold
I’m sure that they’ll receive a boost from their tour with Attack Attack! …cool?
Kingdom of Sorrow, Behind the Blackest Tears 400 sold
Kirk may have taken a break to enter rehab, but recording for Crowbar (his other band) seems to be moving right along!
How to Destroy Angels, How to Destroy Angels (The Null Corporation) 400 sold
After being absent last week, Trent Reznor’s side project is back.
Boris & Ian Astbury, BXI (Southern Lord) 380 sold
This unique collaboration is making me think of other “weird partnerships” I’d like to see happen. Maybe Perry Farrell and The Melvins? Odd paring I admit, but so is Ian Astbury and Boris!
36 Crazyfists, Collisions and Castaways (Ferret) 360 sold
Told you they’d be back for another week? As for next week…let’s not hold our breaths.
