Metal By Numbers 8/30: Steven Wilson has a bone to pick with the charts

Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.

You gotta give credit to Steven Wilson: the man is always busy. Sure, you can say that about a lot of musicians, but when your resume includes several different bands, production work for bands like Opeth and Anathema, and remixes of albums by King Crimson and Yes, you’re keeping busy in a good way. I’m admittedly a bit of a fanboy for Wilson, but that had no part in his latest studio album in the top debut this week; he did that on his own. And while some people might prefer the heavier material of the defunct Porcupine Tree, Wilson’s solo albums are some of the best progressive music you can find nowadays. And now, the numbers for Avenged Sevenfold’s album as requested: The Stage sold 400 copies this week and has sold around 190,000 copies total.

Notable Debuts:

Steven Wilson, To The Bone (Caroline)

Debut #12

9,000 sold

Steven Wilson’s fifth album manages to top his 2015 effort as his highest charting album.

Thy Art Is Murder, Dear Desolation (Nuclear Blast)

Debut #20

6,425 sold

The band’s fourth album marks their best debut yet.

KMFDM, Hell Yeah (earMUSIC)

Debut #104

1,650 sold

This is the band’s twentieth album.

Eluveitie, Evocation II – Pantheon (Nuclear Blast)

Debut #118

1,500 sold

Eluveitie’s seventh album sold less than half what Origins debuted with in 2014.

Cloakroom, Time Well (Relapse)

Debut #159

1,050 sold

This is the band’s second album.

Save Us from the Archon, Melancholia (Tragic Hero)

230 sold

The band’s new album comes about a year and a half after their previous release.

Notable Sales:

Linkin Park, One More Light (Warner Bros.)

#32 (from 24)
4,325 sold

A 20% drop.

Incubus, 8 (Island)

#47 (re-entry)

3,125 sold

This gets boosted back up the charts with a huge 500% increase from last week.

Metallica, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (Blackened)
#67 (from 17)
2,325 sold

A 66% drop in week 40, but don’t feel bad for them – the Black Album sold 1,200 more than this did.

Nickelback, Feed the Machine (BMG)

#73 (from 52)

2,225 sold

Another 18% drop just below 90,000 sold.

Greta Van Fleet, Black Smoke Rising EP (Republic)
#82 (from 110)
1,925 sold

You’ll forgive me for thinking that Greta Van Fleet was actually some Dutch indie singer-songwriter based on the name. Turns out they’re a hard rock band of teenagers with an EP that’s been doing pretty well for being their only studio release.