Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top sellers of the week as well as what’s getting played at Metal radio courtesy of radio trade magazine FMQB, whose metal panel consists of about 80 college and commercial stations that have metal shows, as well as SiriusXM, Music Choice, and more.
It’s another slow week for Metal debuts, with nothing debuting in the top 200. The latest Agoraphobic Nosebleed album is the highest-debuting Metal album of the week, with Brutal Truth not all that far behind. It’s a Relapse kinda week! Chimaira lead the pack for adds at FMQB, as Mastodon stays atop the spins chart.
Notable Debuts:
Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Agorapocalypse (Relapse) 1,300 copies sold
Or roughly 430 copies for each singer in the band!
Brutal Truth, Evolution Through Revolution (Relapse) 1,000 copies sold
The band’s first studio album in 12 years.
Notable Sales:
Hollywood Undead, Swan Songs (Octone) #38, 10,500 copies sold
I’ve tried to write about these guys less, but they’re the top selling “metal” record that isn’t “Nickelback.”
Metallica, Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.) #61, 8,000 copies sold
What, the band with that video game has an album out?
Mastodon, Crack the Skye,(Reprise) #67, 7,300 copies sold
Great reviews and excellent press are probably bringing more sales than your typical proggy metal band.
Queensryche, American Soldier (Rhino) #105, 5,000 sold
Is this really their 12th studio album? Yes, yes it is.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner), #111, 4,750 copies sold.
The band’s third video (“Sulfur”) is about to come out, which should give them more life at radio.
Lamb of God, Wrath (Epic) #134, 4,000 copies sold
At least until Killswitch Engage comes out, this is the best-selling metal album of the year, having sold 131,000 in less than two months.
AC/DC, Black Ice (Columbia) #140, 6,300 copies sold
25 weeks in, and the juggernaut that is AC/DC is showing no signs of slowing down.
A Day To Remember, Homesick (Victory) #174, 3,000 sold
Up to almost 70,000 sold in less than three months.
Static-X, Cult of Static (Warner Bros.) #176, 3,000 copies sold
At about 40,000 sold.
Impending Doom, Serpent Servant (Facedown) 1,800 sold
Christian band has a pretty good second week.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 1,300 copies sold
And 5ok sold, just like that.
Oceano, Depths (Earache) 1,300 copies sold
Wow, what a play on words!
Winds of Plague, Decimate the Weak (Century Media) 700 copies sold
This has been out for a long time, but it keeps resurfacing on the charts, and just sold over 40,000.
Kylesa, Static Tensions (Prosthetic) 700 copies sold
This one rebounds onto the chart after a week or two off.
God Forbid, Earthsblood (Century Media) 600 copies sold
We had doubts they could do ok without Dallas, but they slayed at Metalfest.
All Shall Perish, Awaken the Dreamers (Nuclear Blast)
Like Winds of Plague, another 2008 release that rebounds onto the chart.
FMQB Most Added
1. Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret)
2. Cycle of Pain, Cycle of Pain (Rock Ridge)
3. Seventh Void, Heaven is Gone (Big Vin)
4. Texas Hippie Coalition, Texas Hippie Coalition (Creative Ent.)
5. Emperor, Live Inferno (Candlelight)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise)
2. Lamb of God, Wrath (Epic)
3. Static-X, Cult of Static (Reprise)
4. Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret Music)
5. Psychostick, Sandwich (Rock Ridge)
6. God Forbid, Earthsblood (Century Media)
7. Volbeat, Guitars, Gangsters and Cadillac Blood (Mascot)
8. Heaven and Hell, “The Bible Black” single (Rhino)
9. Lazarus A.D., The Onslaught (Metal Blade)
10. Oceano, Depths (Earache)
