Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts 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.
Iron Maiden is having a good week. Not only did the just pick up a pair of statues at the Golden Gods Awards, but they just landed at #1 on the music DVD charts with Flight 666. And the soundtrack to the movie, which features 16 songs recorded in 16 different countries, was the top metal debut of the week. Iwrestledabearonce have reason to celebrate as well. They’re the #1 album at FMQB amid debuts from DevilDriver and Ripper Owens.
Notable Debuts:
Iron Maiden, Flight 666: Original Soundtrack (Columbia) 13,500 sold
Considering the focus was definitely more on the movie than it’s soundtrack, this is a stellar debut for their best live album since Live After Death.
Coalesce, OX (Relapse) 1,600 sold
After a 10 year absence, this isn’t a bad first week number at all.
The Autumn Offering, Requiem (Victory) 1,250 sold
Good debut for the band’s fourth album.
Notable Sales:
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline/Fontana) #4, 79,500 sold
This album sold nearly 30,000 more than it did last week. That’s amazing in this day and age.
Hollywood Undead, Swan Songs (Octone) #50, 9,900 sold
Gold in August – that’s my prediction.
Marilyn Manson, The High End of Low (Interscope) #60, 9,000 sold
This one’s dropping down the charts, but with the Mayhem Fest about to happen, he’ll be in people’s faces all summer and hit a sales level where he’ll stay.
Disturbed, Indestructable (Reprise) #112, 4,500 sold
David Draiman is a juggernaut that cannot be stopped. All four of the band’s albums have gone at least platinum.
Metallica, Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.) #116, 4,400 sold
This is a damn good album and everything, but anyone that owns this and doesn’t own Master of Puppets is making a big mistake
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner), #154, 3,400 sold
These guys looked great playing the Download Festival, which was validated two days later by them winning Best Live Act at the Golden Gods Awards.
The Devil Wears Prada, With Roots Above and Branches Below (Ferret) #161, 3,300 sold
If the devil wears Prada, what would Jesus wear?
AC/DC, Black Ice (Columbia) #196, 2,700 sold
I’ve officially run out of things to say about AC/DC.
Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media) #121, 2,000 sold
The band only drops 50% in their second week – pretty solid.
Eyes Set To Kill, World Outside (Suburban Noize) 1,400 sold
Metal Insider’s Dan Rodriguez still claims no knowledge of the Rodriguez sisters from Eyes Set To Kill. He’s down with The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodriguez though.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 1,000 sold
About to cross the 60,00 sold barrier, and still selling consistently. If they do this for another 440 weeks, they’ll have a gold album!
Bury Your Dead, It’s Nothing Personal (Victory) 1,000 sold
Up to 6k sold so far.
Sunn O))), Monoliths and Dimensions (Southern Lord) 700 sold
The louder you hear this, the better it sounds.
Alestorm, Black Sails At Midnight (Napalm) 500 sold
A very modest decline from a Pagan-tastic band
Deathstars, Night Electric Night (Bieler Bros.) 475 sold
Swedish electro-goth-metal band hold on for a modest decline.
FMQB Most Added
1. DevilDriver, Pray For Villians (Roadrunner)
2. Goatwhore, Carving Out the Eyes of God (Metal Blade)
3. Coalesce, OX (Relapse)
4. Alestorm, Black Sails At Midnight (Napalm)
5. 1349, Revelations of the Black Flames (Candlelight)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media)
2. Hatebreed, For The Lions (E1)
3. Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret Music)
4. Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise)
5. Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino)
6. DevilDriver, Pray For Villians (Roadrunner)
7. Clutch, “Unstoppable Watts” sampler (Weathermaker Music)
8. Seventh Void, Heaven is Gone (Big Vin)
9. Daath, The Concealers (Century Media)
10. Ripper Owens, Play My Game (SPV)
