Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
This week we see multiple new metal and hard rock debuts, four of which made it into the top 200. The top selling new release comes from Children Of Bodom. Though the Finnish metal group’s seventh album has an impressive first week on the charts, it does rank considerably low compared to 2008’s Blooddrunk (which debuted at #22 with around 20,000 copies sold). Regardless, Children Of Bodom pull off impressive first week sales, especially considering how almost every act nowadays is selling half of what they sold two years ago.
Notable Debuts:
Children Of Bodom, Relentless, Reckless Forever (Spinefarm) #41, 10,680 sold
Thanks to Devin Townsend, we know what Children Of Bodom will be doing this Summer.
Dance Gavin Dance, Downtown Battle Mountain II (Rise) #80, 6,130 sold
A top 100 debut for the band’s fourth album despite singer Johny Craig’s recent troubles.
Note: for some reason, the “Hot Topic edition” of this album ranked separately at #164 with 3,050 sold. This possibly occurred because this version includes the first Downtown Battle Mountain as a bonus disc.
Trust Company, Dreaming in Black and White (eOne) #154, 3,240 sold
It took the band a few years to reconvene and record a new album, but it appears that fans still remember Trust Company.
The Human Abstract, Digital Veil (eOne) #156, 3,200 sold
With all of their recent lineup changes, as well as this being their first release on a new label, it must be a good feeling for the band to have their new album also be their highest ranking (though 2008’s Midheaven sold slightly more with 4,100, but only ranked in at #163).
Rival Schools, Pedals (Photo Finish) 2,480 sold
The post-hardcore group’s first full length album since reuniting in 2008 has a solid first week.
Turisas, Stand Up and Fight (Century Media) 970 sold
Even though the Finnish folk metallers’ new album was released in Europe on February 8, it wasn’t released in the U.S. until March 8.
Destruction, Day of Reckoning (Nuclear Blast) 830 sold
Chris Colgan dared you to say the name of the band’s new drummer Wawrzyniec “Vaaver” Dramowicz five times. How did you make out?
Jag Panzer, The Scourge of the Light (SPV/Steamhammer) 480 sold
The Colorado power metallers’ first album in seven years (and first without Chris Broderick since 1997) makes a light rumbling in its first week.
Notable Sales:
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #29, 13,000 sold
In 17 weeks, the former rap-rock king has sold over 810,800 copies of his latest release.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #64, 7,730 sold
Only a 10% decrease for another group who at one time were rap-rock royalty.
Red, Until We Have Faces (Essential) #90, 5,470 sold
The Christian rockers have sold just above 72,000 copies in six weeks while remaining in the top 90.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #95, 5,050 sold
Despite a 9% decrease, FFDP still remain in the top 100.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #115, 4,300 sold
A 14% decrease sees A7X slowly slipping down the charts.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #133, 3,800 sold
Ten spots down the charts from the prior week is only mildly disturbing.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network Movie Soundtrack (The Null Corporation) #150, 3,290 sold
We guess Oscar buzz can only get you so far. The Oscar winning soundtrack drops a whopping 93 spots down the charts with a 62% decrease. Don’t worry though, Trent. We doubt the major decrease is due to fans’ disappointment over Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #172, 2,930 sold
Despite a 3% decrease, the band experiences a nice jump up the charts by nine spots.
Asking Alexandria, Stand up and Scream (Sumerian) 1,200 sold
A 13% decrease still leaves us scratching our heads as to why this album is still selling so well after its release 78 weeks ago.
Darkest Hour, The Human Romance (eOne Music) 1,280 sold
Another 25% decrease for the Washington, D.C. metalcore group.
I See Stars, The End Of The World Party (Sumerian) 780 sold
A 45% decrease isn’t much of an improvement from last week for I See Stars.
Deicide, To Hell With God (Century Media) 750 sold
After experiencing major decreases following its release four weeks ago, Deicide’s new album experiences a slight increase in sales (6% to be exact).
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 730 sold
Luckily for them, early buzz surrounding the Revolver Golden Gods Awards might already be helping Volbeat’s sales. One can hope, though, that their actual performance at the award show will improve sales even more.
Asking Alexandria, Life Gone Wild EP (Sumerian) 610 sold
Even though we have no clue how two Asking Alexandria releases are still charting (seriously, two?!), it’s still nonetheless impressive.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 600 sold
It’s weird that only a few weeks ago we were trying to figure out how We Came As Romans continued to sell so well for such a long time, and now we’re trying to figure out the reason behind its sudden drop in sales.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 530 sold
In thirteen weeks, this supergroup has sold just under 21,000 copies. Not to sound like a broken record, but that is still surprisingly low.
OFF!, The First Four EPs (Vice) 500 sold
Another slight decrease for the hardcore/punk supergroup.
Crowbar, Sever the Wicked Hand (eOne Music) 440 sold
Another 24% decrease certainly doesn’t make things look too good for the sludge metal group.
Scale the Summit, The Collective (Prosthetic) 400 sold
The instrumental progressive metallers’ experience a major 60% decrease in the second week. Talk about scaling back.
Chelsea Grin, Desolation Of Eden (Razor & Tie/Artery) 400 sold
Sure, they experienced a 16% decrease this week, but if we had an album that kept reappearing on the charts every now and then, we’d be grinning.
