Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Five metal/hard rock releases make their debut this week, but only one ranks in the top 200 this week. Ranking in at #57 are deathcore hot shots Winds Of Plague. The band’s third Century Media album marks their highest ranking and selling release to date. Whether you love or hate them (can you guess how Metal Sucks feels about them?), that’s an impressive feat for any up and coming metal/death/metalcore group. This further shows that Winds Of Plague’s fan base is certainly growing, and their appearance at this year’s Warped Tour will probably only help it grow larger.
Notable Debuts:
Winds of Plague, Against the World (Century Media) #57, 8,750 sold
To be honest, we’re tempted to pick up a copy of the album ourselves just to hear The Ultimate Warrior’s contribution.
Periphery, Icarus EP (Sumerian) 2,300 sold
Considering that it’s an EP with only 3 previously unreleased songs (in addition to two b-sides, 3 remixes and a re-recorded version of “Icarus Lives!”), Periphery’s first week sales are very impressive.
Duff McKagan’s Loaded, The Taking (Eagle Rock) 2,280 sold
The ex-Guns N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver bassist’s solo group can probably thank their performance at the Revolver Golden Gods Award Show last week for the solid first week sales.
Graveyard, Hisingen Blues (Nuclear Blast) 1,030 sold
The Swedish stoner rockers’ first release through Nuclear Blast has a solid first week. Fun side story: MI’s Zach got hit in the neck by Graveyard’s flying drum stick when he saw them opening for CKY back in 2009. He was able to get the bassist to sign the drum stick, though, so all ended well.
Sylosis, Edge of the Earth (Nuclear Blast) 630 sold
A decent first week for the English thrash group.
Notable Sales:
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #3, 72,100 sold
A major 69% decrease isn’t enough to kick the Foo Fighters out of the top 5 in their second week. Side note: the band’s Greatest Hits package also landed at #100 this week.
Hollywood Undead, American Tragedy (A&M/Octone) #27, 18,860 sold
Eleven spots down the charts with a 17% decrease for the rapcore group in their third week, yet still in the top 30.
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #48, 10,740 sold
After showing signs of losing steam in the past weeks, Rock makes a slight turnaround with a 13% increase in sales. Maybe everyone that went on his cruise picked the disc up when they got back on land.
Asking Alexandria, Reckless and Relentless (Sumerian) #83, 6,820 sold
Last week, the metalcore barely remained in the top 50. Now they’re near the bottom of the top 100 with a 36% decrease in sales.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #125, 4,430 sold
Also like Kid Rock, LP slowly start to climb back up the charts with a 13% increase after losing steam in the past few weeks.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #128, 4,320 sold
A 9% increase for the album that constantly sells well week after week. At least there’s something good going for the band right now.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #142, 3,950 sold
A 17% increase sees A7X jump 12 spots up the charts. Looks like the Revolver Golden Gods Award Show helped out a bit.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #177, 3,020 sold
Not letting Kid Rock, A7X and Linkin Park be the only Metal By Numbers veterans to experience a sales spike, Disturbed jump up the charts by 10 spots with a 14% increase.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #176, 3,230 sold
Anyone else find it a bit weird to think that these guys will be on the same tour with Winds Of Plague?
Amon Amarth, Surtur Rising (Metal Blade) #192, 2,980 sold
While a 14% decrease is nothing to take issue with, dropping 44 spots down the charts is. A solid 25,000 sold in four weeks though.
Red, Until We Have Faces (Essential) #193, 2,760 sold
Same chart ranking as last week for the Christian hard rockers.
Between the Buried and Me, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues (Metal Blade) #194, 2,970 sold
Dropping down the charts by 141 spots with a 70% decrease in its second week is definitely…not good. But this doesn’t take away from the fact that Between the Buried and Me’s first release through Metal Blade Records is doing especially well for an EP with only three (very long) new songs. Check out what guitarist Paul Waggoner had to say about the EP, the band’s new label home, and life on the road in an interview he did with Metal Insider.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 530 sold
Last week, these guys experienced a major decrease that saw them sell over 500 copies. This week, the Metal By Number veterans experience an enormous 129% decrease. Ok, we have to ask…WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING HERE?!
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 990 sold
Though not an enormous boost, it’s safe to say that their performance at last week’s Revolver Golden Gods Award Show had a play in Volbeat’s 9% increase.
Art Of Dying, Vices And Virtures (Reprise/Intoxication) 840 sold
Only a slight decrease in sales from the last week as the Canadian rockers enter their fifth week on the charts.
I See Stars, The End Of The World Party (Sumerian) 830 sold
Another 15% increase for the band that just wants to party when the world ends…or so we imagine.
As Blood Runs Black, Instinct (Mediaskare) 570 sold
A slight 9% increase for the SoCal death metal group.
Red Fang, Murder the Mountains (Relapse) 500 sold
The stoner rockers experience a major 62% decrease in sales. Bet they can’t wait to hit the road on Mayhem Fest this Summer.
Pierce the Veil, Selfish Machines (Equal Vision) 480 sold
Only a 2% decrease from last week.
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 500 sold
A 9% decrease for the band responsible for this cover.
