Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
This week’s top hard rock/metal debut comes from Seether with Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray. The post-grunge/radio rock band’s sixth album is also their highest ranking and best-selling album to date, coming in at #2 and selling over 61,200 copes. Seether’s strong first week is pretty astonishing considering that it’s been four years since the release of 2007’s Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces. We’ve said it before, and we’re saying it again: it’s extremely impressive for any band to sell just as much as much today as they did two years ago in the current state of the industry (let alone selling more than four years ago). Plus, it further proves how being a rock radio staple like Seether can be helpful.
Notable Debuts:
Seether, Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray (Wind-Up) #2, 61,280 sold
It might be months away, but Seether’s stint on the upcoming Uproar Tour will further help sales in the long run as well.
Hank Williams III, Hillbilly Joker (Curb) #61, 7,230 sold
Not only does this album feature material that the Superjoint Ritual/Assjack member (and grandson of Hank Williams) has already recorded and bootlegged in the past few years, but Williams himself told fans not to buy the album when Curb Records announced its release after shelving it for years. Despite all of that, the album has a very strong first week.
Vampires Everywhere!, Kiss The Sun Goodbye (Century Media) 2,190 sold
Vampires may not be everywhere. But the metalcore group’s first week sales are proof that Hot Topic stores still are…
Scar Symmetry, The Unseen Empire (Nuclear Blast) 1,510 sold
Chris Colgan claims that this album “belongs in the top tier of Swedish albums.” Anyone care to agree or disagree with this?
Legend, The Pale Horse (Rise) 1,170 sold
Not to be confused with the New Jersey 80’s metal group of the same name. Or Of Legends. Or Legends of the Fall.
Arsonists Get All the Girls, Motherland (Century Media) 690 sold
Looks like arsonists not only get girls, but also decent first week sales.
Notable Sales:
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #19, 17,660 sold
Not only have Dave Grohl and co. announced more North American dates for this coming fall, but they’ve also be confirmed to perform at this year’s MTV Movie Awards on June 5.
Hollywood Undead, American Tragedy (A&M/Octone) #62, 7,060 sold
In seven weeks, the rapcore group has sold around 144,800 coppies.
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #81, 6,650 sold
A 12% decrease is enough to kick the one time American badass out of the top 80.
Sixx:A.M., This is Gonna Hurt (Eleven Seven) #85, 5,500 sold
Another 42% decrease in Sixx and co.’s third week on the charts. Should the band reconsider touring? It wouldn’t hurt.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #109, 4,170 sold
A7X experience a slight boost in sales during their 43rd week on the charts.
Black Label Society, The Song Remains Not the Same (eOne) #112, 4,050 sold
A 65% decrease isn’t too awful considering that this is an album featuring unplugged version of songs and b-sides from BLS’ latest album, Order Of The Black.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #129, 3,600 sold
Roughly around the same place as last week, and considering that this album has been on the charts now for 87 weeks, that’s pretty amazing!!
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #185, 2,630 sold
Also like FFDP, Disturbed are roughly around the same place as last week.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #191, 2,550 sold
Looks like the one time rap metal kings’ stay on the charts is coming close to an end after 36 weeks.
Asking Alexandria, Reckless and Relentless (Sumerian) # 197, 2,500 sold
After seven weeks, these metalcore princes are close to exiting the top 200.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 1,060 sold
Only a slight decrease for the Danish metal garage band in their 27th week on the charts.
Art Of Dying, Vices And Virtures (Reprise/Intoxication) 780 sold
The Canadian rockers are still selling a relatively decent amount each week, or at least more than we’d figure this hard rock Canadian group would be.
Red Fang, Murder the Mountains (Relapse) 750 sold
The stoner metal group experiences a massive 79% increase in their sixth week on the charts. Maybe their awesome new video had something to do with the sudden boost.
Texas In July, One Reality (Equal Vision) 700 sold
With another 16% decrease, it’s likely that Texas In July will be off the charts by July.
Memphis May Fire, The Hollow (Rise) 630 sold
If Memphis May Fire was to tour with Texas In July (a fellow post hardcore group with a location and month in its name), what would you name the tour?
Hate Eternal, Phoenix Amongst the Ashes (Metal Blade) 610 sold
A 57% decrease for the death metal legends in their second week on the charts.
Anvil, Juggernaut of Justice (The End) 530 sold
A 67% decrease shows that maybe the newfound popularity they received thanks to Anvil! The Story Of Anvil has somewhat decreased.
Jesu, Ascension (Caldo Verde) 500 sold
A 53% decrease for the band in their second week on the charts.
