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.
In the wake of his untimely death, it was definitely Michael Jackson’s world this week. In fact, three of his albums sold more than the #1 album in the country (damn you, Black Eyed Peas!). However, albums older than 18 months go on the Catalog chart and don’t count towards current sales. That’s good news for Dream Theater, who not only had the highest-selling album of their career, but also debuted at an amazing #6! Elsewhere, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster also had an impressive debut, and Goatwhore debut in the top 200, and Devildriver and Obituary top FMQB’s most-spun and most-added charts at metal radio.
Notable Debuts:
Dream Theater, Black Clouds and Silver Linings (Roadrunner) #6, 40,300 sold
This is only the 10th Roadrunner album ever to debut in the top ten. We’re guessing Nickelback and Slipknot make up the rest. Amazing debut.
The Mars Volta, Octahedron (Warner Bros.) #12, 30,000 sold
The band’s first album for their new label has a nice first week.
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, III (Ferret) #71, 6,000 sold
This is a great start for a band that deserves their due. If you weren’t one of the 6,000, go buy it.
Alexisonfire, Old Crows/Young Cardinals (Vagrant) #81, 5,700 sold
Who is Alex and why is he on fire?
Darkest Hour, Eternal Return (Victory) #104, 4,700 sold
The band’s sixth album has a nice launch just outside of the top 100.
Hollywood Undead, Swan Songs B-Sides (Octone) #124, 4,100 sold
Hey kids, who wants Hollywood Undead songs not good enough to make the first album? Us neither, but a decent amount of Myspace users ponied up for this digital-only release.
Goatwhore, Carving out the Eyes of God (Metal Blade) #190 2,700
This is awesome. Not only because a great death metal band cracks the charts, but mainly because chart-watchers are going to see the word “Goatwhore” and turn pale and talk about how back in their day “The Doobie Brothers” was as scandalous a band name as there was.
Voivod, Infini (Relapse) 850 sold
The band’s second album following the death of Piggy, and their first for Relapse.
Notable Sales:
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline/Fontana) #15, 25,000 sold
200,000 sold in four weeks is an impressive number for this supergroup. Actually, 200,000 sold in four weeks is impressive for anyone.
Hollywood Undead, Swan Songs (Octone) #47, 8,900 sold
It’s amazing how these guys keep rolling along. If they were a store in a mall, they’d be Spencer Gifts.
Marilyn Manson, The High End of Low (Interscope) #102, 4,800 sold
Mayhem Tour starts off next week, which should help keep Manson relevant, at least for this summer.
Disturbed, Indestructable (Reprise) #127, 3,900 sold
It’s impressive to see that there are 4,000 people that still didn’t have this album a year after it’s been released and sold a million copies.
Metallica, Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.) #130, 3,850 sold
If you haven’t seen this tour yet, you owe it to yourself.
Spinal Tap, Back from the Dead (Artist 2 Market) #154, 3,200 sold
Talk about mud flaps, my girl’s got ’em!
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner), #158, 3,100 sold
They’ll be hitting the midwest and northwest with Anthrax, which marks the first time I’m jealous of anyone that lives there.
Iron Maiden, Flight 666: Original Soundtrack (Columbia) #160, 3,000 sold
Eddie, the best band mascot of all time? Discuss…
Brokencyde, I’m Not A Fan But The Kids Like It (Breaksilence) #184, 2,800 sold
The kids must not like it that much. A 56% decrease from the opening week, and it should fall off of the top 200 next week. The kids are alright!
Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media) 1,000 sold
With only a 16% drop., this might be the point where their sales level out, but as Bring Me the Horizon proved, that’s not a bad thing at all.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 1,000 sold
See what I’m saying?
Eyes Set To Kill, World Outside (Suburban Noize) 750 sold
This one’s chugging along as well.
Bury Your Dead, It’s Nothing Personal (Victory) 800 sold
There’s a lot of bands selling consistently on this week’s chart, actually.
Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Hot N’ Heavy (Suretone) 600 sold
Over 5,000 sold so far.
Devin Townsend Project, Ki (SPV) 500 sold
Hopefully the label’s bankruptcy problems won’t have any impact on the next three DTP albums due.
Amorphis, Skyforger (Nuclear Blase) 500 sold
A 43% drop in their second week isn’t bad.
The Autumn Offering, Requiem (Victory) 450 sold
And in the interest of posting this (are you still reading?) I’m not writing anything about these guys.
FMQB Most Added
1. Obituary, Darkest Day (Candlelight)
2. Job For a Cowboy, Ruination (Metal Blade)
3. Havok, Burn (Candlelight)
4. Death By Stereo, Death Is My Only Friend (Candlelight)
5. Ex Deo, Romulus (Nuclear Blast)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. DevilDriver, Pray For Villians (Roadrunner)
2. Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media)
3. Dream Theater, Black Clouds and Silver Linings (Roadrunner)
4. Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret Music)
5. Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino)
6. Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise)
7. Hatebreed, For The Lions (E1)
8. Seventh Void, Heaven is Gone (Big Vin)
9. Voivod, Infini (Relapse)
10. Clutch, “Unstoppable Watts” sampler (Weathermaker Music)
