Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
This week sees eleven metal/hard rock albums making their debut, with eight of them appearing in the top 200. Despite releases from big names like In Flames, The Black Dahlia Murder, Symphony X, and Devin Townsend, this week’s top debut comes from August Burns Red’s Leveler. The metalcore group’s fourth album sells just under 29,000 copies and came just short of cracking the top ten. Thus, Leveler is the band’s highest ranking and selling debut to date. Considering how 2009’s Constellations debuted at #24 selling around 20,400 copies, and the current state of the music industry (have you heard that album sales are low? just checking), this is pretty spectacular for August Burns Red.
Notable Debuts:
August Burns Red, Leveler (Solid State) #11, 28,540 sold
Ever wondered how they came up with the name August Burns Red? Warning, it’s a sad story.
In Flames, Sounds of a Playground Fading (Century Media) #26, 13,840 sold
The Swedish metal group’s tenth studio album, and first without founding member Jesper Strömblad, is also the band’s highest ranking debut. However, it sells considerably less than 2006’s Come Clarity (which though debuted at #58 sold around 25,000 copies in its first week).
The Black Dahlia Murder, Ritual (Metal Blade) #29, 12,960 sold
The death metal group’s fifth full length album is their highest ranking debut so far.
Symphony X, Iconoclast (Nuclear Blast) #69, 7,330 sold
Following this week’s major trend, the NJ prog metallers’ first album with Nuclear Blast records is also their highest debut.
Crossfade, We All Bleed (Eleven Seven) #91, 5,250 sold
Remember Crossfade? Well a bunch of fans apparently do, as the alt rock group’s third album debuts in the top 100.
The Devin Townsend Project, Deconstruction (HevyDevy/Inside Out) #137, 3,480 sold
At first, this might seem a bit low in sales for Townsend’s all-star packed metal album. However, considering that this is one of two new albums Townsend released on the same say, and that the deluxe edition featuring both albums sold around 700 copies alone, this is a pretty solid first week for Hevy Devy.
Night Ranger, Somewhere In California (Frontiers) #147, 3,310 sold
A solid first week for the 80’s hair metal group’s tenth studio album, especially considering that we didn’t even realize that Night Ranger was still recording new music.
Vanna, And They Came Baring Bones (Artery) #174, 2,800 sold
A solid first week for the post-hardcore group’s first full length album released via Artery Records.
The Devin Townsend Project, Ghost (HevyDevy/Inside Out) 2,240 sold
A solid week for Townsend’s other new release for the same reason given up top, plus the fact that this album could easily be played in the background of a spa.
Jungle Rot, Kill on Command (Victory) 630 sold
The death metal group’s sixth album has a modest first week on the charts.
Fit for an Autopsy, The Process of Human Extermination (Black Market Activities) 510 sold
Not a bad first week for one of Black Market Activities’ (ran by The Red Chord frontman Guy Kozowyk) new releases. We’re friends with the band’s Will Putney, and we hope the solid first week sales don’t make him split his head open.
Notable Sales:
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #34, 12,200 sold
After a major increase brought them back into the top 20, Grohl and co. experiences a 59% decrease that kicks them down the charts by 22 spots.
Seether, Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray (Wind-Up) #49, 9,150 sold
Another 22% decrease isn’t enough to kick Seether out of the top 50.
Black Veil Brides, Set the World on Fire (Universal Republic) #64, 7,650 sold
After an impressive first week, Black Veil Brides experiences a 67% decrease in sales.
Def Leppard, Mirrorball (Mailboat) #70, 7,330 sold
The onetime 80’s hair rock kings’ live album (with three new songs) experiences a 42% decrease in its third week. Not bad, though, for an album that’s only sold in Walmart and Sam’s Club.
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #79, 6,150 sold
A 29% decrease sees the American badass falling nineteen spots down the charts.
Hollywood Undead, American Tragedy (A&M/Octone) #98, 4,860 sold
Another 12% decrease keeps the masked rapcore group in the same spot as last week.
Of Mice & Men, The Flood (Rise) #111, 4,300 sold
A major 72% decrease sees the metalcore group kicked out of the top 100 after a top 30 debut last week.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #123, 3,970 sold
More dates have been added to this year’s Uproar Tour, which A7X are headlining.
Black Country Communion, 2 (J&R Adventures) #143, 3,370 sold
The second album from Jason Bonham and Glenn Hughes’ supergroup experiences a 59% decrease in its second week on the charts.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #166, 2,920 sold
After 92 weeks, FFDP’s War is the Answer is starting to show signs of slowing down, with another 13% decrease kicking them out of the top 150. Just in time for a new album to come before year’s end.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #195, 2,510 sold
LP are only five steps closer from exiting the top 200.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 1,220 sold
Another 10% decrease for the Danish garage metallers.
Morbid Angel, Illud Divinum Insanus (Season of Mist) 850 sold
Another 41% decrease for Morbid Angel’s polarizing album.
Art Of Dying, Vices And Virtures (Reprise/Intoxication) 6500 sold
The Canadian rockers experience a slight 9% increase during their fourteenth week on the charts.
Alestorm, Back Through Time (Napalm) 540 sold
A 56% decrease for the Scottish pirate metal group during their second week on the charts. At least they’re still the top folk metal group on the charts.
Origin, Entity (Nuclear Blast) 500 sold
Though it appeared on New & Noteworthy last week, it seems that this album has been on the charts for three weeks now.
Hammerfall, Infected (Nuclear Blast) 450 sold
Another 33% decrease for the Swedish power metal group in their third week.
