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.
As if stealing the show at the Mayhem Fest wasn’t enough, everyone’s favorite corpse-painted Polacks Behemoth walked off with the biggest metal debut of the week, selling 8,500 of their ninth album, Evangelion. Speaking of metal bands and makeup, Winds of Plague also have a solid debut, selling over 6,000 copies of their sophomore album. DevilDriver takes the top slot once again at FMQB, with GWAR invading the top five at metal radio.
Notable Debuts:
Behemoth, Evangelion (Metal Blade) #56, 8,500 sold
It’s hard to believe these guys have been around for nine albums and put out such a great one. Most bands run out of steam a few albums in.
Winds of Plague, The Great Stone War (Century Media) #73, 6,400 sold
If only this album was 1/5th as good as it’s cover, it would be a top ten album of the year.
Notable Sales:
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline/Fontana) #57, 8,500 sold
In a few weeks, this will have sold over 300,000.
Killswitch Engage, Killswitch Engage (Roadrunner) #91, 5,000 sold
Almost two months in, and KsE is the only metal band with staying power in the top 100.
Kid Rock, Rock N’ Roll Jesus (Atlantic) #104, 4,200 sold
Only Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne, and Daughtry have sold more than Kid on the top 200. The disturbing thing as that two of Swift’s albums have sold over 4 million and she’s showing no signs of slowing down. People sure do like their watered-down kiddie country.
Disturbed, Indestructable (Reprise) #139, 3,000 sold
Hard to believe that 10 years ago, nobody had heard of Disturbed. Now they won’t go away.
August Burns Red, Constellations (Solid State) #161, 2,700 sold
I stated this last week, but need to repeat it. The band takes their name from a vengeful ex-girlfriend (named August) of the band’s first singer that set his dog (named Redd) on fire. Wow.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner), #162, 2,650 sold
Selling almost exactly what they did last week, Slipknot are pretty consistent.
Metallica, Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.) #164, 2,600 sold
Seriously, Metal Insider needs to go to the Madison Square Garden shows.
Assjack, Assjack (Curb) #191, 2,250 sold
7,000 sold in two weeks. Pretty solid given that these songs have been floating around for a while now.
Dream Theater, Black Clouds and Silver Linings (Roadrunner) #197, 2,200
This will have sold 100,000 by the end of the year, which is great.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 1,000 sold
Nine months in, and they’re still selling 1,000 copies a week.
Divine Heresy, Bringer of Plagues (Century Media) 975 sold
Seems like this is dying down pretty quickly. Maybe the album will pick up steam as they tour.
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 900 sold
Of all of Attack Attack!’s hits, we like this one the most.
Darkest Hour, Eternal Return (Victory) 650 sold
Whether it’s their Victory swan song or not, the last album in their current contract is still doing well.
Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media) 600 sold
Igavemyspacebararestonce.
Arsonists Get All the Girls, Portals (Century Media) 500 sold
This is the same that they sold last week.
Whitechapel, This Is Exile (Metal Blade) 500 sold
With 45,000 sold over the course of a year, this is another band that benefited from this year’s Mayhem fest.
He Is Legend, It Hates You (Tragic Hero) 500 sold
Check this album out. These guys are way underrated in our book.
Suffocation, Blood Oath (Nuclear Blast) 450 sold
Looks like some people are reading the great reviews this album’s getting.
FMQB Most Added
1. Otep, Smash the Control Machine (Victory)
2. Burnt by the Sun, Heart of Darkness (Relapse)
3. Iron Age, The Sleeping Eye (Tee Pee)
4. Caliban, Say Hello to Tragedy (Century Media)
5. Your Demise, Ignorance Never Dies (Earache)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. DevilDriver, Pray For Villians (Roadrunner)
2. Shadows Fall “King of Nothing” single (Everblack Industries/Ferret)
3. Killswitch Engage, Killswitch Engage (Roadrunner)
4. Slayer, “Hate Worldwide” single (Columbia/American)
5. GWAR, Lust In Space (Metal Blade)
6. Arkaea, Years in the Darkness (E1 Entertainment)
7. Five Finger Death Punch, “Hard To See”/”Burn It Down” (Prospect Park)
8. Obituary, Darkest Day (Candelight)
9. Suffocation, Blood Oath (Nuclear Blast
10. August Burns Red, Constellations (Solid State)
