Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Talk about one hell of a week for metal and hard rock debuts. Out of the thirteen new releases that made it onto the charts, nine of them actually made it into the top 200. And while it proved to be a successful first week for new and elder bands alike, this week’s top metal/hard rock debut goes to Halestorm. The Lzzy Hale fronted rock group’s sophomore album cracks the top 20 with just under 24,000 copies sold. Considering that their 2009 self-titled debut peaked at #40, we’d say that this is cause for major celebration for the Halestorm camp.
Notable Debuts:
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #15, 23,840 sold
While the band has gained lots of attention from the numerous tours they’ve done (including the inaugural Uproar Tour), we wonder if Lzzy’s guest appearance on Adrenaline Mob’s cover of Duran Duran’s “Come Undone” helped give the band extra exposure. After all, we know how loyal Mike Portnoy fans are.
Demon Hunter, True Defiance (Solid State) #34, 12,500 sold
The Christian metalcore group’s sixth studio album sells roughly 1,400 copies less than 2010’s World Is A Thorn, did in its first week. which is still extremely impressive considering how hard it is for many bands nowadays to sell half of what they sold two years ago.
Emmure, Slave to the Game (Victory) #59, 7,040 sold
Though ranking higher, Emmure’s fifth album sells roughly three thousand copies less than 2011’s Spear Of The Dead did in its first week.
Accept, Stalingrad (Nuclear Blast) #76, 5,383 sold
The German metal legends experience their highest ranking debut since 1984’s Balls To The Wall. In comparison, 2010’s Blood Of The Nations (considered to be their “comeback album” with new singer Mark Tornillo) debuted at #170 with 2,900 copies sold. Talk about a major victory for Accept!
Job for a Cowboy, Demonocracy (Metal Blade) #80, 4,880 sold
The deathcore group’s third album does not do as well as 2009’s Ruination, which sold roughly 10,600 copies in its first week and ranked at #42. Hopefully their upcoming stint on Summer Slaughter will further help sales out.
Upon A Burning Body, Red. White. Green. (Sumerian) #92, 4,050 sold
They may not be burning up the charts, but a top 100 debut for the group’s sophomore album is still impressive.
Jeff Loomis, Plains of Oblivion (Century Media) #139, 2,880 sold
The virtuoso guitarist’s sophomore album only sells slightly less than his former band Nevermore’s last album The Obsidian Conspiracy (which debuted at #125 with roughly 4,000 sold in 2010).
Municipal Waste, The Fatal Feast (Nuclear Blast) #152, 2,680 sold
Looks like the Virginia thrash band’s move to Nuclear Blast Records paid off. Their fifth album may have only sold roughly 500 copies more than 2009’s Massive Aggressive did in its first week, but it’s still enough to give Municipal Waste their first top 200 debut.
Taproot, The Episodes (Victory) #156, 2,640 sold
What’s more shocking: that Taproot were only six spots away from cracking the top 150 in their first week, or that Taproot are still around?
Pelican, Ataraxia/Taraxis (Southern Lord) 1,280 sold
The instrumental sludge metal group’s fifth EP has a strong first week.
The Safety Fire, Grind The Ocean (InsideOut) 1,080 sold
A solid first week for the UK group’s debut album. It’s safe to say that their opening stint on Protest The Hero and Periphery’s tour is helping sales quiet a bit.
Charm City Devils, Sins (Fat Lady Music) 700
A bittersweet week for the group, with frontman John Allen’s former Child’s Play bandmate Brian Jack having passed away.
Dirge Within, There Will Be Blood (Rocket Science/THC) 410 sold
A slow but modest first week for the Chicago metal group.
Notable Sales:
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #19, 18,710 sold
A 48% decrease in sales isn’t enough to kick this hard rock staple out of the top 20 after three weeks.
Van Halen, A Different Kind of Truth (Interscope) #52, 7,850 sold
Looks like Van Halen found themselves an opening act that’s even more random than Kool and the Gang.
Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist (Prospect Park) #81, 4,840 sold
Maybe FFDP’s good luck on the charts will rub off on Soulfly following their performance with Max Cavalera.
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #121, 3,190 sold
Dave Grohl may not have hit on Frances Bean Cobain, but we’re sure he agrees with her that Courtney Love should be banned from Twitter.
Korn, The Path of Totality (Roadrunner) #138, 2,890 sold
Guess winning “album of the year” at the Revolver Golden Gods didn’t help improve sales by much.
The Mars Volta, Noctourniquet (Warner Bros.) #90, 5,070 sold
The Mars Volta drop down the charts by 56 spots in their third week. Maybe fans were too busy watching Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez perform at Coachella.
High On Fire, De Vermis Mysteriis (eOne) #149, 2,700 sold
Last week’s top metal debut experiences a 63% decrease in sales, enough to kick them out of the top 100. At least Mayhem Fest is just around the corner.
Meshuggah, Koloss (Nuclear Blast) #159, 2,570 sold
After three weeks, the Swedish technical metal group have sold 25,700 copies of their latest album.
Lamb of God, Resolution (Epic) #190, 2,020 sold
After being absent from the charts for three weeks now, Lamb Of God slip back into the top 200.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 1,610 sold
Check out who the Danish rockabilly metal group will be hitting the road with this Summer.
God Forbid, Equilibrium (Victory) 810 sold
The NJ metalcore group’s tour with Overkill kicks off on Friday, April 20. That means you still have two days left to “like us” on Facebook for the chance to win an awesome prize pack from God Forbid.
Stick to Your Guns, Diamond (Sumerian) 750 sold
The melodic hardcore band may be performing on the All Star Tour this Summer, but we bet they don’t feel much like all stars after another 38% decrease in sales.
3 Inches Of Blood, Long Live Heavy Metal (Century Media) 720 sold
Another 24% decrease for the group, just as the Metal Alliance Tour comes to an end next in Houston, TX this weekend.
Corrosion Of Conformity, Corrosion Of Conformity (Candlelight) 420 sold
Another 28% decrease in sales for the reformed stoner metal group.
Ghost, Opus Eponymous (Rise Above) 400 sold
Quite possibly the biggest surprise of the week is seeing Ghost’s over a year old debut album experiencing an impressive 59% increase in sales. While the mysterious Swedish doom group have just been added to the Orion Music & More lineup, this sudden jump in sales is most likely due to their current opening stint on Mastodon and Opeth’s tour.
Eluveitie, Helvetios (Nuclear Blast) 380 sold
At this point, maintaining the title of “top folk metal release of the week” isn’t as big of an accomplishment.
