Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
We’ll be blunt: there were a crap load of albums debuting this week, most of them highly worth noting. We over here at Metal Insider see this week’s charts as an indication that it is indeed the season for metal. It’s truly been a great week for sales. This week features a holiday album, a compilation album, a slab of progressive metal, and album number twenty for a certain face-paint wearing band among many others.
Notable Debuts
KISS, Monster (UMe) #3, 56,000 sold
The hottest band in the world is back with studio album number twenty. And what’s more, it’s cracked the top 5. These are both impressive feats for the band, and even if you share the same thoughts on them as a certain frontman, you can’t deny the continued success of KISS.
Coheed And Cambria, The Afterman: Ascension (Hundred Handed) #5, 49,500 sold
The story of the Amory Wars continues with the latest album from Coheed And Cambria. It’s the first part of a double album, with the second part titled The Afterman: Descension due out next year. And considering everything that’s lead up to the release, we’d count this top 5 debut as a major win.
Between The Buried And Me, The Parallax II: Future Sequence (Metal Blade) #22, 17,000 sold
A continuation of The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues EP from last year, BTBAM have finally released their much anticipated follow-up. Judging from the numbers on the charts, it’s easy to believe that that this album is being widely lauded.
The Acacia Strain, Death Is The Only Mortal (Rise) #50, 8,600 sold
This is the band’s first full-length release on Rise Records and it’s done well in managing to reach the top 50. Fun fact: the track “Go To Sleep” features Kirk Windstein of Crowbar.
Nonpoint, Nonpoint (Razor & Tie) #61, 7,300
Album number 7 for Nonpoint is also the first to feature guitarists Robb Rivera and Dave Lizzio and bassist Adam Woloszyn, leaving only two of the original members.
Converge, All We Love We Leave Behind (Epitaph) #68, 6,400 sold
Converge’s latest debuted higher than their previous critically acclaimed album Axe To Fall, and with the reviews coming out it’s not hard to see why.
August Burns Red, August Burns Red Presents: Sleddin’ Hill, A Holiday Album (Solid State) #137, 3,200 sold
Christmas has come a little early in the form of August Burns Red’s holiday album. Considering that the time of constant Christmas music on the radio will be on us before we know it, one can hope that this album is among them.
Texas In July, Texas In July, (Equal Vision) #141, 3,100 sold
The self-titled third album for Texas In July has had an impressive debut. That ought to make more people flock to The Unshakable Tour.
Dio, The Very Beast Of Dio Vol. 2(Niji) #189, 2,300 sold
The late, great Ronnie James Dio is still making his way to the chart with this second compilation album, the first volume of which was release in 2000.
Enslaved, RIITIIR (Nuclear Blast) #194, 2,300 sold
For these Norwegian black metallers, it’s a respectable debut for album number twelve.
Sylosis, Monolith (Nuclear Blast) 1,700 sold
This English band debuts a few weeks before a North American tour that goes until December.
Danko Jones, Rock & Roll Is Black And Blue (Bad Taste) 560 sold
Looks like sales are turning black and blue for this album’s debut.
Onward To Olympus, Indicator (Facedown) 460 sold
The North Carolina metalcore act hasn’t quite reached the peak of Olympus in terms of sales.
Defiler, Nematocera (Razor & Tie) 450 sold
There’s a song on this album called “Brick Killed A Guy”. It’s safe to assume that the Anchorman reference alone caused sales.
Notable Sales
Papa Roach, The Connection (Eleven Seven Music) #62, 7,300
It’s a typical second week drop for album number seven.
Rock of Ages, Soundtrack (WaterTower Music) #66, 6,700 sold
Wait. What the hell is this doing back here?
As I Lay Dying, Awakened (Metal Blade) #87, 5,200 sold
It’s another drop for AILD in week number three.
In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #129, 3,400 sold
This album is slowly approaching the 60,000 mark after nine weeks.
Rush, Clockwork Angels (Roadrunner) #150, 2,900 sold
The trio is currently making it’s way around the U.S. on their North American leg of the tour. Who’s going?!
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #154, 2,800 sold
A strange case of a 20 percent sales drop (wait, did we make that joke already?).
Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist (Prospect Park) #163, 2,600 sold
Here’s a thought: if one of the five members were to leave, would it then be Four Finger Death Punch?
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 2,100 sold
This album has reach week 100 on the charts and has done well.
AxeWound, Vultures (Search and Destroy) 670 sold
It’s a real sharp drop for this supergroup in week two.
Steve Harris, British Lion (UmE) 630 sold
A drop of 41 percent for the master bassist.
Witchcraft, Legend (Nuclear Blast) 620 sold
Some kind of witchcraft caused this album to drop this week.
The Devin Townsend Project, Epicloud (HevyDevy) 590 sold
To be honest, we’re really looking for an update on the next Ziltoid album.
Propaghandi, Failed States (Epitaph) 580 sold
This album got a nice boost in sales this week.
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 550 sold
This did exactly the same as last week.
Texas Hippie Coalition, Peacemaker (Carved) 360 sold
I keep misreading the album title as Pacemaker. Guess they’ll need one to keep sales going.
This Or The Apocalypse, Dead Years (eOne Music) 300 sold
Dead sales.
