Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
When Kid Rock has a top 10 album and there are only a few new metal releases, you know that it’s basically the end of the year as far as metal releases go. Besides, all of the top 10 lists we’ve been posting should indicate that the most significant releases this year have all come out by now anyway, and a few of them are still on the charts.
Notable Debuts
I Am Abomination, Let The Future Tell The Truth (Self-Released) 600 sold
This Michigan progressive metal band has a pretty amazing first week considering that their album is self-released after parting with Good Fight (and three-fifths of their lineup)
Incantation, Vanquish In Vengeance (Listenable) 360 sold
Did you know that Kyle from Incantation has a mustache? A.C. did.
Notable Sales
Kid Rock, Rebel Soul (Atlantic), #9, 46,250 sold
While Taylor Swift’s album has only been out for four more weeks than Kid’s, it’s already sold over 2 million more copies. Maybe Kid should date John Mayer.
Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day (Atlantic) #16, 36,400 sold
This is the only band in the top twenty that got a shout-out from Barack Obama. Take that, Taylor Swift!
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dreams of Fireflies (On A Christmas Night) (Lava) #23, 24,550 sold
Things that are inevitable around Christmas: Black Friday stampedes, A Charlie Brown Christmas on TV, another TSO album on the charts.
Aerosmith, Music From Another Dimension! (Columbia) #57, 11,850 sold
This album’s sinking pretty quickly. Maybe Steven Tyler alienated fans by going on American Idol
Soundgarden, King Animal (Roadrunner) #60, 11,450 sold
I guess they have been away for too long…
Deftones, Koi No Yokan (Reprise) #80, 8,100 sold
This will cross 100,000 sold, most likely the week after next. Pretty solid performance.
AC/DC, Live At River Plate (Columbia) #88, 7,150
This is going ok for a cash-in to remind people the band probably have a new album coming out soon.
Flyleaf, New Horizons (A&M/Octone) #137, 4,550 sold
The band’s off to new horizons after Lacey Sturm left. Her swan song has sold about 45,000 in five weeks.
KISS, Monster (UMe) #138, 4,550 sold
Even though it’s their best-reviewed album in a while, Monster isn’t exactly setting the charts on fire.
Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones (Roadrunner) #142, 4,450 sold
The first of two albums from the band in the next few months is selling modestly.
Rock of Ages, Soundtrack (WaterTower Music) #148, 4,300 sold
Some of the worst people of the year are insisting on buying the soundtrack to one of the worst movies of the year.
In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #156, 3,900 sold
This keeps selling consistently, and should cross the 100,000 sold barrier by Christmas.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #179, 3,300 sold
Speaking of female-fronted rock bands…
All That Remains, A War You Cannot Win (Razor & Tie) #181, 3,250 sold
This album has sold about 40,000 in four weeks. Once the “radio song” is released (that’d be “What If I Was Nothing”), look for sales to continue.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 2,450 sold
170,000 sold in 107 weeks. Everyone wins.
Woe, Is Me, Genesi[s] (Rise) 1,750 sold
We’re more Super Nintend[o] fans.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 1,650 sold
Less than 40 copies separate these two Rise bands, both of who’s albums came out last week, from each other.
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 880 sold
This will cross 25,000 copies next week, which isn’t bad for a song we can still honestly say we’ve never heard.
Wintersun, Time I (Nuclear Blast) 740 sold
Much like Coheed & Cambria and Stone Sour, this is the first half of a two-part album suite, with the second following next year.
Porcupine Tree, Octane Twisted (Kscope) 727 sold
By the time you’ve read this, Steven Wilson has probably already recorded another solo project.
Graveyard, Lights Out (Nuclear Blast) 460 sold
This is winding up on a few year-end lists. Is it on yours?
Neurosis, Honor Found In Decay (Neurot) 450 sold
Spoiler alert: this is on one of our top ten lists.
Geoff Tate, Kings & Thieves (Inside Out) 360 sold
Another spoiler alert: this one isn’t on anyone’s top ten year end list.
In Fear & Faith, In Fear And Faith (Rise) 340 sold
This has sold almost 6,300 so far.
The Devin Townsend Project, Epicloud (HevyDevy) 340 sold
This is winding up on a lot of year-end lists. Sadly, it probably won’t translate into record sales, since it’s only sold 9,000 so far.
Affiance, The Campaign (Bullet Tooth) 320 sold
These guys have sold an impressive 2,600 copies of their sophomore album in three weeks.
Upon This Dawning, To Keep Us Safe (Fearless) 300 sold
This Italian metalcore band has sold almost 5,000 copies in six weeks.
Texas Hippie Coalition, Peacemaker (Carved) 300 sold
This is still selling consistently every week? Where are these people coming from? Texas?
Pig Destroyer, Book Burner (Relapse) 300 sold
This is the best grindcore album of the year, according to everyone.
