Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Did Ghost really get paid $750,000 to sign with Universal? Probably not, but the unsubstantiated rumor has flown around the internet since before they were even officially signed. But regardless of what they got paid, selling nearly 15,000 copies of their major label debut can’t be seen as anything but successful. While we don’t have info handy on how many copies Opus Eponymous has sold so far, it can’t be much more than 15,000 cumulatively. And for any metal band to sell that much in their first week is a success, let alone one that’s only selling records through word of mouth, press and metal radio. It’ll be interesting to see how the album continues to sell, but we’d expect a sizable drop next week.
Notable Debuts:
Ghost B.C., Infestissumam (Loma Vista/Republic) #28, 14,440 sold
Sure, it only sold about 1/10th as much as this week’s top album, Fall Out Boy’s Save Rock & Roll, but this great beginning to Infestissumam might save satanic pop-metal.
The Bunny The Bear, Stories (Victory) 975 sold
This isn’t an unbearable debut for the band’s fourth album. I’m sorry, that pun wasn’t very bunny.
Anciients, Heart of Oak (Season of Mist) 600 sold
We’d like to think that these guys being featured in Unsigned & Streamed might have contributed to at least 5 sales.
Pyrithion, The Burden of Sorrow EP (Metal Blade) 400 sold
This band featuring members of As I Lay Dying, Allegaeon and other bands has a so-so debut.
Notable Sales:
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal Republic) #31, 13,300 sold
A 66% second-week drop is less than the other two albums it debuted with last week, and that band’s already sold a little less than a quarter of the 228,000 copies Beyond Hell/Above Heaven has sold.
Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones Part 2 (Roadrunner) #45, 9,850 sold
This has a second week drop of 72%, but has moved 45,000 in two weeks.
Device, Device (Warner Bros.) #51, 9,400 sold
David Draiman and friends’ debut album falls roughly the same amount as Stone Sour’s.
Killswitch Engage, Disarm The Descent (Roadrunner) #70, 7,000 sold
A second week drop, but even that can’t stop this album from selling over 60,000 in two weeks.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #92, 4,850 sold
If you look closely, you can see this record’s falling sales on the horizon. 40,000 in three weeks isn’t that bad, but falling out of the top 100 this quickly might have something to do with the record leaking a month early.
Kid Rock, Rebel Soul (Atlantic) #106, 4,000 sold
Noted philosopher Kid Rock once said “Bawitdaba da bang a dang diggy diggy diggy said the boogy said up jump the boogy.” Then his latest record fell 31% from the previous week.
Various Artists, Rock of Ages Soundtrack (Water Tower Music/Warner Bros.) #114, 3,650 sold
Somehow, this godforsaken album of the movie’s cast singing ‘80s songs has found its way into 314,000 minivans. That’s gotta be more people than have seen the movie.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #121, 3,500 sold
A 46& increase comes from, um, maybe Lzzy singing with David Draiman?
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) #130, 3,200 sold
How many other bands have two albums charting in the top 130? We could look pretty easily, but we’re on a deadline, for the love of god.
Sevendust, Black Out The Sun (7brothers) #137, 2,950 sold
If a ridiculous sold-out Stone Pony crowd in Asbury Park this past weekend is any indication, people still love them some Sevendust.
Various Artists, Sound City: Real to Reel (RCA) #143, 2,900 sold
This has sold about 60,000 copies so far. Rick Springfield is psyched.
Clutch, Earth Rocker (Weathermaker) #153, 2,600 sold
This sold roughly the same amount as it did last week, and should cross 40,000 sold in its 6th week next week.
In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #154, 2,600 sold
This has sold just under 150,000, and has been out for 34 weeks now. Big success story for Century Media.
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #158, 2,500 sold
Wonder if this band got their name from the Collective Soul song? You know the one, “duh nu nu nuh, nu nuh nu nuh nu nuh SHYEAH.”
Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones Part 1 (Roadrunner) #167, 2,300 sold
This fell 25% from last week, when Stone Sour fever struck the charts as this album’s sequel came out.
Black Veil Brides, Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones (Lava/Universal Republic) #174, 2,280 sold
This will cross 100,000 sold next week or the week after.
Bullet For My Valentine, Temper Temper (RCA) #178, 2,250 sold
The band’s touring now, which might help them from slipping off the charts next week. It’s been out for 10 weeks now.
Pierce the Veil, Collide With the Sky (Fearless) #187, 2,100 sold
This rebounds on to the charts with a robust 36% increase.
Drowning Pool, Resilience (Eleven Seven) #198, 2,075 sold
A 67% drop in week #2 means the bodies are hitting the floor.
Terror, Live By the Code (Victory) 1,150 sold
This band was very popular in and around Boston last week. No, really, they played the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest!
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 700 sold
Holy 61% increase. This will cross 40,000 sold in two weeks, when it will have officially been out for a year.
Fit For A King, Creation/Destruction (Tooth & Nail) 500 sold
More like fit for a Burger King, amirite?! (note: this only applies if there’s any fat guys in the band).
Kvelertak, Meir (Roadrunner) 480 sold
Sales are up slightly from last week. With the band’s tour starting, they might maintain nicely. This is definitely a band that will sell records on the road.
Within The Ruins, Elite (eOne) 400 sold
This has sold 9,000 copies in eight weeks. Is that good? It’s definitely not terrible.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 400 sold
What is this, checkers?
Nails, Abandon All Life (Southern Lord) 400 sold
A 70% increase is pretty impressive for this album, which will likely wind up on some year-end lists.
Hypocrisy, End of Disclosure (Nuclear Blast) 375 sold
This has sold around 3,000 in three weeks.
Sleep, Dopesmoker (Southern Lord) 375 sold
Why would this classic album about smoking week re-enter the charts, right around April 20th? Hmm…
Jungle Rot, Terror Regime (Victory) 375 sold
Buy this album and drink along with the band!
Suffocation, Pinnacle of Bedlam (Nuclear Blast) 360 sold
Still suffocating after nine weeks.
Amaranthe, Nexus (Spinefarm) 360 sold
This sold just about the same as it did last week. It’s a must-listen for fans of symphonic, slightly electronic power metal.
SixFeet Under, Unborn (Metal Blade) 325 sold
This has almost the same title as their last album, Undead. That’s not confusing at all.
Finntroll, Blodsvept (Century Media) 320 sold
A 25% drop means this might be finnished.
