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.
KISS has gotta be PISSed. Their Wal-Mart exclusive album sold a perfectly respectable 108,000 copies, but that was only good enough for #2. Sinatra-wannabe Michael Buble sold more than 130,000 copies to debut at #1, probably bought mostly by people KISS’ age. Last week’s crop of metal is still faring pretty well, and with Black Friday only a few weeks away, look for album sales to pick up. Baroness is deservedly #1 Most Added at metal radio, and it’s a farily static top 10 at metal radio.
Notable Debuts:
KISS, Sonic Boom
As easy as it is to talk smack about Gene and Paul’s money lust and shameless commercialism, this is a great number for any record, let alone a rock/metal one.
Blessthefall, Witness
Their first proper album didn’t even appear on the charts. This is a great first week.
Immortal, All Shall Fall
It always makes me happy when black metal debuts in the top 200.
Notable Sales:
Breaking Benjamin, Dear Agony
Not to confused with Life of Agony, which is an amazing band. Forget the haters. Life of Agony would win in a fight against Breaking Benjamin any day.
Alice In Chains, Black Gives Way To Blue (Virgin) #12 37,000 sold
Over 160,000 sold in two weeks. What band from this decade will be able to say that ten years from now?
Dethklok, Dethalbum II
61,000 in two weeks is also an amazing number, especially for a cartoon band (albeit one that kicks total ass).
Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer
They’ve got a top ten song at rock radio, they’re still doing well at metal, and have sold 75,000 copies in three weeks.
Steel Panther, Feel the Steel
Last week’s debut was actually digital only. The 6,000 they sell this week is a 31% increase from last week’s.
Rodrigo y Gabriela, 11:11 (ATO) #99, 5,800 sold
Only down 6% from last week. Not to mention all the overhead they save touring from only being a two-person band.
Megadeth, Endgame (Roadrunner) #105, 5,600 sold
Keep checking back here for an exclusive Metal Insider interview with Dave Mustaine.
Hatebreed, Hatebreed
#1 album at metal radio and #113 album nationally shows that there’s a bit of a disconnect. That said, 20,000 albums sold isn’t too shabby.
Ace Frehley, Anomaly (Rocket Science) #148 3,600 sold
At 30,000 sold, Ace has sold 30% of what KISS sold in just one week. Then again, he isn’t being shoehorned into every Wal-Mart nationwide.
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline/Fontana) #184, 2,900 sold
325,000 sold will buy Sammy Hagar a lot Mas Tequila.
Insane Clown Posse, Bang! Pow! Boom! (Psychopathic) #187 2,800 sold
ICP is at 1-8-7? Word, juggalos, word.
Austrian Death Machine, Double Brutal
It’s called Double Brutal because it’s a two-disc set. The second disc is all covers.
Anvil, This is Thirteen (VH1 Classic) 2,200 sold
A huge 218% bounce from the documentary airing on VH1 Classic, the DVD becoming available, and the band on VH1 Classic’s “That Metal Show.” The sequel is writing itself.
Evergreen Terrace, Almost Home
A pretty solid 33% drop off from last week’s debut. A lot of albums drop off about 50%.
Skindred, Shark Bites and Dog Fights
I haven’t heard any of this yet, but if it’s anywhere as good as the album artwork, it’s a solid record.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 760 sold
Party `til you puke and drink `til you die! Words to live (and die) by!
3 Inches of Blood, Here Waits Thy Doom (Century Media) 750 sold
You should check out our awesome interview with the band.
Sonata Arctica, The Days of Grays
Only a 12% drop in their third week suggests that the band’s got some longevity.
Dying Fetus, Descend into Depravity
We lost a Twitter follower last week over the mere mention of these guys, so we must be doing something right.
FMQB Most Added
1. Baroness, The Blue Record (Relapse)
2. Inhale/Exhale, Bury Me Alive (Solid State)
3. Destro, Harmony of Dischord (Ironclad)
4. Blackhole, Dead Hearts (E1)
5. Rob Zombie, “sampler” (Interscope/Geffen)
1. Hatebreed, Hatebreed (E1)
2. Megadeth, Endgame (Roadrunner)
3. Dethklok Dethalbum II
4. Shadows Fall Retribution (Everblack Industries/Ferret)
5. GWAR, Lust In Space (Metal Blade)
6. Municipal Waste, Massive Aggressive (Earache)
7. Kittie, In The Black (Koch Records)
8. Black Dahlia Murder, Deflorate (Metal Blade)
9. Slayer, “World Painted Blood” (Columbia/American)
10. 3 Inches of Blood, Here Waits Thy Doom (Century Media)
