Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Many metalheads will tell you that metal is more popular in other parts of the world in comparison to the United States. Others will tell you that Americans have terrible taste in music (a claim well-founded more often than not). Well, we’re here to tell you not to lose faith just yet. This week, the one and only Black Sabbath has topped the US charts for the first time ever with the new album 13 with just under 155,000 sold. Other bands like The Black Dahlia Murder and Children of Bodom also had good debuts this week. So, if you’re an American metalhead skeptical of US record sales, maybe you’ll feel better after taking a look at this weeks sales.
Notable Debuts:
Black Sabbath, 13 (Universal) #1, 154,900 sold
The godfathers of heavy metal have already topped the UK charts for the first time in about 43 years. Now the band tops the US charts with the first #1 ever. What is this that stands before you? Heavy metal greatness.
The Black Dahlia Murder, Everblack (Metal Blade) #32, 13,025 sold
The band’s sixth album marks their highest debut yet, a record previously held by 2011’s Ritual.
Children Of Bodom, Halo of Blood (Nuclear Blast) #52, 8,400 sold
Bodom is back with album number eight. More sales are likely to come around during the Rockstar Mayhem Festival.
Deafheaven, Sunbather (Deathwish) #112, 3,720 sold
This highly buzzed-about black metal duo’s sophomore album has an extremely impressive debut.
Scale The Summit, The Migration (Prosthetic) #113, 3,700 sold
This instrumental prog metal band debuted album number four, the first to feature Mark Michell on bass guitar.
Colossus, Time & Eternal (Facedown) 610 sold
This hardcore band makes its debut on the charts with its first full length.
Jorn, Traveller (Frontiers) 560 sold
Its only been a year since the last album, but Jorn has now debuted with album number eight.
Summoning, Old Mornings Dawn (Napalm) 380 sold
Austrian black metallers are on the charts with more songs inspired by the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien.
Notable Sales:
Queens Of The Stone Age, …Like Clockwork (Matador) #15, 24,000 sold
This album is still selling like clockwork.
Sleeping With Sirens, Feel (Rise) #34, 12,075 sold
Sales haven’t fallen asleep for this album.
Alice In Chains, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (Virgin) #35, 11,850 sold
The Devil also helped put this over 91,000 total sales.
Megadeth, Super Collider (UMe) #38, 10,850 sold
Over 40,000 in total in week two.
Black Veil Brides, Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones (Lava/Universal Republic) #75, 6,050 sold
A humongous boost of 246%? That’s pretty wild.
Various Artists, 2013 Warped Tour Compilation (Side One Dummy) #99, 6,275 sold
We like to think people bought this solely because of The Black Dahlia Murder. We’d be wrong.
30 Seconds To Mars, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (Virgin) #101, 4,150 sold
30 Seconds To Mars get a 30% drop.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #117, 3,550 sold
This album continues its selling streak with a 33%, bringing it to just under 65,000 sold in total.
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #122, 3,450 sold
A 13% drop? That’s a little shady, but a total of over 92,000 sold isn’t.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #134, 3,200 sold
This may be lower on the charts than last week, but it actually sold more with just under 240,000 total.
Rob Zombie, Venemous Rat Regeneration Vendor (T-Boy/UMe) #161, 2,625 sold
This sold almost exactly the same as last week.
Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones Part 2 (Roadrunner) #162, 2,575 sold
This got a small boost in week 10.
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #164, 2,550 sold
This album has been getting boosts all over the place, sporting a 28% increase this week.
Killswitch Engage, Disarm The Descent (Roadrunner) #169, 2,425 sold
Consistent sales brings this album to over 93,000 total.
Filter, The Sun Comes Out Tonight (Wind-Up) #171, 2,400 sold
It’s a 70% second week drop for this album.
Device, Device (Warner Bros.) #182, 2,150 sold
Just under 75,000 sold in total in week 10.
Evile, Skull (Century Media) 840 sold
The fourth album from these British thrashers came out a few weeks back, but it only just appeared on the charts.
Dark Tranquillity, Construct (Century Media) 750 sold
This has just crept over 4,200 sold.
Black Star Riders, All Hell Breaks Loose (Nuclear Blast) 660 sold
Sales for this album are similar to that of…
Skinny Puppy, Weapon (Metropolis) 660 sold
…which has sold a total of just under 4,500.
Kylesa, Ultraviolet (Season Mist) 620 sold
Over 4,100 sold? That’s sludgetastic for this band.
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 600 sold
After being absent for a week, the album that never dies is back!
Affiance, Campaign (Ingrooves) 590 sold
Tour magic is likely to keep this afloat.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 430 sold
Over 30,000 sold in week 30.
Anvil, Hope In Hell (The End) 300 sold
Is there a hope in hell for sales to increase for this album?
