It’s a slow week for album sales, with only three albums selling over 40,000. However, it’s a big win for We Came as Romans, whose third album, Tracing Back Roots, has a monster first week. For a band whose first album came out not even four years ago, they’ve quickly established themselves. Elsewhere, Mike Portnoy’s new band has a solid debut, as does a Disturbed side project.
Notable Debuts:
We Came As Romans, Tracing Back Roots (Equal Vision), Debut #8, 26,500 sold
You can follow the band’s success through their three album titles, To Plant A Seed, Understanding What We’ve Grown to Be and Tracing Back Roots. Also, trees.
The Winery Dogs, The Winery Dogs (Loud & Proud) Debut #27, 10,000 sold
The cult of Dream Theater strikes again! Much of these sales probably came from fans of the band supporting Mike Portnoy’s new project. Unless, of course, we’re underestimating the pull of Billy Sheehan or Richie Kotzen.
Fight or Flight, A Life by Design? (Warner Bros.), Debut #84, 4,200 sold
This is an ok debut for the band, which features Disturbed rhythm section Dan Donegan and Mike Wengren. However, it’s about 30,000 less than Device did in their first week.
Counterparts, The Difference Between Hell & Home (Victory) 1,600 sold
The Canadian hardcore band’s third album has a nice debut.
Karnivool, Asymmetry (Density/Workhorse) 1,600 sold
I’m not sure how many albums it takes to be #1 in Australia, but the Aussie prog-rockers’ album is currently topping the charts there.
True Widow, Circumambulation (Relapse) 1080 sold
Making the jump from Kemado to Relapse appears to have paid off for the shoegaze/stoner band.
Phinehas, The Last Word is Yours to Speak (12th Street) 740 sold
This Christian band’s album is off to a great start.
Alpha & Omega, No Rest No Peace (Bridge Nine), 670 sold
This is the Los Angeles hardcore band’s second full length album.
Volto! Incitare (Concord) 600 sold
While Mike Portnoy’s inclusion on a side project guarantees big sales, the same can’t be said for Tool drummer Danny Carey.
Black Tusk, Tend No Wounds (Relapse) 470 sold
This is a stopgap EP in between albums. Six songs, 20 minutes. Any questions?
Notable Sales:
Skillet, Rise (Atlantic), #32, 9,000 sold
“Sick of it?” Record buyers don’t appear to be. They’ve sold over 100,000 in five weeks.
Black Sabbath, 13 (Universal) #34, 8500 sold
This has sold 275,000 already. Very impressive. Which is more than we can say about the live reviews we’ve gotten.
Various Artists, 2013 Warped Tour Compilation (Side One Dummy) #49, 6740
Over 46,000 sold for this annual comp that you can buy on or off the tour. It’s like printing money.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #88, 4,000 sold
It took well over a year for Bring me the Horizon’s last two albums to cross the 100,000 sold mark. At 85,000 in just over four months, it shouldn’t take as long for this one.
Queens Of The Stone Age, …Like Clockwork (Matador) #89, 3,970 sold
…Like Clockwork is selling …like hotcakes.
Sleeping With Sirens, Feel (Rise) #93, 3,760 sold
For a band that’s only been in existence for four years to have more former members than members is interesting. The album crossed the 100,000 sold barrier in just eight weeks though.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #104, 3,350 sold
It’s been months, but it’s still a little fucked up that this band, as solid of a rock band as they are, won the metal/hard rock Grammy.
Kid Rock, Rebel Soul (Atlantic) #105, 3,230 sold
This album’s passed gold status.
Alice In Chains, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (Virgin) #115, 3,000 sold
Nearly 120,000 sold in just under two months.
Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals, Walk Through Exits Only (Housecore) #139, 2,850 sold
A 67% drop in week two isn’t that bad, given the great first week this had.
Amon Amarth, Deceiver of the Gods (Metal Blade) #133, 2,600 sold
The band’s stage setup is a highlight of the Mayhem Fest, which considering all the pyro Zombie uses, is no small feat.
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #148, ,2350 sold
This album is about at the point where it’s selling a consistent amount every week, which four months in, is pretty impressive.
Rob Zombie, Venemous Rat Regeneration Vendor (T-Boy/UMe) #154, 2,260 sold
At about 85,000, this is slowly making its way towards 100,000 sold.
Falling In Reverse, Fashionably Late (Epitaph) #157, 2,230
This album is continuing to fall in forward.
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #168, 2,090 sold
425,000 sold so far in about 30 weeks. This band’s fourth album will eventually be their fourth gold one.
Pierce The Veil, Collide With The Sky (Fearless) #185, 1,830 sold
Over 140,000 sold so far.
August Burns Red, Rescue & Restore (Solid State) #188, 1,790 sold
Up to nearly 42,000 in five weeks.
Black Veil Brides, Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones (Lava/Universal Republic) #189, 1,780 sold
At least the speaker controversy has been put to bed. Now we can concentrate on the important things, like makeup.
Megadeth, Super Collider (UMe) #192, 1,750 sold
With about 58,000 sold in two months, this might be Dave and co’s last week on the 200 chart.
Butcher Babies, Goliath (Century Media) 880 sold
Only a 12% drop in its third week. The solid word of mouth about the band’s live performance appears to be paying off.
Battlecross, War of Will (Metal Blade) 780 sold
Another band with good Mayhem Fest word of mouth.
Deafheaven, Sunbather (Deathwish) 590 sold
This album should cross 10,000 next week. Not band for a metal band, but amazing for a metal band with a singer like this.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 580 sold
I still have no idea what the band’s name means. Why would you crown an entire empire?
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 570 sold
Neither do this band’s album sales.
Black Star Riders, All Hell Breaks Loose (Nuclear Blast) 560 sold
The boys are back in town. Well, except for Phil Lynott. He couldn’t make it for some reason. Too soon?
Huntress, Starbound Beast (Napalm) 550 sold
3,000 sold in four weeks. Kind of hard to tell if that’s good or bad, but the fact that it sold about the same as last week would kind of point it towards good.
Scorpion Child, Scorpion Child (Nuclear Blast) 410 sold
All of the Mayhem Fest bands appear to be selling some records.
Trouble, The Distortion Field (FRW) 400 sold
A not that bad 46% drop from week #1.
Lord Dying, Summon The Faithless (Relapse) 400 sold
Up 28% in week #2.
Texas Hippie Coalition, Peacemaker (Carved) 360 sold
This will cross 20k sold soon, which for an album that’s been out for over a year shows slow and steady artist development.
Scale The Summit, The Migration (Prosthetic) 300 sold
What has 20 strings and shreds?
