Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.

When Metallica puts out anything, there’s usually a very high chance it will top not only metal album sales, but also the Top 200 (unless it’s Lulu). Since they have both a movie and a soundtrack (meaning a live album) out now, that would have been the very case with this week’s sales…if not for a new album from progressive metal wonders Dream Theater. Yep, we’ve got two metal bands in the Top 10 this week, with Dream Theater’s latest effort taking the top spot. Huh. What a dramatic turn of events (nope, not sorry about that one). Check out all the states yourself for this week’s sales.

 

Notable Debuts:

Dream Theater, Dream Theater (Roadrunner) #7, 33,950 sold

Taking the top spot this week is Dream Theater with the band’s new self-titled album, which manages to debut one spot higher than 2011’s A Dramatic Turn of Events. 

 

Metallica, Through The Never (Blackened) #9, 25,250 sold

Is it a live album or a soundtrack? Well, technically it’s both. Either way, Metallica were going to end up with a high debut no matter what. Also, you should take a look at what Zach Shaw has to say about the film.

 

Sammy Hagar, Sammy Hagar & Friends (Frontiers) #23, 14,874 sold

As the title suggests, Sammy Hagar’s new solo album features many different musicians. Spoiler: There’s no Eddie Van Halen.

 

A Skylit Drive, Rise (Tragic Hero) #41, 10,425 sold

This post-hardcore act has its best debut yet with album number four.

 

Black Label Society, Unblackened (eOne) #71, 5,775 sold

Zakk Wylde and company go acoustic on this new live album.

 

Touché Amoré, Is Survived By (Deathwish) #84, 5,000 sold

The band gets a solid start on the charts with it’s third studio album.

 

Nirvana, In Utero – 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Geffen) #106, 3,825 sold

This new edition of Nirvana’s final studio album features a whole bunch of demos and bonus tracks

 

Megadeth, Countdown To Extinction: Live (Capitol) #113, 3,625 sold

This new live album from Megadeth has the misfortune debuting the same time as Metallica’s Through The Never, opening it up for endless Metallica/Megadeth jokes.

 

Tarja Turunen, Colours In The Dark (Eagle Rock) 1,125 sold

The former Nightwish singer releases her fourth studio album.

 

Notable Sales: 

Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King (Warner Bros.) #22, 15,200 sold

People are still hailing this album which has sold close to 260,000 total so far.

 

Nine Inch Nails, Hesitation Marks (Columbia) #57, 8,000 sold

Over 150,000 sold thus far.

 

Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 (Prospect Park) #63, 6,975 sold

This isn’t on the wrong side of sales with just under 250,000 sold.

 

The Devil Wears Prada, 8:18 (Roadrunner) #105, 3,950 sold

A second week 76% drop for this album.

 

Skillet, Rise (Atlantic), #131, 2,900 sold

This doesn’t rise much with a 11% drop.

 

Carcass, Surgical Steel (Nuclear Blast) #152, 2,400 sold

Carcass’s newest drops by 72% in its second week.

 

Queens Of The Stone Age, …Like Clockwork  (Matador)  #171, 2,150 sold

A 26% drop this week.

 

Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #172, 2,125 sold

This sold basically the same amount as it did last week.

 

Black Sabbath, 13 (Universal) #181, 2,025 sold

So another bonus track is actually titled “Naïveté in Black”, a reference to what “N.I.B.”. was rumored to stand for. Welp, it’s done. We can go home now.

 

Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #182, 2,025 sold

With their US trek over, Volbeat are heading over to Europe.

 

Kid Rock, Rebel Soul (Atlantic) #183, 2,000 sold

A 28% drop this week.

 

Asking Alexandria, From Death To Destiny (Sumerian) #188, 1,875 sold

Is it just us or are these guys headlining everything nowadays?

 

Rise Against, Long Forgotten Songs: B-Sides & Covers (2000-2013) (Interscope) #190, 1,875 sold

This might not rise much farther.

 

Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #194, 1,850 sold

Just under 110,000 sold

 

30 Seconds To Mars, Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams (Virgin) #197, 1,825 sold

30 seconds from dropping off the Top 200.

 

Týr, Valkyrja (Metal Blade) 1,050 sold

Most would probably assume these guys are from Sweden or Norway. Turns out they’re actually from the Faroe Islands, located halfway between Iceland and Norway.

 

Eyes Set To Kill, Masks (Century Media) 760 sold

A 71% decrease drops this off the top 200.

 

Dangerkids, Collapse (Rise) 730 sold

Sales seems to have collapsed a bit with a 75% drop.

 

Gemini Syndrome, Lux (Warner Bros.) 640 sold

A drop of 26% this week.

 

Satyricon, Satyricon (Nuclear Blast) 600 sold

No surprise that this reached number one back in Norway.

 

Ashes of Ares, Ashes of Ares (Nuclear Blast) 910 sold

The fact that this album features two former Iced Earth members makes it seem like everyone has played in Iced Earth at one point or another.

 

Windhand, Soma (Relapse) 450 sold

The last track on this album is 30 minutes long. That beats out the last track on the new Dream Theater by 8 minutes.

 

Haken, The Mountain (Inside Out) 410 sold

If you prefer to have more British with your prog metal, this band might be it.

 

Gorguts, Colored Sands (Season of Mist) 350 sold

Including string quintets on your metal album can lead to good things.

 

Deafheaven, Sunbather (Deathwish) 330 sold

This disappeared for a bit, but now it’s back with a 15% boost.

 

Katatonia, Dethroned & Uncrowned (Kscope) 300 sold

A 29% drop for these kats.

 

Vista Chino, Peace (Napalm) 300 sold

With the North American tour over, this might not be around the charts much longer.