Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
So I’m going to use this as soapbox for a bit like I sometimes do. As you can see, the top debut this week is a female fronted hard rock band with said female, Taylor Momsen, appearing nude on the album cover. Now, this sort of thing is ceaselessly mocked in the metal community usually on the basis the band is just using female nudity to sell albums, get famous, etc. The thing is that, while this might be true in certain cases, the woman in question does not deserve to be mocked, called a slut, or anything of that nature. They are just playing the game and they know that showing some skin is going to get people’s attention. I know there are women in metal and music in general that don’t do that, and that’s great. However, those that do, like Taylor Momsen, don’t deserve any less respect. If you’re going to blame anyone, blame society and the fact that we go nuts anytime a female celebrity has so much as a nip slip. Even further, blame the industry for pressuring female artists to do this sort of thing when males can just include a picture of themselves mooning the camera as a joke. Okay, rant over. Enjoy the charts.
Notable Debuts:
The Pretty Reckless, Going To Hell (Razor & Tie) #5, 35,300 sold
The band with the number 1 hit on rock radio makes a huge debut on the charts with their second album. And just in case you didn’t know: Taylor Momsen played Cindy Lou Who in the live-action Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Demon Hunter, Extremist (Solid State)#16, 17,925 sold
The band’s seventh full length is also their best debut on the charts yet.
Ringworm, Hammer of the Witch (Relapse) 1,100 sold
This is the band’s first album on Relapse.
The Bunny The Bear, Food Chain (Victory) 980 sold
The oddly named duo makes their debut with album number five.
Gus G., I Am The Fire (Century Media) 710 sold
The Firewind/Ozzy Osbourne guitarist gets his solo debut.
Dead By April, Let The World Know (Universal) 690 sold
This is the third album from this Swedish melodic metalcore band.
Twilight, III: Beneath Trident’s Tomb (Century Media) 570 sold
The third and final album from Twilight also randomly features Thurston Moore formerly of the Sonic Youth.
Earth Crisis, Salvation of Innocents (Candlelight) 510 sold
This mean, green, vegan machine of a band is back with their first album on Candlelight.
Years Since The Storm, Hopeless Shelter (Artery) 400 sold
A metalcore/nu metal band from Massachusetts. That’s about it.
Buried In Verona, Faceless (Artery)
For a second, I thought this was a new album or EP by The Faceless I didn’t know about. Sadly, it is not so.
Notable Sales:
KXM, KXM (Rat Pak) #62, 5,575 sold
A second week drop of 43% doesn’t bring this too far down.
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2 (Prospect Park) #74, 4,800 sold
A 9% boost because, you know, this album was obviously in dire need of it with over 220,000 sold.
Skillet, Rise (Atlantic), #89, 3,900 sold
A 24% boost brings this to just under 250,000 sold.
Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King (Warner Bros.) #101, 3,600 sold
At week 30, this reaches over 440,000 sold.
Of Mice & Men, Restoring Force (Rise) #115, 3,025 sold
Just under 90,000 sold.
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 (Prospect Park) #130, 2,750 sold
A 7% boost brings the other FFDP album to just under 370,000 sold.
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #146, 2,400 sold
Just under 200,000 and boosts expected as the band heads out on tour with Trivium next week.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #164, 2,175 sold
Just under 175,000 sold
A Day To Remember, Common Courtesy (Self-Released) #172, 2,100 sold
Just under 190,000 sold.
Issues, Issues (Rise) #199, 1,675 sold
Would there really be an issue if this dropped off the charts?
Architects, Lost Forever // Lost Together (Epitaph) 750 sold
A second week drop takes this down 74%.
Nothing, Guilty of Everything (Relapse) 670 sold
This is only guilty of an 11% boost.
Cilver, In My Head (LP Media) 640 sold
Maybe now that the band’s touring stint with Lacuna Coil is over they can work on getting their own Wikipedia page.
Deafheaven, Sunbather (Deathwish) 550 sold
Still waiting for this to break the 30,000 mark.
Fit For A King, Creation/Destruction (Tooth & Nail) 530 sold
This reappears after being absent last week.
Babymetal, Babymetal (VAP Japan) 500 sold
A 55% drop, baby. Looks like the novelty is wearing off.
Comeback Kid, Die Knowing (Victory) 480 sold
A 20% drop, kiddo.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 430 sold
Know who actually owns this album? Yeah, me neither.
Gemini Syndrome, Lux (Warner Bros.) 430 sold
A drop of 32%, but this album’s been charting for close to a year.
Sunn O)))/Ulver, Terrestrials (Southern Lord) 370 sold
A 60% boost bumps this collaborative album back up.
Cynic, Kindly Bent To Free Us (Season of Mist) 390 sold
A boost of 8%. How kind!
Get Scared, Everyone’s Out To Get Me (Fearless) 360 sold
The only thing we’re getting scared for is whoever is still buying this.
Thy Art Is Murder, Hate (Nuclear Blast) 340 sold
How many people do you think want a member of this band to rip a big one just to be able to say “thy fart is murder?”
Intervals, A Voice Within (Self-Released) 310 sold
A drop of 48%. So much for the tour boosts, but this is all them, so it’s not like they’re paying a label or anything.
After The Burial, Wolves Within (Sumerian) 310 sold
Too bad these guys aren’t featured on the Sumerian tribute to Florence + the Machine.
Righteous Vendetta, The Fire Inside (EBM) 300 sold
This wasn’t around last week, so it looks like the fire inside hasn’t died yet.
