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.
While mainstream pop, hip-hop and country still seems to be the only thing selling on a large scale this year, there’s definitely some more metal sneaking into the lower reaches of the chart. Rob Zombie should give the chart some much needed metal firepower in the front 50 next week, but Alesana and Living Sacrifice are the biggest new bands this week.
Notable Debuts:
Alesana, Emptiness (Fearless) #65, 8,700 sold
This screamo-ish band has four vocalists. Y’know, just in case something’s wrong with the first three…
Living Sacrifice, The Infinite Order (Tooth & Nail) #190, 2,600 sold
The metalcore band’s first studio album in eight years has a pretty solid first week.
Fozzy, Chasing the Grail (Riot Entertainment) 2,200 sold
When he isn’t busy getting into play fights, Chris Jericho is singing a bunch.
Taking Dawn, Time to Burn (Roadrunner) 1,200 sold
This ’80s-loving Vegas band have a nice first week, and should get a second shot when they eventually cross over to active rock radio.
Ihsahn, After (Candlelight) 900 sold
And it’s the highest-debuting Norwegian metal band this week – not to mention way scarier than anyone that debuted above.
Mnemic, Sons of the System (Nuclear Blast) 600 sold
These guys have to be way bummed that Fear Factory have an album coming out.
Dream Evil, In the Night (Century Media) 500
Of course you dream evil in the night. If not, it’s daydream evil. Come on, guys…
Cave-In, Planets of Old EP (Hydra Head) 450 sold
The CD release of the last year’s vinyl EP also has a live DVD on it. So buy it, jerks.
Dark Funeral, Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus (Regain) 400 sold
The fifth album from the Swedish black metal band is off to a modest start.
Notable Sales:
Them Crooked Vultures, Them Crooked Vultures
They’re touring again now that the album’s been out for a little while. It was kind of weird and awesome at the same time seeing them before, when not even the label had heard the album.
Alice In Chains, Black Gives Way To Blue (Virgin) #104, 5,400 sold
The opening riff for “Check My Brain” is better than the opening riff of “Man in the Box.” Discuss…
Mudvayne, Mudvayne (Epic) #11, 4,700 sold
This crosses the 70,000 sold mark this week.
Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer
The “ladies night” tour is selling pretty well. But probably not as well as the “Ladies night In Cambodia” tour with Limp Bizkit did.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #152, 3,500 sold
I’ve questioned why Motley Crue has so many greatest hits albums out, and I guess the answer is because they keep selling.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner) #154, 3,400 sold
This goes up in sales slightly this week, and will cross 900,000 in a few weeks.
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline) #173, 2,700 sold
Why not a better name, like Roosterneck, or Ottertail?
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 600 sold
Do people genuinely love this band, or are they 66,000 people’s guilty pleasures?
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season
So is the remix album coming out over here? It would probably sell a decent amount, considering how this keeps going strong.
Six Feet Under, Graveyard Classics 3 (Metal Blade) 450 sold
This is good for a laugh, or any music mix you make that needs a death metal cover of “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck.”
Baroness, Blue Record (Relapse) 450 sold
Not to be confused with Weezer’s Blue Album.
Volbeat, Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (Megaforce) 450 sold
Metallica-approved band continues to sell here in America, likely due to support from SiriusXM.
Nile, Those Whom the Gods Detest
Karl Sanders and friends are currently on tour, which could be helping them sell some records.
Epica, Design Your Universe (Nuclear Blast) 350 sold
If having an attractive female in your band made you great, these guys and In This Moment would be studied like The Beatles and Dylan.
FMQB Most Added
1. Living Sacrifice, The Infinite Order (Tooth & Nail) 48 Adds
2. Through the Eyes of the Dead, Skepsis (Prosthetic) 44 Adds
3. Priestess, Prior to the Fire (Tee Pee) 41 Adds
4. Wrath and Rapture, Wrath and Rapture (Tragic Hero) 37 Adds
5. Aeternam, Disciples of the Unseen (Metal Blade) 30 Adds
FMQB Top Ten
1. Fear Factory, “Fear Campaign” and “Powershifter” singles (Candlelight)
2. Shadows Fall, Retribution (Everblack Industries)
3. Freya, All Hail the End (Victory)
4. Rammstein, Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da (Vagrant)
5. Mudvayne, Mudvayne (Epic)
6. Mutiny Within, Mutiny Within (Roadrunner)
7. Megadeth, Endgame (Roadrunner)
8. Six Feet Under, Graveyard Classics 3 (Metal Blade)
9. Slayer, World Painted Blood (Sony)
10. Throwdown, Deathless (E1)
