With the muted reaction that Machine Head’s Catharsis received from critics, you’d think that they might have had a Suicide Silence-like disaster on their hands. However, the album sold about 9,000 units in its debut week. That’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it is worth noting that that’s less than half of what their last album, Bloodstone & Diamonds, sold it in it’s first week back in 2014. That’s certainly not the lowest number of records the band have sold in it’s first week, however. In fact, Through the Ashes of Empires didn’t even come out in America. The band had been on an upward trajectory sales-wise until now, however. The Blackening sold 16,000 in it’s first week back in 2007, and Unto the Locustsold 17,000 four years later. While streaming has obviously impacted sales, this has to hurt a bit.
Then again, the news of Machine Head selling less in the states is offset by their chart success in the rest of the world . #3 record in Germany?Achievement unlocked! It’s also #12 in the U.K, their highest showing there yet. It’s Australia’s #10 album as well. It’s not the first time international support has helped out the band. It was the success overseas of Through the Ashes of Empires that led Roadrunner to re-sign the band. And as their ‘An Evening With’ tours have shown, there’s still a huge appetite for the band stateside. Perhaps the sound of the album or Flynn’s outspoken left-leaning songs convinced some fans to sit this album out. And if not, Machine Head doesn’t even need to lean super hard on the U.S. market if they can tour overseas. Flynn hasn’t commented on his U.S. sales yet, but the band trumpeted their international debut, which they have every right to be proud of, on Instagram. Stay tuned for the rest of this week’s chart action in Metal by Numbers.
Epica have unveiled a Dave Letelier-directed video for their latest single, "T.I.M.E." The track is the third single taken from their upcoming album Aspiral, scheduled to arrive on April 11. Taking meanings to philosophical perspectives, the track explores...
Danish rockers Volbeat, featuring Michael Poulsen (vocals/guitar), Jon Larsen (drums), and Kaspar Boye Larsen (bass), have announced their ninth studio album, God of Angels Trust, set for release on June 6 via Republic/Universal. Alongside the album announcement, the...
Behemoth have dropped a video for their latest single, "The Shadow Elite." The track is taken from their upcoming album, The Shit Ov God, out May 9. Nergal comments: "'The Shadow Elite' is the second single and the opening track from our thirteenth album, The Shit ov...
February 21, 2025 New & Noteworthy is Metal Insider’s weekly column highlighting some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. Among the many outstanding works hitting shelves this week are new albums from the likes of Silverstein, Four Seconds...
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