Metal By Numbers 10/19: Alter Bridge and Meshuggah rule the top 10

Alter bridge the last hero

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

We’ve seen more than a few bands hit new strides on this column, some new some old. In this case, while the achievements of Alter Bridge and Dance Gavin Dance should not be overlooked, Meshuggah, is the band that deserves a pat on the back for finally debuting in the top 10. For a band so widely respected in metal and underground music in general to finally reach such a height is more than worth of praise. I mean, they beat out new albums from Phish and Sum 41. That said, a hundred years in the future when the band is long gone, Jens Kidman’s face is probably still going to be the band’s legacy to the general public.

Notable Debuts:

Alter Bridge, The Last Hero (Self-released)
Debut #4
26,950 sold

Alter Bridge’s fifth album is its highest charting yet, landing in the top five.

Dance Gavin Dance, Mothership (Rise)
Debut #6
19,425 sold

The band released their seventh album last year, yielding the best debut of their career. Their eighth album has now taken that title with a top 10 debut.

Meshuggah, The Violent Sleep of Reason (Nuclear Blast)
Debut #7
18,075 sold

After being in the biz for over 25 years, Meshuggah have finally landed a top 10 album. This sold roughly the same as their last one, but staying consistent amidst declining sales is a big win for them.

The Devil Wears Prada, Transit Blues (Rise)
Debut #26
9,350 sold

Interestingly, the band’s latest album didn’t debut as high as last year’s EP. Also, I promise you the album cover is posted to the left, you just have to look closely.

Fit for a King, Deathgrip (Solid State)
Debut #32
7,675 sold

The band’s third album is their best debut yet.

Sonata Arctica, The Ninth Hour (Nuclear Blast)
Debut #113
2,200 sold

Album nine is the band’s best debut yet in the US.

Dayshell, Nexus (Spinefarm)
Debut #133
1,800 sold

The band’s sophomore album debuts slightly higher than its predecessor, but doesn’t sell as much.

Kyng, Breathe In The Water (Razor & Tie)
Debut #183
1,275 sold

Kyng’s third album didn’t have as good of a debut as its predecessor.

Candiria, While They Were Sleeping (Metal Blade)
1,100 sold

The band’s newest album is their first in seven years.

Gatecreeper, Sonoran Depravation (Relapse)
910 sold

This is the band’s debut album.

Everyone Dies In Utah, Everyone Dies In Utah (InVogue)
690 sold

The band’s self-titled fourth album is their first on InVogue.

Watchtower, Concepts of Math: Book One (Prosthetic)
430 sold

This prog metal act has released a new EP in favor of an unfinished followup to their last LP from 1989.

Traitors, Mental State (Self-Released)
280 sold

The latest album from the Florida deathcore group.

Darkthrone, Arctic Thunder (Peaceville)
250 sold

This is the band’s sixteenth studio album.

Notable Sales:

Opeth, Sorceress (Nuclear Blast)
#56 (from 8)
4,050 sold

A 74% drop doesn’t take this far down compared to most second weeks.

Skillet, Unleashed (Atlantic)
#59 (from 63)
3,825 sold

An 11% boost after 10 weeks on.

Disturbed, Immortalized (Reprise)
#82 (from 96)
2,750 sold

A 4% boost after 60 weeks.

Ghost, Popestar (Lorna Vista)
#87 (from 76)
2,650 sold

This EP has pulled in over 30,000 sales in four weeks.

A Day To Remember, Bad Vibrations (ADTR)
#103 (from 94)
2,350 sold

A 13% drop with nearly 90,000 sold.

Five Finger Death Punch, Got Your Six (Prospect Park)
#126 (from 121)
1,900 sold

This sold the same as last week, which brought it over 400,000 sold.

Led Zeppelin, Complete BBC Sessions (Rhino)
#144 (from 116)
1,575 sold

A Misty Mountain drop of 24%.

Suicidal Tendencies, World Gone Mad (Suicidal)
#156 (from 57)
1,475 sold

A maddening 63% drop still isn’t that terrible for a second week.

Highly Suspect, Mister Asylum (300 Entertainment)
#163 (re-entry)
1,425 sold

Once again, this album re-enters the charts about a month away from their next release. Probably because this album is 99 cents on Google Play.

Coheed and Cambria, The Color Before The Sun (300 Entertainment)
#177 (re-entry)
1,325 sold

Another 99 cent album on Google Play sends this back up the charts.

Breaking Benjamin, Dark Before Dawn (Hollywood)
#179 (re-entry)
1,300 sold

A 51% boost brings this back onto the charts.

Ghost, Meliora (Loma Vista)
#184 (from 188)
1,275 sold

Over 100,000 sold after a 3% boost.

Volbeat, Seal the Deal & Let’s Boogie (Universal)
#188 (from 173)
1,225 sold

A 7% drop feels off (vol)beat.

Sully Erna, Hometown Life (BMG)
#191 (from 38)
1,200 sold

A second week drop of 81%.

Epica, The Holographic Principle (Nuclear Blast)
890 sold

This drops by 82% in week two.

Neurosis, Fires Within Fires (Neurot)
570 sold

A 43% drop isn’t so hot.

Oathbreaker, Rheia (Deathwish)
520 sold

A 64% drop in week two.

Alcest, Kodama (Prophecy)
480 sold

A second week drop of 73%.

Sleep, Sleep’s Holy Mountain (Earache)
420 sold

I honestly don’t know why this is on here all the sudden. I tried looking up if there was a new reissue out or something but no dice. Please feel free to share if you know why this turned up again.

Giraffe Tongue Orchestra, Broken Lines (Cooking Vinyl)
410 sold