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

Another day, another band people dislike hitting the charts. But hey, there’s so many other major debuts that we’re sure you won’t even notice (even though the album art is right next to this paragraph). The triumphant return of one of Sweden’s most influential metal bands is of course the one you’re all looking forward to. Other may opt for finally reuniting with the alien who craves the finest bean (and if you don’t understand that reference please just click here and fix your life). Oh, and Slipknot is still in the top 10! That’s pretty bitchin’, right?

 

Notable Debuts:

Black Veil Brides, Black Veil Brides (Universal Republic) #9, 29,925 sold

The band’s fourth album doesn’t manage to outdo the band’s previous effort, but it’s still nothing to shake a stick at.

 

At The Gates, At War With Reality (Century Media) #51, 7,700 sold

The legendary Swedish death metallers return and nearly debut in the top 50.

 

Devin Townsend Project, Z2 (HevyDevy) #71, 5,250 sold

Devin Townsend’s new long-awaited double album is the highest charting album of his career thus far.

 

Obituary, Inked In Blood (Relapse) #73, 5,225 sold

The band’s first album in five years gets a solid debut, in fact, their first one ever to debut in the top 100.

 

Unearth, Watchers of Rule (eOne) #99, 3,950 sold

Unearth keep the NWOAHM flag flying with album six.

 

Crobot, Something Supernatural (Wind-Up) 1,775 sold

The band’s debut album attracts some numbers.

 

As Blood Runs Black, Ground Zero (StandBy) 1,125 sold

This is the band’s third as supposedly final album.

 

Sister Sin, Black Lotus (Victory) 1,050 sold

This is the fifth album for the Swedish old school metal act.

 

Abysmal Dawn, Obsolescence (Relapse) 1,025 sold

The band’s fifth album also includes a Dissection cover.

 

Beyond Creation, Earthborn Evolution (Season of Mist) 630 sold

It’s album number two for this technical death metal band.

 

Anaal Nathrakh, Desideratium (Metal Blade) 500 sold

The brutal British duo are back with album eight.

 

Transatlantic, Kaleidoscope (Digipak Edition) (InsideOut) 390 sold

This isn’t actually new but, hey, it’s on there.

 

 

Notable Sales:

Slipknot, .5: The Grey Chapter (Roadrunner) #8, 33,575 sold

This stays in the top 10 in week two. 33,000 is probably more than a lot of the bands here will sell for the the life of the album.

 

Primus, Primus & The Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble (ATO) #57, 6,525 sold

Who can take an album, sprinkle it with dew, make it drop 63% while in week two? The candyman!

 

Godsmack, 1000hp (Universal Republic) #129, 2,750 sold

Nearly at 140,000 sold.

 

Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, World On Fire (Dik Hayd) #136, 2,650 sold

A boost of 11% shows a bit of spark.

 

Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 (Prospect Park) #162, 2,275 sold

Not much change from last week.

 

Sixx: A.M., Modern Vintage (Eleven Seven) #193, 1,900 sold

Maybe Nikki Sixx should stick with his day job. Oh wait…

 

Ozzy Osbourne, Memoirs of a Madman (Epic) #197, 1,875 sold

Let’s be honest: if you didn’t have a Ozzy compilation album by now, you probably weren’t a big fan to begin with.

 

Linkin Park, The Hunting Party (Warner Bros.) #200, 1,800 sold

This sits at 200, but may boost back up at some point.

 

Amaranthe, Massive Addictive (Spinefarm) #98, 1,500 sold

A massive drop of 69% in week two.

 

Sanctuary, The Year The Sun Died (Century Media) 680 sold

A 33% drop ain’t so sunny.

 

Rings of Saturn, Lugan Ki En (Unique Leader) 510 sold

A 20% drop. Man, it’s hard to make a pun when the album title sounds like some Asian noodle dish.

 

Texas Hippie Coalition, Ride On (10 Spot) 510 sold

Riding on a 26% drop.

 

Melvins, Hold It In (Ipecac) 480 sold

Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t hold it in.

 

Revocation, Deathless (Metal Blade) 450 sold

A 41% drop.

 

Rival Sons, Great Western Valkyrie (Earache) 350 sold

Why are they all rivals anyway? Can’t they just get along?

 

King 810, Memoirs of a Murderer (Roadrunner) 350 sold

This gets bumped back into the picture by 45%.

 

Scar Symmetry, The Singularity (Phase I – Neohumanity) (Nuclear Blast) 320 sold

A singular drop of 40%.

 

Godflesh, A World Lit Only By Fire (Avalanche) 260 sold

The fire is going out with this one after a 39% drop.