Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
The purpose of a live album is, arguably, to give the listener the next best thing to seeing the band in person. I don’t need to tell you that 2020 has been devoid of shows since March and, as a result, you won’t see many live albums recorded from this year. Despite this, there are still live albums being released, and chief among them is one from none other than Iron Maiden. Maiden are one of the few bands where my excitement for a new live album is on par with a new studio album because they’re at their best live. You can’t see them now, but you can play this. Enjoy, and Up the Irons.
Notable Debuts:
Iron Maiden, Nights Of The Dead, Legacy Of The Beast: Live In Mexico City (Parlophone Records/BMG)Debut #9
15,400 sold
Maiden’s 13th live album snags a spot in the top 10.
Killer Be Killed, Reluctant Hero (Nuclear Blast)Debut #34
4,225 sold
The supergroups second album charted higher, sold lower than its predecessor.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Live In San Francisco ’16 (ATO)Debut #50
2,975 sold
This is the band’s sixth live album. The previous five were all released earlier this year.
Dark Tranquillity, Moment (Century Media)Debut #67
1,800 sold
The band’s twelfth album charted higher, sold lower than its predecessor.
Jinjer, Alive In Melbourne 2020 (Napalm)Debut #80
1,575 sold
Jinjer’s first live album was recorded right before the pandemic did away with shows for the rest of the year.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, The band’s sixteenth album came out a few weeks back but made its debut this week.
Tombs, Under Sullen Skies (Season Of Mist)470 sold
This is the band’s fifth album.
Ilsa, Preyer(Relapse)410 sold
This is the band’s sixth album.
Refused, The Malignant Fire(Spinfarm)160 sold
This EP comes a year after the band’s fifth album.
Liturgy, Origin of the Alimonies(Ylylcyn)140 sold
Liturgy’s fifth album comes a year after their fourth.
Diamond Head, Lightning To The Nations 2020 (Silver Lining Music)140 sold
This is a re-recording of the band’s debut album for its 40th anniversary.
Notable Sales:
AC/DC, A 73% second week drop only took this down to the number 2 spot.
Beastie Boys, 
Metallica & The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, A 12% drop.
Deftones, 
Five Finger Death Punch, A Decade Of Destruction, Volume 2 (Prospect Park)#103 (from 132)
1,150 sold
A 54% boost.
Pearl Jam, 
Macabre, Carnival Of Killers (Nuclear Blast)
#142 (from 96)
780 sold
A 27% drop in week two.
Five Finger Death Punch, A 9% boost.
Ozzy Osbourne, A 23% drop.
Queen + Adam Lambert, Live Around The World(Hollywood)#171 (from 100)
660 sold
A 28% drop.
Tool, 
Hum, 
Armored Saint, 
Nothing, 
Fates Warning, 
King 810, AK Concerto No. 47, 11th Movement In G Major (Self-Released)320 sold
A 74% drop in week two.
The Hu, 
Ellefson, No Cover (EMP)220 sold
This is back after dropping off a few weeks back.
Of Feather and Bone, 
Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, We’re The Bastards(Nuclear Blast)200 sold
A second week drop of 58%.
Zakk Sabbath, Vertigo (Magnetic Eye)190 sold
A 36% boost.
Katatonia, 
Napalm Death, Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism (Century Media)130 sold
A 14% boost.
Draconian, Under A Godless Veil (Napalm Records)130 sold
A 18% drop.
