Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
If you thought last week was a slow one for metal on the charts, then this week will leave you even more disappointed. This week serves as a reminder of how things start to slow down as we get closer to the end of another year. Case in point, Swedish progressive metal band Vildhjarta’s debut full length is the only new album to chart this week, while Sonata Artica’s live CD/DVD technically makes its debut as well despite having been released two weeks ago. And while a few albums missing last week return to the charts, sales in general take a slight dip following the Black Friday rush. The charts will get a little more exciting next week with a few big titles making their debut, but for the most part the top 200 will be relatively quiet until the holiday season comes to an end.
Notable Debuts:
Vildhjarta, Masstaden (Century Media) 650 sold
A pretty impressive first week for the Swedish progressive metal group’s first full length album, especially since we bet only a handful of people can properly pronounce their name (plus the album title).
Sonata Arctica, Live in Finland (Nuclear Blast) 460 sold
The power metal group’s live CD/DVD actually came out about two weeks ago, but makes its debut on the charts this week. Guess we know what a bunch of Finnish power metal fans are getting in their stockings this year.
Notable Sales:
Evanescence, Evanescence (Wind-Up) #64, 11,230 sold
Amy Lee and co. experience a 42% decrease in sales following a nice boost last week from Black Friday. They also have the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Norway this weekend to look forward to, even if their participation doesn’t make sense.
Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist (Prospect Park) #70, 10,100 sold
FFDP jump up the charts by 16 spots despite a 21% decrease in sales. And in eight weeks, they’ve sold more than 200,300 copies of their third album.
Disturbed, The Lost Children (Reprise) #86, 7,780 sold
Disturbed’s b-side album still hasn’t gotten lost amongst all of the Christmas albums, making its way back into the top 100.
Chris Cornell, Songbook (Universal) #118, 5,420 sold
A 71% decrease in sales for the Soundgarden frontman and his collection of live acoustic EPs.
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #129, 4,990 sold
They may not be metal, but we can deal with the Foo Fighters getting nominated for the Grammys’ “Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance” this year. Sum 41, on the other hand…
Megadeth, TH1RT3EN (Roadrunner) #154, 3,920 sold
The holiday rush sadly kicked Dave Mustaine and co. off the charts last week. But now they’re back in the top 200, having sold slightly more than 67,900 copies in the past five weeks. Plus, like the Foo Fighters, they too got a Grammy nod.
Asking Alexandria, Stepped Up And Scratched (Sumerian) #181, 3,420 sold
The metalcore group’s remix album actually came out last week, though we completely missed it. Looking at its sales so far, though, seems like only a handful of fans remembered.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #187, 3,200 sold
Also missing from last week because of the holiday rush was A7X, who have sold over 625,600 copies of Nightmare in the past 70 weeks.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 1,300 sold
Singer Michael Poulsen had a little fun with Iced Earth this past weekend.
In the Midst of Lions, Shadows (Facedown) 540 sold
One of the sole new releases from last week experiences a 51% decrease in sales. Guess Christian deathcore albums aren’t popular Christmas gifts.
Like Moths To Flames, When We Don’t Exist (Rise) 510 sold
The deathcore group experience another 37% decrease. Hopefully they can pull in a few more sales before the Thrash & Burn tour wraps up next week.
Carnifex, Until I Feel Nothing (Victory) 380 sold
Another 24% decrease in sales for the deathcore group shows that they have nothing left to do but drop off the charts completely.
H2O, Don’t Forget Your Roots (Bridge Nine) 360 sold
The hardcore punk legends may not have forgotten their roots with their new covers album, but a 66% decrease in sales in their third week might prove that fans have already forgotten.
Russian Circles, Empros (Sargent House) 360 sold
The Chicago instrumental trio experience yet another 18% decrease.
Red Fang, Murder the Mountains (Relapse) 350 sold
Anyone else as excited as we are to see the stoner rock group’s new music video?
Skeletonwitch, Forever Abomination (Prosthetic) 300 sold
The blackened thrash metal band return to the charts after being absent for two weeks. Though unfortunately it doesn’t appear they’ll be sticking around for too long.
