Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Machine Head’s new album was the center of a lot of chatter in the metal world in the first month of 2018, and the majority of it was mixed to say the least. Our own Jeff Podoshen wasn’t a fan (check his review) and you’ve likely heard that the album debuted with less than half the numbers of Bloodstone & Diamonds from 2014. I love Machine Head, and since they’re the featured band on this week’s Metal By Numbers, I feel inclined to my offer my two cents: I don’t hate Catharsis. I don’t think it’s as good as the band’s last four albums, but, hey, few bands can put out albums as good as The Blackening and then have every single release afterward be on par. I’m currently listening to it for the third time as I write and really my biggest critique is that it’s too long. Something something brevity and wit and all that. And if you did hate the album or you just don’t care about Machine Head, the numbers for Tribulation and Portal ought to keep you happy.
This charted higher than Bloodstone & Diamonds, but sold less than half the units.
Sleeping Giant, I Am (Facedown)
Debut #61
2,375 sold
This is the band’s fifth and final album.
Tribulation, Down Below (Century Media)
Debut #80
1,900 sold
Tribulation’s fourth album outsold its predecessor.
Portal, Ion (Profound Lore)
Debut #142
1,075 sold
The band’s fifth album is their first in five years.
Mammoth Grinder, Cosmic Crypt (Relapse)
Debut #174
910 sold
This is the band’s fourth album.
Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, The Age Of Absurdity (Nuclear Blast)
650 sold
This is the debut album from Phil Campbell’s post-Motörhead project.
Orphaned Land, Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs (Century Media)
480 sold
This is the Israeli band’s sixth album.
Hooded Menace, Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed (Season Of Mist)
470 sold
This is the band’s fifth album.
Into the Great Divide, Into the Great Divide (Self-Released)
250 sold
A new prog album featuring Dream Theater’s Mike Mangini.
Primal Rite, Dirge of Escapism (Revelation)
180 sold
This is the band’s debut LP.
Notable Sales:
Five Finger Death Punch, A Decade Of Destruction (Prospect Park)
#34 (from 41)
4,575 sold
A boost of 24% with just under 60,000 sold.
Greta Van Fleet, From the Fires EP (Lava)
#42 (from 36)
3,925 sold
65,000 copies sold.
Black Label Society, Grimmest Hits (eOne)
#57 (from 4)
2,650 sold
A second week drop of 82%.
Asking Alexandria,
Foo Fighters, Concrete and Gold (RCA/Roswell)
#86 (from 86)
1,775 sold
On week 20, this gets a 17% boost. It’s also been at #86 the past three weeks.
Corrosion Of Conformity, No Cross No Crown (Nuclear Blast)
#87 (from 70)
1,725 sold
A 15% drop.
Terror Universal, Make Them Bleed (Minus Head)
#90 (from 165)
1,625 sold
Instead of a second week drop, this actually boosted by 93%.
Joe Satriani,
Skillet, Unleashed (Atlantic)
#112 (from 97)
1,375 sold
A 2% boost.
Ghost, Ceremony and Devotion (Loma Vista)
#116 (from 33)
1,325 sold
A 68% drop after a big boost last week.
Metallica, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (Blackened)
#117 (from 140)
1,325 sold
A 34% boost.
Of Mice & Men,
Nothing More, The Stories We Tell Ourselves (Better Noise/Eleven Seven)
#134 (from 172)
1,125 sold
A 42% boost with just under 40,000 sold.
Queens Of The Stone Age, Villains (Matador Records)
#143 (from 167)
1075 sold
A 30% boost.
Linkin Park,
Theory of a Deadman, Wake Up Call (Atlantic)
#181 (from 156)
850 sold
Just under 40,000 sold.
Bell Witch, Mirror Reaper (Profound Lore)
330 sold
A big boost brings this back up again.
Kreator, 
Watain, Trident Wolf Eclipse (Century Media)
230 sold
A 50% drop.
Ded, Mis•an•thrope (Surestone)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Flying Microtonal Banana (ATO)
220 sold
A 14% drop.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Murder Of The Universe (ATO)
200 sold
A small 2% drop.
Power Trip, A 24% drop.
