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

We knew that Blind Guardian was going to have a solid first week when we saw last week’s Metal by Numbers, when it sold 300 copies even though it wasn’t technically in stores yet. This is a monster week, though. And hey, Udo Dirkschneider didn’t come up short either. Meanwhile, even though there were only a few days of sales after the Grammys, AC/DC see an immediate boost of Rock or Bust that should probably experience a bigger bounce next week.

 

Notable Debuts: 

Blind Guardian, Beyond The Red Mirror (Nuclear Blast) #61, 5,125 sold

The actual debut numbers for Blind Guardians latest album are the best they’ve ever done in the US. So basically, it was a good week for European metal debuts in the states.

 

U.D.O., Decadent (AFM) 520 sold

Hard to believe, but this is U.D.O.’s 15th studio album. While many associate him with Accept, he’s had his own band since 1987.

 

Overcast, Only Death Is Smiling (Bullet Tooth) 360 sold

This reissue of the Mass. metalcore band’s albums has a pretty solid debut for a reissue.

 

 

Notable Sales:

AC/DC, Rock or Bust (Columbia) #30, 8,950 sold

No bust here. The title track got the most exposure it’ll probably ever get at the opening of the Grammys.

 

Marilyn Manson, The Pale Emperor (Loma Vista) #37, 8,100 sold

Manson’s third week finds the album having sold more than 70,000 copies, despite a 34% decline.

 

Papa Roach, F.E.A.R. (Eleven Seven) #43, 6,625 sold

A pretty big 73% second week drop, but it shouldn’t strike too much fear into them.

 

Slipknot, .5: The Grey Chapter (Roadrunner) #76, 4,175 sold

These Grammy nominees have a 17% bounce, will likely cross 300,000 sold within a month.

 

Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways (RCA) #84, 3,725 sold

I got another confession to make… I haven’t heard this album all the way through. It’s up to 430,000 sold.

 

Periphery, Juggernaut: Alpha (Sumerian) #103, 2,900 sold

A huge 84% drop for Alpha, but it’s sold a respectable 21,000 already…

 

Periphery, Juggernaut: Omega (Sumerian) #115, 2,775 sold

…and a matching 84% drop for the second album, which has sold about 1,500 less.

 

Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King (Warner Bros.) #127, 2,600 sold

This must have been on sale somewhere, as it had a 79% sales increase from last week.

 

In This Moment, Black Widow (Atlantic) #163, 2,000 sold

Up to about 86,000 sold.

 

I Prevail, Heart Vs. Mind (Self-Released) #180, 1,700 sold

A 10% increase and up past 15,000 sold for an album that doesn’t even have that Taylor Swift cover on it. 15,000 for self-released is pretty great though.

 

The Pretty Reckless, Going To Hell (Razor & Tie) #188, 1,625 sold

Pretty yes, reckless not so much.

 

Napalm Death, Apex Predator – Easy Meat (Century Media) 1,325 sold

A 55% second week drop  is pretty modest, actually. Just ask Periphery.

 

Antemasque, Antemasque (Nadie Sound) 600 sold

We’re promasque ourselves… this sells almost double what it did last week.

 

Lord Dying, Poisoned Altars (Relapse) 470 sold

This moves up to about 1,000 sold in two weeks, selling almost as much as it did in its first week, which is amazing. Just ask Periphery.

 

Venom, From The Very Depths (Spinefarm) 470 sold

A 48% decrease from last week, but still doing relatively solid.

 

Tear Out The Heart, Dead, Everywhere (Victory) 440 sold

Have you entered our contest to win a prize pack from these guys yet?

 

Night Demon, Curse of the Damned (Century Media) 420 sold

Night demons are far more terrifying than day demons.

 

Sylosis, Dormant Heart (Nuclear Blast)  360 sold

This sells almost exactly the same as it did last week, which is respectable for  an album in its fourth week.

 

Amaranthe, Massive Addictive (Spinefarm) 320 sold

This sells more than it did last week, having sold over 12,000 copies so far.

 

Thank You Scientist, Maps of Non-Existent Places (Evil Ink) 280 sold

This has a 9% increase in sales this week, probably due to their tour. More like Thank You Periphery.

 

Kyng, Burn The Serum (Razor & Tie) 270 sold

While this has sold over 10,000 copies, it’s dropped in sales this week.

 

Stars In Stereo, Leave Your Mark (Hundred Handed) 260 sold

A 19% increase might have been fueled by horny dudes that saw Revolver‘s ‘Hottest Chicks in Metal’ issue.

 

Silent Planet, The Night God Slept (Solid State) 250 sold

King’s X’s Out of the Silent Planet is an awesome album, just sayin’

 

Islander, Violence & Destruction (Victory) 250 sold

This is the best-charting album this week from a band that also has the name of a hockey team!

 

The Body & Thou, You, Whom I Have Always Hated/Released From Love (Thrill Jockey) 250 sold

This terrifyingly awesome team-up drops almost 70% in its second week.

 

Visigoth, The Revenant King (Metal Blade) 240 sold

If you want to be a visible goth, wear black during the day.

 

Battle Beast, Unholy Savior (Nuclear Blast) 230 sold

This Finnish metal band isn’t Finnished yet.

 

Our Last Night, Oak Island EP (Self-Released) 220 sold

Another metalcore band covering T-Swizzle. In fact, this band’s probably better known for their covers than their originals.