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

In the metal community, we usually aren’t the types that cross our fingers hoping that our favorite bands get a big debut on the charts. This is mostly because a) we don’t always expect it, and b) we care more about just getting it and finally listening to the damn thing. Yet, some kind of divine purpose was set upon the charts this week, both literally and figuratively. Our top debut cracked the top 20 this week and various other bands have gotten strong boosts in sales. And with that, I implore you to check out the sales for this week and apologize in advance for the various jokes about divinity and shit that will be made in the coming weeks.

 

Notable Debuts

Hatebreed, The Divinity of Purpose (Razor & Tie) #20, 17,450 sold

Album number six from Hatebreed is our top debut this week, and it’s a good start. It’s their highest-charting debut ever. To go along with it, you might consider checking out our interview with Frank Novinec if you haven’t already.

 

Tomahawk, Oddfellows (Ipecac) #66, 5,675 sold

This supergroup has their best debut on the charts ever with album number four. It’s also their first album since 2007’s Anonymous.

 

Cult of Luna, Vertikal (Destiny) 550 sold

Hailing from Sweden, Cult of Luna bring you album number six which, like most of their discography, has been very well received thus far.

 

Notable Sales

Kid Rock, Rebel Soul (Atlantic), #50, 8,500 sold

This got a boost into the top 50. That’s just…thrilling.

 

Hollywood Undead, Notes from the Underground (A&M/Octone) #75, 5,000 sold

Another small drop, but the album has sold over 75,000 thus far.

 

Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day (Atlantic) #76, 5,975 sold

A small drop in sales is no cause for celebration.

Black Veil Brides, Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones (Lava/Universal Republic) #83, 4,600 sold

Fun fact: This has the same exact chart position as Bad Religon’s new album.

 

Deftones, Koi No Yokan (Reprise) #91, 4,100 sold

You don’t suppose this boost (11% this week)  has anything to do with the album being nominated for the Golden God album of the year?

 

Soundgarden, King Animal (Universal) #104, 3,750 sold

Looks like this comeback album is making a comeback on the charts. Maybe it’s because they’re on the road. Or Obama supporters picked it up.

 

Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #121, 3,250 sold

I make a joke about a strange case of boosts in sales, but it’s not all that surprising.

 

Stone Sour, House of Gold & Bones (Roadrunner) #128, 3,100 sold

As Oprah might say: You get a boost in sales! You get a boost in sales! Everybody gets a boost in sales!
Trapt, Reborn (FOF) #133, 3,000 sold

…unless you’re Trapt. You get a second week drop instead.

 

In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #135, 3,000 sold

Blood gets a nice 12% increase as well. It’ll go above 120,000 next week, which is amazing for a Century Media album.

 

Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) #142, 2,800 sold

Not only does this continue to sell, but the band has acquired a certain new guitarist.

 

Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist (Prospect Park) #167, 2,375 sold

As if this didn’t sell enough already, it’s got another big boost this week.

 

Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #177, 2,200 sold

So..this came back onto the charts, fell off, and now it comes back again with even more album sold.

 

Rock of Ages, Soundtrack (WaterTower Music) #168, 2,000 sold

Dammit. For a second I thought that this was gone for good.

 

Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 970 sold
This will come close to crossing 20,000 sold next week.

 

Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 660 sold
This has been on the charts for almost 10 months straight, selling about 31,000 copies in the process.

 

Voivod, Target Earth (Century Media) 610 sold
This took a 59% drop in its second week. Which might be a little off target.

 

Holy Grail, Ride The Void (Prosthetic) 580 sold
This album took a second week drop of 59% as well. The Metal Alliance tour should help them keep selling though.

 

Upon A Burning Body, Red.White. Green. (Sumerian) 570 sold
Big 271% increase for these guys. That’ll help them buy some new suits.

 

The Plot In You, Could You Watch Your Children Burn (Rise) 570 sold
This has sold 5,100 copies in only three weeks. And also, the answer is no, I couldn’t.

 

Capture the Crown, `Til Death (Sumerian) 440 sold
Is this a concept album based on the Brad Garrett sitcom?

 

Woe, Is Me, Genesi[s] (Rise) 420 sold
Definitely not to be confused with the band Woe.

 

Philip Anselmo/Warbeast, War Of The Gargantuas (Housecore) 400 sold
2,500 sold in four weeks. Or a total of 1,250 for each band. Gargantuas? Not quite.

 

The Amity Affliction, Chasing Ghosts (Roadrunner) 390 sold
An 8% increase for the Australian band, who have sold about 5,500 so far

 

Combichrist, No Redemption (Out Of Line) 370 sold
This band, who many saw open for Rammstein last year, have a 52% decrease from last week.

 

Texas In July, Texas In July (Equal Vision) 300 sold
Wonder if the band had any state or month backup options when naming the band?

 

Glass Cloud, Royal Thousand  (Equal Vision) 300 sold
This has sold about 9,500 so far, and a 162% increase is enough to push it back on the charts.

 

For All I Am, Skinwalker (Equal Vision) 300 sold
What does George Lucas think of the album title?