Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Last week, sales hit a new low, with the top album on the charts selling around only 40,000 copies. Sales this week see a slight improvement, though not by much. Though HitsDailyDouble.com predicted Christian hard rockers to debut at #1 with around 44,000 sold, they ended up selling over 42,000 and got beaten out by Nicki Minaj for the #1 album. This week also sees a few new metal releases selling modestly, but not enough to make it into the top 200.
Notable Debuts:
Red, Until We Have Faces (Essential) #2, 42,730 sold
Red might be the only group that we feature in Metal By Numbers that can say they’ve won the Grammy for “Best Rock Gospel Album” twice.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns: Puerta de Alcalá (Live) – EP (Warner Bros.) #112, 4,680 sold
This live iTunes EP features six songs recorded during Linkin Park’s show in Madrid, Spain.
Lazarus A.D., Black Rivers Flow (Metal Blade) 1,050 sold
Not a bad debut week for the new school thrashers’ sophomore record.
Thomas Giles, Pulse (Metal Blade) 580 sold
The solo project from Between The Buried And Me’s frontman has a slow first week.
Abysmal Dawn, Leveling the Plane of Existence (Relapse) 570 sold
In New & Noteworthy, Chris hoped that this album would start the hype machine for this technical death metal group. So far, it isn’t looking too good for them.
Full Blown Chaos, Full Blown Chaos (Ironclad/Metal Blade) 490 sold
Frontman Ray Mazzola discussed with MetalInsider back in January how their self-titled album was very therapeutic for the band (now a five piece). Too bad that it doesn’t change how low sales are for the group’s first week.
Notable Sales:
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #24, 16,820 sold
Sales see a modest increase, proving that Kid Rock is one of the few artists who can still sell records (even without iTunes).
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #40, 11,470 sold
A 30% increase gives these former rap kings new life on the charts. Don’t be surprised if their appearance last weekend on Saturday Night Live will help sales next week as well.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #103, 4,900 sold
With the Nightmare Before Christmas tour a few dates away from being over, it appears that a Spring tour with Sevendust is up next for A7X.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #104, 4,900 sold
Once the Music As A Weapon V tour with Korn is done in March, when will we get to see Disturbed live again?! Oh wait, they’re playing Mayhem Fest this Summer as well. Lucky us (?)
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #109, 4,760 sold
Because there’s no better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a little Five Finger Death Punch!
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network Movie Soundtrack (The Null Corporation) #128, 3,800 sold
Looks like this soundtrack is getting a nice sales spike from its Oscar nomination buzz.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #138, 3,530 sold
In twelve weeks, they’ve sold under 160,000 copies of their latest release.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #182, 2,700 sold
Another 11% increase for this unnecessary hits compilation. [Insert Vince Neil joke here]
Stone Sour, Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner) #183, 2,700 sold
Hopefully the upcoming Avalanche Tour they’re headlining will help out sales.
All That Remains For We Are Many (Prosthetic/Razor & Tie) #191, 2,590 sold
The Masscore favorites make their return to the charts after being absent for a week. Maybe their current tour with Buckcherry, Hellyeah and The Damned Things really is helping out?
Godsmack, Oracle (Universal) #194, 2,560 sold
Also returning after a week’s absence is Godsmack, who will be co-headlining Mayhem Fest with Disturbed this Summer. Excited?
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 1,400 sold
Considering how long these guys have been hanging around the charts, a 6% decrease isn’t bad at all.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 900 sold
I guess this supergroup isn’t experiencing the same sales boost All That Remains is from the Buckcherry tour.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 726 sold
A slight increase for everyone’s favorite 50’s inspired garage metal band (at least our favorite).
Electric Wizard, Black Masses (Metal Blade) 680 sold
Roughly around the same place they sold last week.
Asking Alexandria, Life Gone Wild EP (Sumerian) 630 sold
This marks the first time in a while that Asking Alexandria has only one release on the charts.
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 480 sold
What’s worst: their cover of “Tik Tok” or “Hot n Cold”? You tell us.
Pierce the Veil, Selfish Machines (Equal Vision) 400 sold
A 20% decrease from last week (Somehow we missed this release. Though honestly, did anyone else really miss them?)
