Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week as well as what’s getting played at metal radio courtesy of radio trade magazine FMQB, whose metal panel consists of about 80 college and commercial stations that have metal shows, as well as SiriusXM, Music Choice, and more.
Wanna know how many metal debuts there were this week? One. That means only one metal record was released last week that sold over 400 copies. That means that if you could predict the future, last week would have been a pretty good time to release your band’s album. If your friends, family and the rest of the band each bought a few copies of your band, I’d be writing about them on Metal Insider this week. Oh well. Also, Overkill and Fear Factory are still popular at metal radio. Go figure.
Notable Debuts:
Borknagar, Universal (Indie/The End) 500 copies
It’s a little ironic that a black metal band is naming their album “universal.”
Notable Sales:
Rob Zombie, Hellbilly Deluxe 2: (Loud and Proud/Roadrunner) #69, 7,700 sold
This will cross 100,000 sold next week in its 6th week.
Alice In Chains, Black Gives Way To Blue (Virgin) #93 6,200 sold
A 3% increase this week, likely due to the fact that they’re touring. They put on a great live show.
Them Crooked Vultures, Them Crooked Vultures
Halfway to gold.
Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer
200,000 copies as of next week. Pretty huge for a band whose guitarist can’t even show up sometimes.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner) #136, 4,300 sold
Now that the ballad “Snuff” is out there as a single, this should pick up and maybe even push the band to platinum.
Mudvayne, Mudvayne (Epic) #151, 3,900 sold
If not the hardest working man in show business, Chad Gray will definitely be in two bands that will sell over 100,000 records this year.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #161 3,600 sold
Was “S.O. S. (Same Ol’ Situation)” written about another Motley Crue Greatest Hits album?
H.I.M., Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice (Reprise) #170, 3,300 sold
I still can’t get over the fact that they have a song called “Heartkiller.” I think Ville Valo might have stolen a goth girl’s Trapper Keeper with her poetry in it and made a career out of it.
High On Fire, Snakes for the Divine (E1) Debut #172, 3,300 sold
Last week I said Matt Pike sounds like he’s gargling drano, whiskey and glass. I changed my mind. I think he’s gargling Lemmy.
Overkill, Ironbound (E1) 1,300 sold
E1 is on fire this week!
Carnifex, Hell Chose Me (Victory) 1,000 sold
Still holding up a few weeks later.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 900 sold
Not to be confused with No Label Needed band We Are The Romans.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season
Who keeps buying this record?!
Mutiny Within, Mutiny Within (Roadrunner) 700 sold
Only a 25% drop in the second week. Not bad.
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 550 sold
Who keeps buying THIS record?
Living Sacrifice, The Infinite Order (Tooth & Nail) 550 sold
Praise the lord!
Volbeat, Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood (Mascot/Megaforce) 500 sold
Volbeat have quietly sold almost 14,000 copies.
Fozzy, Chasing the Grail (Riot Entertainment) 450 sold
Usually when athletes put out music, it’s more like Shaq Fu. Thankfully, this isn’t.
Chelsea Grin, Desolation of Eden (Razor and Tie) 450 sold
The Artery Foundation’s first release is still doing relatively well in its third week.
Baroness, The Blue Record (Relapse) 430 sold
This Blue Record > Weezer’s Blue Album.
Bruce Kulick, BK3 (Rocket Science) 475 sold
Where Bruce Kulick’s reality show and Cherry Dr. Pepper commercial?
Charred Walls of the Damned, Charred Walls of the Damned (Metal Blade) 500 sold
Richard Christy and Ripper Owens have sold over 5,000 copies.
FMQB Most Added
1. Various Artists, God of War EP (Roadrunner) 43 Adds
2. Eluveitie, Everything Remains As It Never Was (Nuclear Blast) 38 Adds
3. Immolation, Majesty And Decay (Nuclear Blast) 37 Adds
4. Die Among Heroes, Die Among Heroes (Self Released) 34 Adds
5. Dead Superstar, Tribulations (Self Released) 33 Adds
FMQB Top Ten
1. Overkill, Ironbound (E1)
2. Fear Factory, Mechanize (Candlelight)
3. High On Fire, Snakes for the Divine (E1)
4. Living Sacrifice, The Infinite Order (Tooth & Nail)
5. Rob Zombie, Hellbilly Deluxe 2: (Loud and Proud/Roadrunner)
6. Freya, All Hail the End (Victory)
7. Fozzy, Chasing the Grail (Riot Entertainment)
8. Wrath and Rapture, Wrath and Rapture (Tragic Hero)
9. Mutiny Within, Mutiny Within (Roadrunner)
10. Through the Eyes of the Dead, Skepsis (Prosthetic)
