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.
Who knew that traveling back in time could feel so slow? In a sluggish week for metal sales, we see a minor flashback to the 80’s with new releases from Armored Saint and Gamma Ray. Neither made a huge debut, but no one really expected them to. The Dillinger Escape Plan top FMQB’s most added list, while Fear Factory out fights Overkill in FMQB’s top ten.
Notable Debuts:
Armored Saint, La Raza (Metal Blade Records) 1,900 sold
The reunited L.A. metal band has an alright debut. This could be a good preview of what John Bush might sound like if he decides to record with Anthrax again. Or even if he keeps doing voiceovers for Burger King.
Gamma Ray, To The Metal! (EarMusic) 560 sold
The German metal legends (and Helloween offshoot) make a not sure huge appearance in their debut week.
Bury Tomorrow, Portaits (Artery) 530 sold
These guys are currently on tour with Attack Attack!, just in case anyone cared.
Notable Sales:
Alice In Chains, Black Gives Way To Blue (Virgin) #101 5,000 sold
Alice In Chains is still selling steadily since releasing this album back in October.
Rob Zombie, Hellbilly Deluxe 2: (Loud and Proud/Roadrunner) #108 4,600 sold
A 18% decrease from last week.
Demon Hunter, World Is A Thorn (Solid State) #125 13,900 sold
A 70% decrease for the Christian Metal band in its second week, but still a impressive debut.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner) #134 3,700 sold
Looks like this album is rising slowly on the charts again. Guess it goes to show you that you shouldn’t give up hope (bad pun I know).
Five Finger Death Punch, War Is The Answer
Looks like Ivan Moody will be able to afford another car after that crash he took this past week.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #144 3,500 sold
This is still mind boggling.
Mudvayne, Mudvayne (Epic) #172 3,000 sold
Not much different from last week.
Overkill, Ironbound (E1) 1,000 sold
The NJ thrash titans are around the same place they were last week.
Carnifex, Hell Chose Me (Victory) 990 sold
Only a 11% drop from last week.
Dark Tranquillity, We Are The Void (Century) 800 sold
A bit of a steep drop for the second week, maybe because people were trying to buy records by a band that spelled “tranquility” correctly.
Eluveitie, Everything Remains (Nuclear Blast) 760 sold
The pagan metal band is still hanging in there.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season
People are still buying this record. Good for them.
Acrassicauda, Only The Dead See The End Of The War (Vice Records) 600 sold
The Iraqi metal band hangs in there for their second week.
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 600 sold
Same as last week, and we are still as confused.
Immolation, Majesty and Decay (Nuclear Blast) 500 sold
65% drop from last week, but still not bad for the death metal band.
Daughters, Daughters (Hydra Head) 500 sold
For a band that is basically already broken up and won’t be touring behind it, not bad.
Fozzy, Chasing the Grail (Riot Entertainment) 450 sold
Still selling around the same place as last week. Chris Jericho still might want to keep his job at the WWE though.
White Wizzard, Over The Top (Earache) 400 sold
Just made it on this week.
FMQB Most Added:
1. The Dillinger Escape Plan, Option Paralysis (Party Smasher Inc./Season Of Mist) 39 adds
2. LD-50, LD-50 (Lethal Dose Entertainment) 38 adds
3. Tryptykon, Eparistera Daimones (Century Media) 36 adds
4t. Poisonblack, Of Rust & Bones (Century Media) 34 adds
4t. Survivors Zero, CXMCIX (Piece of Mind Music) 34 adds
4t. We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Visio) 34 adds
FMQB Top Ten:
1. Fear Factory, Mechanize (Candlelight)
2. Overkill, Ironbound (E1)
3. Various, God Of War EP (Roadrunner)
4. The Dillinger Escape Plan, Option Paralysis (Party Smasher Inc./Season Of Mist)
5. High On Fire, Snakes For The Divine (E1)
6. Fozzy, Chasing The Grail (Riot Entertainment)
7. Living Sacrifice, The Infinite Order (Solid State)
8. Slayer, World Painted Blood (Columbia)
9. Mutiny Within, Mutiny Within (Roadrunner)
10. Through The Eyes Of The Dead, Skepsis (Prosthetic)
