Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
This week sees a handful of new releases making their debut, five of whom making it into the top 200. However, for the second week in a row, the top metal and hard rock release comes in the form of a live album. This week, it’s Soundgarden’s first ever live album, Live On I-5, that has the top debut coming in at #47. Seeing as how the recently reunited grunge pioneers’ two new releases post reuniting (including the live album and the hits package Telephantasm) have debuted in the top 50, it’s safe to assume that their highly anticipated new studio album will experience an impressive first week…whenever it gets released.
Notable Debuts:
Soundgarden, Live On I-5 (A&M) #47, 11,000 sold
Though Chris Cornell has said that there are no deadlines set for Soundgarden’s first album in 15 years, this live album’s impressive first week sales might be an indicator that fans are anxious for new music. That or fans are trying to tell Soundgarden that they want them to perform more shows. Both are strong possibilities.
Protest the Hero, Scurrilous (Vagrant) #79, 6,750 sold
Though selling slightly less than 2008’s Fortress (which sold about 7,600 in its first week at #95), the Canadian progressive metal band’s third studio album is their highest ranking debut. Very impressive indeed.
Born of Osiris, The Discovery (Sumerian) #112, 4,810 sold
Though their second album has a solid first week, it falls considerably short to 2009’s A Higher Place (which sold over 6,000 copies and ranked in at #73 in its first week).
Art Of Dying, Vices And Virtures (Reprise/Intoxication) #113, 4,800 sold
In addition to touring with Disturbed a lot, this Canadian rock group also appears on the band’s label imprint Intoxication Records.
Straight Line Stitch, The Fight of Our Lives (eOne) #188, 2,720 sold
The band’s third full length album has an impressive debut, and they’ll be continuing to gain even more exposures through their appearances on Revolver’s Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock Tour and Mayhem Fest.
TesseracT, One (Century Media) 1,170 sold
One of the finest bands to come out of the “djent” craze has a solid first week. And by “craze,” we mean, the other four bands doing it and the 25 people that follow them obsessively on message boards and Metal Sucks.
Agnostic Front, My Life, My Way (Nuclear Blast) 1,100 sold
The hardcore thrash band’s tenth full length album has a decent first week, even though they’ve been around for about 30 years now.
Notable Sales:
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #43, 11,380 sold
Despite only experiencing a 5% decrease, the American Badass is kicked out of the top 40.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #88, 6,240 sold
Not letting Kid Rock be the only ex-rap rocker to fall down the charts, Linkin Park experience a 15% decrease, seeing them drop 24 spots down the charts.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #117, 4,600 sold
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Red, Until We Have Faces (Essential) #120, 4,550 sold
Despite falling 15 spots down the charts, these Christian hard rockers only experience a slight decrease in sales. Maybe praying is helping them sell records.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #132, 4,060 sold
Even though they’ve fallen 2 spots down the charts, A7X is able to cross the 500,000 mark in their 35th week.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #150, 3,590 sold
Unlike A7X, Disturbed miss the 500,000 mark by about 7,000 in their 30th week.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #168, 3,120 sold
In 19 weeks, A Day To Remember has sold over 182,000 copies.
As Blood Runs Black, Instinct (Mediaskare) 1,540 sold
After an impressive debut at #104, the SoCal death metallers experience a 67% decrease in their second week on the charts.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 990 sold
So these guys continue to appear on the charts, despite the album being over two years old. Who is actually buying this album?!
The New York Dolls, Dancing Backward In High Heels (429 Records) 800 sold
A massive 62% decrease for the bad ass punk legends in their second week. Bet they’re hoping for the Motley Crue/Poison tour to help out sales.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 720 sold
Though still selling considerably less in America than everywhere else in the world, the slight increases in sales these past few weeks are good signs for the Danish garage metallers leading up to their Revolver Golden God’s performance with The Runaways’ Cherie Currie.
The Human Abstract, Digital Veil (eOne) 670 sold
They may have experienced another 30% decrease in their third week on the charts, but at least they know what they’re doing this Summer.
I See Stars, The End Of The World Party (Sumerian) 660 sold
They may see stars, but they also only see a 2% decrease this week.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 630 sold
Even a 28% increase isn’t enough to drastically improve this supergroup’s sales. In 15 weeks, they’ve sold just slightly above 22,000 copies of their debut album.
Chelsea Grin, Desolation Of Eden (Razor & Tie/Artery) 580 sold
Once again appearing on the charts after disappearing off the charts for a week.
Darkest Hour, The Human Romance (eOne Music) 580 sold
Compared to how fast their sales have decreased in their first 4 weeks on the charts, a 10% decrease isn’t too awful for Darkest Hour.
OFF!, The First Four EPs (Vice) 570 sold
The punk/hardcore supergroup experiences a nice 14% increase.
Deicide, To Hell With God (Century Media) 470 sold
The only person probably not relieved that Deicide has sold roughly around the same amount as last week is the big guy upstairs. Though I’m sure that doesn’t bother Deicide one bit.
Rival Schools, Pedals (Photo Finish) 470 sold
Another 29% decrease for the reunited post-hardcore band.
Asking Alexandria, Life Gone Wild EP (Sumerian) 620 sold
A 29% decrease for a band that obviously loves Skid Row (couldn’t you tell through this EP?).
Pierce the Veil, Selfish Machines (Equal Vision) 430 sold
We might not know anything about this band (despite seeing them on and off the charts for a while now), but do you?
Crowbar, Sever the Wicked Hand (eOne Music) 430 sold
The sludge metallers make a modest return to the charts after being absent last week.
