Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
It’s another big week for debuts. Fifteen new albums, a few highly anticipated. For me, The Sword was the big one this week. There aren’t too many bands I can say I’ve stuck with from the beginning, but I remember seeing the music video for “Freya” and then going out to buy Age of Winters the next day. Back then in high school, I wanted anything that was remotely similar to Sabbath. Sure doesn’t feel like it’s been 12 years.
Notable Debuts:
Blessthefall, Hard Feelings (Rise)
Debut #6
8,875 sold
This is the band’s highest charting album yet, but it sold little over half of it’s predecessor.
The Sword, Used Future (Razor & Tie)
Debut #14
6,450 sold
The Sword’s sixth album didn’t sell as much as its predecessor, but it’s their highest charting album yet.
Monster Magnet, Mindfucker (Napalm Records)
Debut #54
3,075 sold
The band’s first LP in five years is their highest charting yet.
GosT, Possessor (Blood Music)
Debut #152
1,050 sold
This isn’t exactly metal, but this synthwave act has had a lot of crossover appeal with the metal scene.
W.E.T., Earthrage (Frontiers)
Debut #167
950 sold
This the third studio album from this trio fronted by Jeff Scott Soto.
L.A. Guns, Made In Milan (Frontiers)
Debut #188
830 sold
A live album recorded on the band’s reunion tour.
Auri, Auri (Nuclear Blast)
Debut #190
830 sold
This trio includes Tuomas Holopainen and Troy Donockley of Nightwish along with vocalist Johanna Kurkela.
Axel Rudi Pell, Knights Call (SPV/Steamhammer)
470 sold
This is Pell’s eighteenth studio album.
Of Feather and Bone, Hymns of Perversion (Profound Lore)
400 sold
This is the band’s second studio album.
Will Haven, Muerte (Minus Head)
340 sold
This is the band’s sixth album and their first in seven years.
The Absence, Gift for the Obsessed (M-Theory Audio)
330 sold
This is the band’s fourth studio album and their first in eight years.
Memoriam, The Silent Vigil (Nuclear Blast)
310 sold
The band’s second album was released exactly a year after their debut.
Mournful Congregation, Incubus of Karma (20 Buck Spin)
280 sold
This is the funeral doom band’s fifth studio album.
Nightmarer, Cacophony Of Terror (Season Of Mist)
240 sold
This is the band’s debut album.
Rotting Christ, Their Greatest Spells (Season Of Mist)
190 sold
This is a new compilation album from Rotting Christ.
Notable Sales:
Metallica, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (Blackened)
#15 (from 1)
6,375 sold
A drop of 90%, but considering it was at #1 last week it’s not exactly hurting for sales.
Nightwish, Decades (Nuclear Blast)
#28 (from 35)
5,300 sold
A boost of 18%.
Judas Priest, Firepower (Columbia)
#30 (from 8)
4,925 sold
A 50% drop, but the album is still selling respectably.
Five Finger Death Punch, A Decade Of Destruction (Prospect Park)
#33 (from 28)
4,775 sold
A small 8% drop. It should hit the 100,000 mark next week.
Greta Van Fleet, From the Fires EP (Lava)
#41 (from 36)
3,925 sold
Just under 100,000 sold.
Stone Temple Pilots, Stone Temple Pilots (Rhino)
#44 (from 6)
3,775 sold
A 76% second week drop is a pretty sharp decline.
Three Days Grace, Outsider (RCA)
#75 (from 44)
2,250 sold
A 33% drop.
Myles Kennedy, Year of the Tiger (Napalm)
#184 (from 109)
850 sold
A 44% drop.
Between The Buried And Me, Automata I (Sumerian)
#187 (from 102)
830 sold
A drop of 48%.
Foo Fighters, Concrete and Gold (RCA/Roswell)
#197 (re-entry)
780 sold
A boost of 10%.
Rivers Of Nihil, Where Owls Know My Name (Metal Blade)
710 sold
A second week drop of 74%.
Earthless, Black Heaven (Nuclear Blast)
700 sold
A drop of 66% in week two.
The Plot In You, Dispose (Fearless)
510 sold
A 12% drop.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Polygondwanaland (Blood Music)
510 sold
A 35% drop.
Greyhaven, Empty Black (Graphic Nature Records/Equal Vision)
280 sold
This only dropped by 24% in week two.
Turnstile, Time & Space (Roadrunner)
200 sold
A 16% drop.
Dying Fetus, 
Sons Of Apollo, 
