Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
What do you get when one of the master bands of metalcore gets their original vocalist back? Well, first you get to tour a bunch, but then you get a top 10 album. Yes, Killswitch Engage’s much anticipated new album has dominated the charts this week, and with good reason. And the only thing more beautiful than a metal album in the top 10 is the weather, specifically on the east coast. After all, what goes better with a sunny day and blooming spring flowers than visions of slaughter and rage? With that, here’s how metal albums did for this week.
Notable Debuts
Killswitch Engage, Disarm The Descent (Roadrunner) #7, 48,450 sold
Topping the metal charts with just under 50,000 sold is Killswitch Engage, who are heading out on tour this summer.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitatph) #11, 27,425 sold
Bring Me The Horizon had a damn good debut this week as well with their fourth album.
For Today, Prevailer (Razor & Tie) #46, 10,200 sold
This EP from the Christian metalcore band managed to outsell the soundtrack to The Bible miniseries, which probably sounds something like banging nails into wood.
Hypocrisy, End of Disclosure (Nuclear Blast) 1,900 sold
The Swedish death metallers are back with album number twelve.
Finntroll, Blodsvept (Century Media) 1,100 sold
Finnish folk metal ahoy! Finntroll off to a good start in the US.
Thy Art Is Murder, Hate (Nuclear Blast) 880 sold
The deathcore band’s second release is also their first on Nuclear Blast.
Warbeast, Destroy (Megaforce) 590 sold
Warbeast’s latest might not have had the hottest debut, but damn that album art is cool.
Notable Sales
Kid Rock, Rebel Soul (Atlantic) #66, 7,200 sold
Just under 475,000 sold.
Sevendust, Black Out The Sun (7brothers) #68, 6,575 sold
It’s a second week 76% drop for Sevendust, for a total of about 34,000.
Various Artists, Rock of Ages Soundtrack (Water Tower Music/Warner Bros.) #85, 5,575 sold
Over 300,000 copies sold, and just in time for no one to care.
Red, Release the Panic (Provident) #102, 4,275 sold
This has now crossed the 100,000 point.
Clutch, Earth Rocker (Weathermaker) #111, 3,825 sold
A 44% drop for these earth rockers, but they’ve sold over 32,000.
Various Artists, Sound City: Real to Reel (RCA) #127, 3,275 sold
A 36% drop? For reels?
Bullet For My Valentine, Temper Temper (RCA) #128, 3,250 sold
These guys will soon be on tour with Halestorm.
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #136, 3,050 sold
Even decreases in sales don’t stop this album from selling.
Black Veil Brides, Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones (Lava/Universal Republic) #159, 2,625 sold
These brides having been walking down an aisle of slowly decreasing sales.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) #166, 2,475 sold
Be on the lookout for Volbeat’s next album appearing on the charts next week. Meanwhile, this one has sold over 220,000.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #177, 2,350 sold
Lzzy Hale is featured on the debut album from Device.
Led Zeppelin, Celebration Day (Atlantic) #181, 2,300 sold
I’d say over 400,000 copies sold is cause for celebration.
In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #188, 2,175 sold
After being absent from the charts last week, this album is back in the same position it was two weeks ago.
Pierce The Veil, Collide With The Sky (Fearless) #196, 2,075 sold
Looks like this one is managing to stick around.
Saxon, Sacrifice (Capitol) 830 sold
In terms of sales, these Brits are in the same league with…
Amaranthe, Nexus (Spinefarm) 830 sold
This is selling like crazy over in Finland and Sweden.
Kvelertak, Meir (Roadrunner) 725 sold
This could use meir album sales. It’s down 59%, but hopefully their tour will help things out.
Six Feet Under, Unborn (Metal Blade) 620 sold
With sales like this, this album will soon be more than six feet under.
Within The Ruins, Elite (Entertainment One) 590 sold
I couldn’t help but be reminded of this Family Guy scene.
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 570 sold
Sales never die, either, at least not for these guys.
Crown The Empire, The Fallout (Rise) 550 sold
Try referring to crowns as “king hats” for a day and see how many weird looks you get.
Intronaut, Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones) (Century Media) 500 sold
Only Black Veil Brides have an album title as logn as this one.
Suffocation, Pinnacle of Bedlam (Nuclear Blast) 480 sold
Seriously, do death metal bands and awesome album art just go hand-in-hand?
Nails, Abandon All Life (Southren Lord) 440 sold
Not too much of a change from last week.
Woe, Is Me Genesi[s] (Rise) 390 sold
Just under 20,000 total sold.
The Amity Affliction, Chasing Ghosts (Roadrunner) 320 sold
These Aussies are hanging in there.
