Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
This week, eight metal/hard rock bands make their debut, with three of them debuting in the top 100. However, it’s every headbangers’ favorite non-metal band that tops the charts this week. The Foo Fighters have much to celebrate as their seventh album ranks in at #1, a first for the band.
Now a lot of people might argue with us that the Foo Fighters shouldn’t even be mentioned in a column about metal/hard rock related album sales. Sure, the Foo Fighters is an alternative (bordering pop) rock band. But their new album features arguably their heaviest material to date (we dare you to tell us that “White Limo” is not rock-tastic!), and we bet that more metal fans prefer them over either of last week’s top debuts. Plus, frontman Dave Grohl (have you heard of his previous band?) has proven himself to be a metal head at heart numerous times, but namely through Probot. Not convinced? Just ask Lemmy.
Notable Debuts:
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #1, 234,530 sold
Though their seventh album is their highest ranking debut, 2005’s In Your Honor sold more in its first week (selling 310,500). However, considering how so much has changed in the industry since 2005, the Foo Fighters’ first week sales are extremely impressive.
Between the Buried and Me, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues (Metal Blade) #53, 9,980 sold
Though their first release through Metal Blade Records might not be their highest ranking debut, the band’s first week sales are very strong considering that it’s an EP with only three songs (very long songs, mind you).
Thursday, No Devolución (Epitaph) #60, 8,770 sold
Though it may not have ranked in as high as 2003’s War All The Time (which debuted at #7), Thursday’s sixth album has a solid first week on the charts (especially with the current state of album sales).
Red Fang, Murder the Mountains (Relapse) 1,300 sold
The stoner rockers’ latest effort has a strong first week. And you can expect from the band’s stint on Mayhem Fest this Summer to help out sales a bit as well.
Young Widows, In and Out of Youth and Lightness (Temporary Residence) 1,270 sold
The post-hardcore group’s third album as a solid first week.
OFF!, Live At Generation Records 840 sold
This special live album by the hardcore supergroup was an exclusive Record Store Day release.
Pentagram, Last Rites (Metal Blade) 830 sold
The doom metal legend’s first release featuring original material since 2004’s Show ‘Em How has a solid first week, proving that many fans have missed the band during their long hiatus.
Believer, Transhuman (Metal Blade) 480 sold
Metal Sucks loves these guys, but it seems like not many people have checked them out yet.
Notable Sales:
Hollywood Undead, American Tragedy (A&M/Octone) #16, 22,770 sold
A 66% decrease sees the masked rapcore group only fall eight spots down the charts. HU might have some lasting power on the charts, much to the chagrin of most metal fans.
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #48, 10,740 sold
After 22 weeks, the American badass has remained in the top 50.
Asking Alexandria, Reckless and Relentless (Sumerian) #47, 10,700 sold
The metalcore princes fall down the charts by 38 spots. Though whether an opening slot on Charlie Sheen’s tour would have improved sales is arguable.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #130, 3,970 sold
Only a 6% decrease despite falling nine spots down the charts. Though if rumors are true, then the last thing FFDP is probably worried about is how an album they released over a year ago is doing on the charts.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #133, 3,930 sold
A 20% decrease is enough to see the one time rap metal kings fall 23 spots down the charts.
Amon Amarth, Surtur Rising (Metal Blade) #148, 3.460 sold
Another 30% decrease for the Viking Metal Gods in their third week.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #154, 3,370 sold
A7X will be performing at the Revolver Golden Gods Award Show tonight. Anyone going?
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #171, 3,130 sold
Roughly around the same place as last week.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #177, 3,020 sold
In 33 weeks, Disturbed has sold gold. Does that mean it’ll be platinum in another 33 weeks? Hell no.
Red, Until We Have Faces (Essential) #193, 2,760 sold
Looks like praying was enough to (barely) keep the Christian rockers in the top 200 for another week.
Whitesnake, Forevermore (Frontiers) #194, 2,760 sold
David Coverdale and company’s time on the charts will most likely come to an end after this week seeing how they’ve fallen 79 spots down the charts in their third week. At least they’ll be receiving royalty checks for this release soon.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 990 sold
The Danish garage metal group experiences a 16% increase in sales leading into their Revolver Golden Gods Award Show performance tonight. That’s even more, considering that given what happened, they won’t have to split it with a bass player.
Art Of Dying, Vices And Virtures (Reprise/Intoxication) 870 sold
Though the Canadian hard rockers experience another 12% decrease, it’s safe to assume that their slot on the Avalanche Tour is helping out sales considerably.
I See Stars, The End Of The World Party (Sumerian) 720 sold
In ten weeks, this album has sold over 10,000 copies.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 530 sold
Maybe we spoke too soon about them “selling consistently well,” because the Metal By Number staples experiences a massive 58% decrease out of the blue.
As Blood Runs Black, Instinct (Mediaskare) 670 sold
Another 25% decrease for the SoCal death metal band in their fifth week.
Obscura, Omnivium (Relapse) 510 sold
Congratulations to those who won a free copy of this album through our give away contest!
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 500 sold
A 15% increase this week still leaves us wondering who is actually listening to this band, especially after listening to this cover.
Pierce the Veil, Selfish Machines (Equal Vision) 490 sold
Speaking of covers.
Burzum, Fallen (Candlelight) 550 sold
Former Mayhem singer Varg Vikernes’ latest work only experiences a 13% decrease in sales during its second week.
Becoming the Archetype, Celestial Completion (Solid State) 810 sold
The Christian death metal group experiences a whopping 42% decrease in their third week.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 460 sold
So much for their tour with Volbeat helping out with sales. Maybe bassist Josh Newton pulling double duty on the remainder of the tour will help out?
Straight Line Stitch, The Fight of Our Lives (eOne) 450 sold
Bet this band is wishing that the Mayhem Fest and/or the Revolver Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock tour would start already.
TesseracT, One (Century Media) 420 sold
The djent metal group make a return to the charts after a 3 week absence.
