Metal By Numbers 5/4: The Impact of Record Store Day

Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.

Here are the numbers for the April 22nd releases. A lot of bands fell off the charts, including some big names such as Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Iron Maiden, and more. The biggest drop off was Greta Van Fleet, who had 53 consecutive weeks on the charts. Record Store Day helped boost most sales and the releases are scattered all throughout these charts. Enjoy!

Notable Debuts:

Kirk Hammett, Portals EP (Blackened)
Debut #4
11,325 sold

The Metallica guitarist puts forth his first solo EP, with the blessing of James and Lars of course..

Gojira, Live at Brixton Academy (Roadrunner)
Debut #41
3,500 sold

A special Record Store Day release from the French outfit! This is a live performance from 2014.

Dorothy, Gifts From The Holy Ghost (Roc Nation)
Debut #50
3,025 sold

Frontwoman, Dorothy Martin’s third studio album.

Undeath, It’s Time… To Rise From The Grave (Prosthetic)
Debut #55
2,975 sold

Rochester’s favorite death metal act drops their sophomore record.

Motorhead, The Lost Tapes Vol. 2 (BMG)
Debut #88
1,925 sold

Limited edition double vinyl for Record Store Day. Unreleased live concert from Norwich UEA. It was recorded on the 1998 Snake Bite Love tour.

Lord, Forest Nocturne (Frontier)
Debut #132
1,250 sold

The very first solo album from Greg Anderson aka The Lord (Engine Kid, sunn O))).

Northlane, Obsidian (Believe)
Debut #182
900 sold

The Australian band drops their sixth studio record. It’s self-produced and released on their own label, Believe.

Shadow Academy, Shadow Academy (Independent)
Debut #186
875 sold

“Shadow Academy is a new prog rock duo featuring Dan Avidan, singer for comedy rock outfit Ninja Sex Party and co-host of the YouTube games channel Game Grumps and Emmy Award winning record producer and songwriter Jim Roach.”

Sepultura, Revolusongs (BMG)
Debut #196
800 sold

A special Record Store Day release. An EP of cover songs that was previously exclusive to Brazil and Japan in 2002. It contains seven cover songs including U2, Devo, Massive Attack and Exodus.

Udo Dirkschneider, My Way (Atomic Fire Records)
Debut #199
800 sold

Eighteenth studio album for U.D.O

Vanum, Legend (Independent)
440 sold

The third album from the New York black metallers.

Somali Yacht Club, The Space (SSOM)
425 sold

Stoner rock trio from Lviv, Ukraine.

Caliban, Dystopia (Century Media)
225 sold

The 13th studio album from the Essen natives.

Bodysnatcher, Bleed-Abide (Mnrk Records)
225 sold

Deathcore band from Melbourne, FL with their most mature album to date.

Skull Fist, Paid In Full (Atomic Fire)
150 sold

The fourth album from the Toronto trio.

Notable Sales:

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Unlimited Love (Warner)
#3 (from 3)
13,310 sold

Red Hot Chili Peppers jump 42% in week three, holding down their claim to the third chart position. Guitarist John Frusciante spoke with Total Guitar and has an “appreciation of the chemistry” of the band.

Ghost, Impera (Loma Vista/Concord)
#57 (from 22)
2,825 sold

Ghost receives a 5% jump in week seven but drops down the charts to #57. According to frontman Tobias Forge, the band has gone through 15 member changes.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Omnium Gatherum (Virgin)
#150 (from 172)
1,050 sold

Their 20th studio record and first double album jumps a crazy 113% in week two.

Animals As Leaders, Parrhesia (Sumerian)
#160 (from 159)
975 sold

The 5th studio album from the instrumental progressive metal unit jumps back up by 87% in week four.

Bad Omens, The Death Of Peace Of Mind (Sumerian)
875 sold

A massive 189% jump for their third album. Record Store Day making another impact.

Meshuggah, Immutable (Atomic Fire)
#193 (from 66)
800 sold

The Swede’s drop again by 31% in week five.

KoRn, Requiem (Loma Vista)
#198 (from 123)
800 sold

Korn’s fourteenth album jumps 12% in week twelve. Quite fitting actually.

Envy Of None, Envy Of None (Kscope)
575 sold

The debut record of Rush guitarist, Alex Lifeson, drops 43% in week three.

Knocked Loose, A Tear In The Fabric Of Life (Pure Noise)
325 sold

The hardcore unit falls 20%. Glad to see the EP still going strong with over 11,650 copies sold YTD.
Knocked Loose’s EP focuses on “a story about extreme grief and the levels a person is willing to go through to get rid of it.”
Watch the short film here.

Vein.FM, This World Is Going To Ruin You (Closed Casket)
300 sold

The sophomore effort drops 74%.

Black Swan, Generation Mind (Frontiers)
250 sold

A big 59% drop in week three. The supergroup is back with their sophomore record. The band featuring vocalist Robin Mcauley (Mcauley Schenker Group), guitarist Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake), bassist Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, The End Machine, Ex-Dokken), and drummer Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big).

Destruction, Diabolical (Napalm)
225 sold