Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
I was in high school when Van Halen announced they would be going on tour with Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, on bass guitar. I heard many friends complain about Michael Anthony’s absence or assumed Wolfgang was some snot nosed kid who had no business playing in such a legendary band, family name or no. I was 16, the same age as Wolfgang Van Halen, and also a bass player who thought it sounded like a dream come true. All I told my friends was “Dude, if your dad was Eddie Fuckin’ Van Halen and he wanted you to play in the band, wouldn’t you do it?” I can’t pretend to know what Wolfgang’s experience was like then or since, but I’m happy to see him striking out on his own with the top debut for hard rock/metal this week. Wolfgang, if by some unlikely chance you are reading this, congratulations. Wherever your father is, I bet he’s proud.
Notable Debuts:
Mammoth WvH, Mammoth WvH (Ex1)
Debut #2
30,125 sold
This is the debut album from Wolfgang Van Halen.
KISS, KISS Off The Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (UMe)
Debut #19
6,975 sold
This live album marks the start of KISS’s new archival live series.
Def Leppard, Live in Oxford (Island)
Debut #44
3,550 sold
This is a RSD vinyl release.
Mr. Bungle, The Night They Came Home (Live) (Ipecac)
Debut #67
2,600 sold
This is the band’s first live album.
Mötley Crüe, 40th Anniversary Cassette Box Set (Better Noise)
Debut #107
1,725 sold
If you’ve been missing the glory days of cassettes, Mötley Crüe has you covered.
Def Leppard, The CD Boxset: Volume 3 (Island)
Debut #117
1,625 sold
This 6 CD set features material from the 2000’s.
Crypta, Echoes Of The Soul (Napalm)
Debut #150
1,275 sold
This band features ex-Nervosa members.
Neon Christ, 1984 (Southern Lord)
Debut #168
1,125 sold
This is a release of the bands sessions from 1984 features William DuVall (Alice In Chains).
Go Ahead And Die, Go Ahead And Die (Nuclear Blast)
Debut #174
1,100 sold
This is the debut album from Max and Igor Cavalera.
Wristmeetrazor, Replica Of A Strange Love (Prosthetic)
800 sold
This is the band’s second album.
Goblin, Greatest Hits Vol. 2 (1979-2001) (AMS)
560 sold
Another RSD exclusive release.
Distant, Aeons of Oblivion (Unique Leader)
400 sold
This is the band’s second full-length.
Hammer King,
Notable Sales:
Greta Van Fleet, The Battle At Garden’s Gate (Lava/Republic Records)
#62 (from #45)
2,675 sold
A 34% boost.
Rise Against, Nowhere Generation (Loma Vista)
#92 (from 3)
2,075 sold
A 84% drop in week two.
Gojira, Fortitude (Roadrunner)
#101 (from 70)
1,950 sold
A 43% boost.
Foo Fighters, Medicine At Midnight(Roswell)
#108 (from 75)
1,725 sold
A 31% boost.
AC/DC, Power Up(Columbia)
#121 (from 85)
1,525 sold
A 37% boost.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, L.W.(KGLW)
#151 (from 98)
1,275 sold
A 30% boost.
Green Jellÿ, Garbage Band Kids (Cleopatra)
Debut #161
1,200 sold
This is the band’s first new album since 2009.
Evanescence, The Bitter Truth (BMG)
#168 (from 59)
1,125 sold
A 6% boost.
Red Fang, Arrows (Relapse)
#183 (from 14)
1,025 sold
A 78% drop in week two.
Royal Blood, Typhoons (Imperial Galactic/Warner Records)
#188 (from 137)
1,000 sold
A 63% boost.
The Pretty Reckless, Death By Rock And Roll (Fearless Records)
#197 (from 129)
980 sold
An 47% boost.
Paul Gilbert, Werewolves of Portland (The Players Club)
660 sold
A 74% drop.
Flotsam And Jetsam, Blood In The Water (AFM)
610 sold
A 59% drop.
Pig Destroyer, Pornographers of Sounds: Live in NYC (Relapse)
540 sold
A 72% drop in week two.
Fiddlehead, Between The Richness (Run For Cover)
450 sold
A 119% boost.
Liquid Tension Experiment, Liquid Tension Experiment 3 (Inside Out)
400 sold
A 49% boost.
Melvins, Working With God(Ipecac)
360 sold
A 255% boost back up.
Poppy, I Disagree(Sumerian)
350 sold
This is up against after dropping off last week.
Burning Witches, The Witch Of The North (Nuclear Blast)
270 sold
A 29% drop.
Poppy, Eat (NXT Soundtrack) (Sumerian)
230 sold
A 55% drop.
The Dead Daisies, Holy Ground (SPV)
220 sold
This gets boosted back up.
Wardruna, Kvitravn (By Norse Music)
210 sold
A 147% boost back up.
Smith/Kotzen, Smith/Kotzen(BMG)
210 sold
A 35% boost.
Hum, Inlet(Earth Analog)
200 sold
A 122% boost back up after being off a few weeks.
