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.
Tags: AC/DC, Burning Witches, Crypta, Def Leppard, Distant, Evanescence, Fiddlehead, Flotsam and Jetsam, Foo Fighters, Go Ahead and Die, Goblin, Gojira, Green Jelly, Greta Van Fleet, Hammer King, Hum, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, KISS, Liquid Tension Experiment, Mammoth WVH, Motley Crue, Mr. Bungle, Neon Christ, Paul Gilbert, Pig Destroyer, POPPY, Red Fang, Rise Against, Royal Blood, The Dead Daisies, The Pretty Reckless, Wardruna, Wristmeetrazor
Categorised in: Metal By Numbers
