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

You know, doing this column sometimes feels like being a parent (without the vomit and the shitting). An album is announced by a band you like or some up and comer you’re rooting for, then one or two tracks are previewed, the album is released, and then it ends up here. And you get to watch it progress, watch it fall post-release only to have a resurgence from a tour or somesuch. You watch reach for the stars (and sometimes watch it disappear a week later). It’s just heartwarming when you see the bands and their albums getting the recognition they deserve. I’m also aware that this metaphor hasn’t really held up for most of this opening paragraph but, hey, it’s the numbers you’re here for anyway, right?

 

Notable Debuts: 

High On Fire, Luminiferous (eOne) #48, 6,000 sold

Matt Pike and company nabs its best debut yet with album number seven.

 

Our Last Night, Younger Dreams (Self-Released) #61, 4,950 sold

The fifth album from this post-hardcore act marks the band’s best debut yet.

 

iwrestledabearonce, Hail Mary (Artery) #73, 4,100 sold

The band’s fourth album is the band’s first release on Artery.

 

Hundredth, Free (Hopeless) #187, 1,675 sold

The band’s third album is its first on Hopeless Records.

 

Vattnet Viskar, Settler (Century Media) 810 sold

The band’s much-anticipated sophomore effort debuts and sports one of the more intriguing album covers you’ll see this year.

 

Lucifer, Lucifer I (Rise Above) 700 sold

This new doom band features Johanna Sadonis (ex-Oath).

 

Tempel, Moon Lit Our Path (Prosthetic) 410 sold

This is the second album from this instrumental duo.

 

KEN mode, Success (Season of Mist) 310 sold

The band releases their sixth album.

 

Notable Sales:

Kid Rock, First Kiss (Warner Bros.) #86, 3,550 sold

A boost of 39% because we can’t have nice things.

 

Tremonti, Cauterize (Fret12) #97, 3,150 sold

This takes a second week drop of 77%.

 

Halestorm, Into the Wild Life (Atlantic) #82, 3,075 sold

Ten weeks in and this has crossed the 100,000 mark.

 

Slipknot, .5: The Gray Chapter (Roadrunner) #140, 2,225 sold

A small boost of 3%.

 

Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, Live at the Roxy 9.25.14 (Armoury) #141, 2,200 sold

A new live album from Slash and company (or conspirators I should say).

 

Faith No More, Sol Invictus (Ipecac) #158, 1,950 sold

A drop of 25% is solless.

 

Babymetal, Babymetal (VAP Japan) #163, 1,875 sold

The physical version of Babymetal’s debut has finally made it to our shores, so naturally it’s back on the charts.

 

AC/DC, Rock or Bust (Columbia) #175, 1,800 sold

After a 37% boost, it looks like this is back…in black.

 

Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways (RCA) #42, 5,575 sold

This is back on the charts as well after an 18% boost.

 

Sleeping With Sirens, Madness (Epitaph) #199, 1,550 sold

A 11% boost, though this might be sleeping with the fishes again soon.

 

Armored Saint, Win Hands Down (Metal Blade) 1,100 sold

A 35% drop? Saint it ain’t so!

 

Full Devil Jacket, Valley of Bones (eOne) 510 sold

More touring boosts, this time an 85%.

 

Lorna Shore, Psalms (Workhorse) 460 sold

A second week drop of 48%.

 

Amaranthe, Massive Addictive (Spinefarm) 370 sold

Nearly 19,000 sold after 35 weeks.

 

Paradise Lost, The Plague Within (Century Media) 350 sold

Plagued by a 47% drop.

 

Goatsnake, Black Age Blues (Southern Lord) 340 sold

A boost of 12%.

 

Skinless, Only The Ruthless Remain (Relapse) 400 sold

A 31% drop.

 

Starkill, Virus of the Mind (Century Media) 330 sold

A 25% drop kills.