Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Retirement plans for metal bands (or really any kind of rock band) seem to involve the same thing: big final tour with possibly a final album, then at some point someone says “Well, we still want to write music” and/or “Actually, we’d like to tour more”. Then…well, you get the idea. The operative phrase is “Never say never”, unless someone dies or something. But don’t get the wrong idea; we’re certainly not upset about having a new Judas Priest album and we’re even more certainly not upset that it’s a top 10 record here in the US (speaking of that, have you read our interview with the band and registered to win a signed copy of the CD yet?). We’re just saying that if Mötley Crüe is still touring/putting out music after their retirement, don’t be surprised.
Notable Debuts:
Judas Priest, Redeemer of Souls (Epic) #6, 32,700 sold
It might be hard to believe Priest have never gotten a top 10 record in the US, but this is indeed the band’s best debut yet. Nostradamus made it to #11.
Chelsea Grin, Ashes To Ashes (Razor & Tie) #27, 10,150 sold
The band has their best debut yet with their third album. Think being on Warped Tour helped?
Starset, Transmissions (Razor & Tie) #48, 5,325 sold
The band is off to a very solid start with their debut album that cracked the top 50.
Goatwhore, Constricting Rage of the Merciless (Metal Blade) #75 3,750 sold
Album six for Goatwhore also has a solid debut. Probably the best ever chart debut for a band with “goat” or “whore” in their name that isn’t Gotye.
Ted Nugent, Shutup & Jam! (Frontiers) #90, 3,150 sold
It’s Nugent’s first studio album since 2007. We’re sure that you’re thrilled.
’68, In Humor and Sadness (eOne) #94, 3,075 sold
This band is a new project fronted by Josh Scogin, formerly of Norma Jean and The Chariot. Solid performance.
Origin, Omnipresent (Nuclear Blast) #176, 1,625 sold
Origin’s sixth album is on the charts and they’ll soon be heading out on Summer Slaughter along with Goatwhore.
Monuments, Amanuensis (Century Media) 1,200 sold
The band gets on the charts as they tour with Glass Cloud and Scale the Summit.
Wolves In the Throne Room, Celestite (Artemisia) 1,200 sold
The atmospherical black metal brothers have dropped the “black metal” from their fifth album.
Islander, Violence and Destruction (Victory) 560 sold
This nu-metal revival band has a pretty solid start, considering they’re pretty new (nu?) still. Now someone tell us what a coconut dracula is.
Sonic Syndicate, Sonic Syndicate (Nuclear Blast) 350 sold
The self-titled fifth album from this Swedish band is out now.
Madball, Hardcore Lives (Black N Blue) 260 sold
This is the band’s eighth album and their first in four years.
Notable Sales:
Seether, Isolate & Medicate (The Bicycle Music Company) #19, 11,875 sold
A 68% drop doesn’t bring this down too far.
Linkin Park, The Hunting Party (Warner Bros.) #23, 11,025 sold
One of the band members has a film coming out.
Mastodon, Once More ‘Round The Sun (Reprise) #52, 5,025 sold
Just under 50,000 sold in week 3.
Various Artists, 2014 Vans Warped Tour Compilation (Side One Dummy) #84, 3,450 sold
Friendly reminder not to dick around with security at Warped Tour, even if you’re in a band.
Avenged Sevenfold, Hail To The King (Warner Bros.) #96, 2,850 sold
You can expect to see this going gold in a few weeks time.
Every Time I Die, From Parts Unknown (Epitaph) #118, 2,400 sold
A second week drop of 81%, but Warped Tour will give this some numbers.
Nothing More, Nothing More (Eleven Seven) #121, 2,300 sold
Quoth the raven, ‘Nothing more…drops by 35%.’
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2 (Prospect Park) #124, 2,200 sold
This probably won’t go anywhere until the next FFDP album comes out.
The Pretty Reckless, Going To Hell (Razor & Tie) #129, 2,150 sold
A slight drop of 10%.
Chevelle, La Gargola (Epic) #134, 2,025 sold
This is over 200,000 sold in week 15.
Hellyeah, Blood For Blood (Eleven Seven) #168, 1,650 sold
Just under 30,000 total as this drops by 27%.
Volbeat, Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies (Universal/Republic) #177, 1,600 sold
This is in the same position as last week.
Tesla, Simplicity (Tesla) #181, 1,575 sold
This simply dropped 11%.
Of Mice & Men, Restoring Force (Rise) #188, 1,550 sold
This has been hopping on and off the charts.
Bring Me The Horizon, Sempiternal (Epitaph) #193, 1,525 sold
This has now crossed over 200,000 in total.
Vanna, VOID (Pure Noise) 1,100 sold
Back on the charts again after being voided out.
Corrosion of Conformity, IX (Candlelight) 610 sold
A second week drop of 55%.
Outline In Color, Masks (Standby) 610 sold
This also reappears on the charts.
Ice Nine Kills, The Predator Becomes the Prey (Outerloop) 310 sold
This got a big 71% boost this week. Thanks Warped Tour!
Septicflesh, Titan (Prosthetic) 500 sold
Septictank would have been a shitty name (eh, get it?)
Kobra and the Lotus, High Priestess (Titan) 420 sold
A drop of 30%.
Rival Sons, Great Western Valkyrie (Earache) 370 sold
A boost of 29%.
Gemini Syndrome, Lux (Warner Bros.) 360 sold
Not much change here.
Allegaeon, Elements of the Infinite (Metal Blade) 350 sold
Infinite drops of 19%.
Righteous Vendetta, The Fire Inside (EBM) 310 sold
A 1% drop doesn’t really fire this up.
Get Scared, Everyone’s Out To Get Me (Fearless) 310 sold
Think any of the band members have severe stage fright?
Boris, Noise (Sergent House) 270 sold
These guys aren’t getting as much press as a certain other Japanese band.
Babymetal, Babymetal (VAP Japan) 265 sold
Believe it or not, the band weren’t aware of metal before they started. A 27% increase is probably due to the press they’re getting from their first tour outside of Asia that will bring them to the States at month’s end.
Marty Friedman, Inferno (Prosthetic) 250 sold
Not much of an inferno here.
Trap Them, Blissfucker (Prosthetic) 240 sold
Trapped at the bottom, but with an 11% boost.
