Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Most people have been dreading the day that Limp Bizkit would release Gold Cobra. So haters will probably be even more disappointed to find out that more than 27,000 people still like Fred Durst and co. The one time rap metal kings are indeed this week’s top metal and hard rock debut, entering the charts in the top 20.
Putting our feelings for the band aside, we have to admit that this debut not only comes as a surprise to us, but is also very impressive. You have to keep in mind a few things:
- It’s been about seven years since Limp Bizkit released any new material (that being the The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) EP, which debuted at #24 in its first week).
- Since reuniting in 2009, Bizkit have only played a handful of shows in the U.S.
- A majority of the press coverage for Gold Cobra, which was suppose to be released this time last year, has focused more on the album and band’s flaws than anything else.
Now in no way does Gold Cobra match the success of Bizkit’s heyday (even The Unquestionable Truth (Part 1) EP sold around 37,000 despite little promotion). However, it’s still amazing that Bizkit was able to sell more than 27,000 copies with as much bad press they normally generate, with the only real promotion they’ve done being a few silly videos, and with the current state of album sales. We hate to say this, but congratulations to Fred Durst, Wes Borland and the rest of Limp Bizkit.
Notable Debuts:
Limp Bizkit, Gold Cobra (Interscope) #16, 27,430 sold
While Beyonce has this week’s #1 album, with over 300,000 copies sold, many of her fans will likely be disappointed by the ballad heavy album (or so we’ve been told). We think all 27, 430 that ponied up for Cobra will like it, because really, who would ironically buy a Bizkit album?
Queensryche, Dedicated to Chaos (Roadrunner/Loud & Proud) #66, 8,210 sold
Though the Seattle prog metallers’ tenth studio album has a good first week, it falls quite short of 2009’s American Soldier (which came in at #25 in its first week). Maybe Queensryche can gain some sales with a few videos. Oh wait…
Burn Halo, Up from the Ashes (Rawkhead) 2,320 sold
The sophomore album from the group fronted by former Eighteen Visions singer James Hart doesn’t quite reach the sales of their self-titled debut album (which came in at #129 and sold around 4,800 in 2009). Still a solid first week nontheless.
Notable Sales:
Foo Fighters, Wasting Light (RCA) #58, 8,850 sold
A 27% decrease finds the Foo Fighters two spots away from exiting the top 60.
Seether, Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray (Wind-Up) #70, 8,000 sold
The post-grunge group fall down the charts by 21 spots, but remain in the top 70.
August Burns Red, Leveler (Solid State) #72, 8,000 sold
After an impressive first week, the metalcore group experiences a major 72% decrease, kicking them out of the top 70 in their second week on the charts.
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #88, 6,200 sold
Though literally experiencing only a 1% change from last week, the American Badass falls down the charts by nine spots.
Def Leppard, Mirrorball (Mailboat) #70, 5,900 sold
We wonder if this live album is still selling considerably decent because strippers are buying it before their next shift.
Black Veil Brides, Set the World on Fire (Universal Republic) #108, 5,000 sold
A 34% decrease is enough to see BVB fall 44 spots down the charts in their third week. We have to believe, though, that their current stint on the Warped Tour will help improve sales somewhat.
Hollywood Undead, American Tragedy (A&M/Octone) #116, 4,600 sold
Though they’ve been slowly dropping down the charts since being released, it is impressive that Hollywood Undead have been able to remain on the charts for 13 weeks now.
In Flames, Sounds of a Playground Fading (Century Media) #118, 4,450 sold
After debuting in the top thirty in its first week, the Swedish metal group’s tenth album get kicked out of the top 100 with a 68% decrease in sales.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #135, 3,800 sold
Only a 5% decrease for A7X in their 49th week on the charts.
The Black Dahlia Murder, Ritual (Metal Blade) #137, 3,700 sold
Just like In Flames, the death metal group’s fifth gets kicked out of the top 100 after debuting in the top 30 last week. Unlike In Flames, though, The Black Dahlia Murder experiences a 72% decrease.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #161, 3,100 sold
After being only five steps away from exiting the top 200 last week, LP somehow experiences a 25% increase in sales, crawling up the charts by 35 spots.
Symphony X, Iconoclast (Nuclear Blast) #197, 2,580 sold
After debuting in the top 70, the NJ power metallers’ first album with Nuclear Blast Records is three spots away from exiting the top 200. We guess all of the attention Ray Allen’s other band is getting isn’t helping Symphony X’s sales.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 1,300 sold
Maybe the fact that this album is now available on Amazon for just $6 is the reason why the Danish metallers have been experiencing modest increases in sales (by the way, this is our cue for you to buy this awesome album if you haven’t already you cheap bastards! Love, Metal Insider).
The Devin Townsend Project, Deconstruction (HevyDevy/Inside Out) 630 sold
Hevy Devy’s heavier new album experiences a 51% decrease in its second weekend.
Morbid Angel, Illud Divinum Insanus (Season of Mist) 590 sold
Morbid Angel’s polarizing album experiences another 31% decrease.
Art Of Dying, Vices And Virtures (Reprise/Intoxication) 580 sold
An 11% decrease for the Canadian rockers after experiencing a nice sales boost last week.
The Devin Townsend Project, Ghost (HevyDevy/Inside Out) 530 sold
Hevy Devy’s other new album, the one that’s much more mellow than Deconstruction, experiences a 76% decrease in its second week. On a side note, the deluxe edition featuring both albums sold around 500 copies, experiencing an 85% decrease.
Vampires Everywhere!, Kiss The Sun Goodbye (Century Media) 470 sold
After being absent last week, these guys come back to the charts out of nowhere with a 31% increase. Maybe the True Blood season premiere helped?
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 400 sold
After being away for almost three months, these guys make a sudden return to the charts. Maybe their stint on the Warped Tour is responsible for this.
