Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
 
The Tool news cycle over the past 2 to 3 weeks has progressed thusly: Tool’s new album is coming out; Tool’s new album is out; Tool’s new album is great; Tool are going on tour; Tool’s new album might debut at #1 and knock Taylor Swift’s new album down to #2; Taylor Swift fans don’t know who Tool is; Tool’s album is #1. That’s the most varied press Tool have gotten in years.
 
Yes, Fear Inoculum is #1 on the charts and will likely stick around the Billboard for a while, and I’m happy about that. And yes, it’s pretty cool that it beat out Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, and Sheryl Crow for the #1 spot. I just have one small request of you all: please don’t go around the Internet (or real life for that matter) and start ripping into Taylor Swift fans. Look, I got a chuckle out of those posts from T-Swift fans freaking about about this old 90’s band called Tool with scary 10 minute songs, and I don’t much care for her or her music. But you don’t need to be a dick to teenage girls or anyone else in Swift’s fanbase. It’s fine if you can’t stand her, her music, or if you just hate pop in general. But people like her music, and it’s okay to just let people like it. Don’t be that metalhead.
 
 
Notable Debuts:
 
Tool, Fear Inoculum (Tool Dissectional LLC/Volcano)
Debut #1
247,550 sold
 
What else is there to say? The album is finally here, it’s great, and it’s #1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wage War, Pressure (Fearless)
Debut #15
5,175 sold
 
The band’s third album is its highest charting yet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nirvana, Live And Loud (Geffen)
Debut #38
2,475 sold
 
This live album has been released on vinyl and streaming services.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Big Wreck, …but for the sun (Warner Music Canada)
Debut #110
910 sold
 
This is the band’s sixth album and the first release after the death of guitarist Brian Doherty.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tarja, In The Raw (earMUSIC)
Debut #116
830 sold
 
This is Tarja’s fifth album not counting her classical and Christmas albums.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hesitation Wounds, Chicanery (Deathwish Inc.)
Debut #144
680 sold
 
This is the second album from the hardcore punk supergroup.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sons Of Apollo, Live With The Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony (InsideOut)
Debut #161
640 sold
 
This is the supergroup’s first live album, which features several covers in addition to original material.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dance Gavin Dance, Acceptance Speech 2.0 (Rise)
Debut #200
530 sold
 
This is a remaster of the band’s 2013 album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Witch Vomit, Buried Deep In A Bottomless Grave (20 Buck Spin)
410 sold
 
This is the band’s second album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Visions Of Atlantis, Wanderers (Napalm)
360 sold
 
This is the band’s seventh album, releasing only a year and a half after its predecessor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portrayal Of Guilt, Suffering Is A Gift (Closed Casket Activities)
360 sold
 
This EP is a follow-up to the band’s debut album from last year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Entombed A.D., Bowels Of Earth (Century Media)
350 sold
 
This is the band’s third album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
180 sold
 
This is the Italian band’s tenth album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Riot V, Live In Japan 2018 (AFM)
140 sold
 
This is the band’s first live album under the moniker Riot V and their first live album in 20 years.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notable Sales:
 
Slipknot, We Are Not Your Kind (Roadrunner)
#8 (from #9)
8,000 sold
 
Still in the top 10 in week 3.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody (Hollywood)
#29 (from 25)
3,550 sold
 
This only dropped 1%.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Killswitch Engage, Atonement (Metal Blade)
#31 (from 13)
3,350 sold
 
A 47% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Skillet, Victorious (Atlantic)
#44 (from 31)
2,050 sold
 
A 29% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volbeat, Rewind, Replay, Rebound (Republic)
#55 (from 50)
1,600 sold
 
A 19% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Knocked Loose, A Different Shade Of Blue (Pure Noise)
#70 (from 5)
1,325 sold
 
A 91% second week drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Infest The Rats’ Nest (Flightless)
#77 (from 58)
1,225 sold
 
A 30% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Breaking Benjamin, Ember (Hollywood)
#86 (from 84)
1,125 sold
 
A 2% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I Prevail, Trauma (Fearless)
#102 (from 185)
960 sold
 
This got a big boost of 70%.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Disturbed, Evolution (Warner Bros.)
#106 (fr0m 34)
940 sold
 
After a few big boosts, this drops by 65%.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Greta Van Fleet, Anthem of the Peaceful Army (Lava/Republic)
#121 (from 89)
810 sold
 
A 24% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Greatest Hits (Sony Legacy)
#129 (from 150)
760 sold
 
A 7% boost.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Godsmack, Icon(Republic)
#135 (from 174)
720 sold
 
A 18% boost.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Godsmack, When Legends Rise (BMG)
#149 (from 143)
660 sold
 
A 9% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sacred Reich, Awakening (Metal Blade)
#174 (from 48)
600 sold
 
A 70% drop in week two.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Five Finger Death Punch, And Justice For None (Prospect Park)
#192 (from 187)
550 sold

Just under 200,000 sold.

 

 

 

 

#193 (from 196)
540 sold
 
A 2% boost.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sabaton, The Great War (Nuclear Blast)
#197 (from 157)
540 sold
 
A 20% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Northlane, Alien (UNFD)
400 sold
 
This got boosted back up after dropping off last week.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ceremony, In The Spirit World Now (Relapse)
250 sold
 
A drop of 80% in week two.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Russian Circles, Blood Year(Sargent House)
250 sold
 
A 4% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Crobot, Motherbrain(Mascot)
230 sold
 
A 75% second week drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Fishing For Fishies(ATO)
230 sold
 
A 41% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David Ellefson, Sleeping Giants (EMP)
200 sold
 
A big boost back up after dropping off a week ago.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tomb Mold, Planetary Clairvoyance (20 Buck Spin)
200 sold
 
A 50% boost back up.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Dead Daisies, Locked and Loaded: The Covers Album (Steamhammer)
200 sold
 
A 57% drop in week two.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 HammerFall, Dominion (Napalm)
190 sold
 
A 36% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Torche, Admission (Relapse)
180 sold
 
Another album that got boosted back up this week.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uniform & The Body, Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back(Sacred Bones)
180 sold
 
A 32% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strung Out, Songs of Armor and Devotion (Fat Wreck Chords)
170 sold
 
A 33% boost back up.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abbath, Outstrider (Season Of Mist)
150 sold
 
A 76% boost back onto the charts.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Flying Microtonal Banana (ATO)
150 sold
 
A 8% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currents, I Let the Devil In (Sharptone)
150 sold
 
This came out late last year, but has only just now come across my radar.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rival Sons, Feral Roots(Atlantic)
140 sold
 
A 8% drop.
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Matt Brown