When Down decided to release four EP’s over the course of a year, it was essentially done so there wouldn’t be another five year break between albums. That might be a good idea. While the first of the four planned EPs sold nearly 12,000 copies, that’s a far cry from the 29,000 or so that Down III: Over The Under sold five years ago. Granted, this is only an EP, and the industry’s changed quite a bit in the last half decade, though. There were also some solid debuts from The Devin Townsend Project. Local H, and Vision of Disorder, among others.
Notable Debuts
Down, Down IV Part I – The Purple EP (Down) #34, 11,900 sold
Phil Anselmo and company return with The Purple EP, the first of four EP’s from Down. The other three are set to be released sometime next year. This is the first album to feature Pat Bruders (Crowbar) on bass, with Rex Brown having left and formed Kill Devil Hill. Judging from this video though, the band and Brown appear to be on good terms. In any case, this is a hell of a start for The Purple EP.
The Devin Townsend Project, Epicloud (HevyDevy) #98, 4,000 sold
Devin Townsend is back with an album that is epic and, dare we say, loud. Aside from containing a song that comes with its own dance, the album also features a re-recording of “Kingdom” from Physicist back in 2000.
Local H, Hallelujah! I’m A Bum (Slimstyle) #187, 2,000 sold
It’s album number seven for Chicago rock band Local H. The album was apparently completed in spring, but Local H wanted to release it closer to the 2012 Presidential Election. We assume it’s because they want to recruit more political rockers.
Vision of Disorder, The Cursed Remain Cursed (Candlelight) 1,700 sold
Vision of Disorder return with their first album since 2001’s From Bliss to Devastation. The hardcore New Yorkers will be playing the East Coast Tsunami Fest this weekend.
Ensiferum, Unsung Heroes (Spinefarm) 420 sold
Not the best debut for the folk-metal band. Is the Pagan movement waning?
Notable Sales
In This Moment, Blood (Century Media) #93, 4,200 sold
This has kept up for a while but is now slowly dropping. It’ll likely pass 50,000 sold in the next few weeks, though.
Rush, Clockwork Angels (Roadrunner) #107, 3,700 sold
The band will inducted on Guitar Center’s RockWalk this November. At yet, the band still is still absent from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #117, 3,400 sold
The band fronted by Revolver’s current Hottest Chick in Rock or whatever the fuck they’re calling it these days sell roughly the same amount as they did last year.
Five Finger Death Punch, American Capitalist (Prospect Park) #129, 3,200 sold
461,000 and counting for these guys. It’ll probably be a gold album by Christmas.
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #143, 2,700 sold
It’s a sharp 29% drop for these Floridians.
Slipknot, Antennas From Hell (Roadrunner) #200, 1,800 sold
This has sold 51,000 copies in nine weeks, which isn’t bad for a greatest hits album.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 1,800 sold
This will cross the 150,000 sold milestone next week.
Gallows, Gallows (Bridge Nine) 690 sold
This album might not be hanging around for long (We should be smacked for that one).
Katatonia, Dead End Kings (Peaceville) 660 sold
The band have just wrapped up their Epic Kings & Idols tour alongside Devin Townsend.
Otherwise, True Love Never Dies (Century Media) 580 sold
Their bio says that Fox News called them “the #1 unsigned band in America” before they were signed. And if there’s one network that’s an authority on unsigned bands…
Texas Hippie Coalition, Peacemaker (Carved) 550 sold
THC are Texas’ favorite sons. Well, other than ZZ Top, Pantera, Stevie Ray Vaughan, At the Drive In, KIng’s X, Drowning Pool, Roy Orbison, Fastball, The Polyphonic Spree, Geto Boys, Explosions in the Sky…
Fozzy, Sin and Bones (Century Media) 420 sold
Chris Jericho and company experienced a steep 48% drop.
At The Skylines, To Build An Empire EP (Roadrunner) 400
This acoustic EP is resting far below the skyline.
