Welcome to Metal Power Rankings: Our weekly rankings take a number of factors into account: newsworthiness, record sales, internet buzz, word of mouth and overall importance in the genre. Ultimately, it’s subjective, but if a band generates enough buzz, they’ll wind up on the list. In a little more than a month, Lamb of God will release their long-awaited seventh album, but the way they’re building up the buzz around it is nothing less than brilliant.
1) Lamb of God (from 5)
“512” completely rips, and Chino from Deftones and Greg from Dillinger Escape Plan BOTH guest on Sturm Und Drang? The excitement could not be more intense for this record now, and we’re still over a month away from its release.
2) High on Fire (from 10)
Almost sneaking up on everyone in the midst of a crazy series of releases, Luminiferous is the 900-lb gorilla in the room for huge new metal albums. Matt Pike might also have the biggest tinfoil hat in the room, but this is the guy who birthed Dopesmoker into the world, after all. Chip’s review this week is on point.
3) Refused (from 2)
High on Fire might be on fire right now, but seriously…have you HEARD “Dawkins Christ”?
4) Ghost (from 3)
Papa vs. Pope is the smartest, most subversive showdown any band has come up with for promoting a tour in years.
5) Slayer (from 6)
No doubt that this band gets how merch works – notice how you’ve been seeing that eagle case for Repentless everywhere, long after they announced it?
6) Metallica (from 9)
No big deal, just played the X Games in Austin last weekend and now they’re playing the National Anthem for Game 5 of the NBA Finals tomorrow. Par for the course in Metallica’s world.
7) Faith No More (from 4)
The album is still selling very well, and they’re bound to leap back up when the tour with Refused kicks off.
8) Paradise Lost (debut)
The insane press attention for this record seems to have helped it do more than the typical few hundred first week copies for a band like this, notching about 1250 in its first week. We’ll see if that keeps going.
9) Between The Buried and Me (re-entry)
“Famine Wolf” is awesome, but how much hype is really coming in for this now past the band’s faithful following? We’ll have a better idea once the album lands next month.
10) The Darkness (re-entry)
Press may be relatively quiet about Last of Our Kind, but that didn’t stop it from selling almost 5,000 copies this week. They’re unlikely to have another “I Believe In A Thing Called Love,” but the eternally over-the-top band has retained a dedicated following.
11) Slipknot (from 8)
Let’s not forget that they’re hitting the road with Lamb of God shortly, and also that the “Killpop” video is pretty damn cool.
12) Armored Saint (debut)
John Bush and Co. have made a solid return here, though it’s one that the metal faithful mainly are aware of. Sometimes, it’s OK to preach to the choir.
13) KEN Mode (debut)
One of the more controversial releases this week, KEN Mode goes full Jesus Lizard on this album – but thankfully, it’s a damn good record. It’ll be interesting to see if it blows the band up to bigger things.
14) Valkyrie (debut)
They’re on the cover of CMJ this week, and they’re also playing both Death To False Metal and Gwar-BQ in August. Hard to classify this as a Baroness side project anymore!
15) Secrets of the Sky (debut)
It feels like the hype around this band just keeps rolling, and in a very intriguing, organic way too. Good festival bookings, solid press, strong word of mouth that’s only grown since their album landed. Watch this space.
