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. This week, Marilyn Manson, riding critical and commercial buzz, sits atop the chart, but Faith No More’s tour announcement came from out of nowhere *cough* to threaten him.
1) Marilyn Manson (last week 2)
Manson’s in the midst of a sold out tour, and Pale Emperor’s album sales matches what he got all the way back in 2009. More importantly, people seem to actually like the album.
2) Faith No More (last week 5)
The band announced their first substantial tour in 16 years, which sold out immediately. Meanwhile, they’ve got another single coming, and promising more tour dates to come.
3) Slipknot (no change)
A big tour announcement with Lamb of God kinda fires a shot at the Mayhem Festival. With two of the biggest bands in metal on tour this summer, those guys are going to have to come up with something pretty substantial.
4) Periphery (last week 1)
With the Juggernaut albums in store this week, we have a feeling that this is going to return to the top next week, or at least come close.
5) Megadeth (re-entry)
Whaddya mean people care about members other than me? With a March 2 date to return to the studio, we’ll probably find out who’s on board for Megadeth in February.
6) AC/DC (last week 4)
This is still continuing to sell pretty consistently, and next week’s performance on the Grammys should be interesting – especially when we find out who’s going to be behind the drum kit.
7) Napalm Death (debut)
It’s only January, but Apex Predator – Easy Meat is likely going to be topping some year-end lists. In the meantime, the tour that kicked off this week is a huge one, and Barney Greenway writing the president of Indonesia is giving the band a boost outside of metal.
8) Machine Head (last week 9)
Machine Head going it alone for their tour seemed a little ballsy when it was announced, but it appears to have paid off for them.
9) Zakk Wylde (debut)
People leave guitar companies for other endorsements all the time, but it’s not that often that they leave to start their own companies. Hard to imagine Zakk without a Gibson and Marshall, but easier when you think of Wylde Audio.
10) Slayer (no change)
I mean, it’s Slayer. They have an album coming out sometime this year, presumably. Pretty much guaranteed entry in the top ten until the album comes out.
11) Five Finger Death Punch (last week 12)
Another album this year. And the last two (especially the first) keep selling.
12) Asking Alexandria (last week 13)
Who’s singing for them? We’ll find out soon enough, but probably not Protest the Hero’s Rody Walker.
13) Geezer Butler (debut)
Well, that’s one way to make the news. Getting in a bar fight doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to make the power rankings though.
14) Metallica (last week 7)
They need to finish up their album to stay on this before they run out of fuel -GIMMEFIAHGIMMETHATWHICHIDESIAHHOOOHYEAAHHAHAHA
15) Limp Bizkit
Wes Borland might not be too happy about Limp Bizkit playing ShipRocked, but he has a damn good sense of humor about it. We actually spoke to him about it and the interview is coming next week.
dropping off: The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Liturgy, Pallbearer, Mastodon
