We’ll be reviewing this week’s top selling metal releases in a bit. However, this week’s charts immediately proved one thing: which version of Queensryche fans prefer.
The self-titled album from Queensryche (featuring Michael Wilton, Eddie Jackson, Scott Rockenfield, Parker Lundgren and new singer Todd La Torre) debuted on the charts at #23, selling just under 13,500 copies. That’s roughly 8,000 copies more than what the Geoff Tate version’s album Frequency Unknown did in its first week back in April (premiering at #74). It also marks the highest chart ranking for any Queensryche album since 2006’s Operation: Mindcrime II (which came in at #14). Making this even more impressive is the fact that the album had plenty of competition among metal releases, with bands like August Burns Red and Amon Amarth among the few names that also released albums last week.
So why did the self-titled album outsell Frequency Unknown in its first week? One likely reason is because the album has been receiving high praise for sounding most like old-school Queensryche. That fact alone should leave a sour taste in Tate’s mouth (considering his former bandmates blamed him in legal documents for the last three Queensryche albums’ lackluster reception and sound). In other words, not even an “all-star lineup” could help Tate.
A court date to determine which party will be allowed to continue on as Queensryche is set for November 18 (unless they agree on a settlement before hand). While the better album sales may not lock in a winning verdict for either side, the sales does show which versions fans hope wins in court.
