Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week
Thought last week was a bleak time in chart history? Well we do have new releases from two metal/hard rock groups. However, we’re also witnessing the worst sales week in chart history. How bad you ask? The #1 album this week comes from Cake’s new album Showroom Of Compassion, which sold (drum roll please)…slightly above 44,000 copies. Must we explain further? Okay, we will. There were probably more actual cakes sold this week? Making this news even harder is that the next couple of weeks don’t look too promising either. BTW, bonus points if you got the Marilyn Manson reference in the title.
Notable Debuts:
Sodom, In War and Pieces (Steamhammer/SPV) 700 sold
The German thrash legends’ first album in three years has been available in Europe since November of 2010, but finally makes its way to the States.
Monsters, Monsters (False Prophet) 290 sold
This may be the lowest amount of sales that Metal Insider has ever reported in this column!
Notable Sales:
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #16, 18,480 sold
Happy (late) birthday Kid Rock! Our gift to you? You’re still the top selling “hard rock” act.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #47, 7,740 sold
Just when you thought the former rap kings might see a shift in sales, they drop back down the charts with a 30% decrease.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network Movie Soundtrack (The Null Corporation) #70, 5,700 sold
After ten weeks and a Golden Globe win, this soundtrack makes its return to the charts.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #76, 5,300 sold
So did their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! last week and cameo-filled video will help sales? Eh, not really.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #87, 4,666 sold
Bad news: sales for Disturbed are starting to slip. Cool news: they have the number 666 in the amount they sold this week! Ok, so that doesn’t really make up for the whole losing sales thing.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #79, 4,560 sold
This week, A7X fold drops 10 spots down the charts, though their upcoming Nightmare After Christmas tour, which starts tomorrow, will hopefully give their sales a spike.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #90, 4,530 sold
Only a slight decrease in sales, but FFDP somehow jumped up the charts by ten spots.
All That Remains For We Are Many (Prosthetic/Razor & Tie) #159, 2,450 sold
Unlike last week, no drastic changes in sales and chart position this week for All That Remains.
Alter Bridge, AB III (Alter Bridge Recordings/Capitol) #165, 2,330 sold
What would you rather see: Kennedy stay with Alter Bridge or join Velvet Revolver? Keep in mind, though, that one move will more likely enhance the chances of Creed returning. Choose wisely!
Godsmack, Oracle (Universal) #167, 2,300 sold
Though Sully and co. only experience a 20% decrease, it’s still one of their largest dips in sales.
Stone Sour, Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner) #175, 2,220 sold
Who needs a boost from the Nightmare After Christmas tour more that A7X? These guys!
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #188, 2,100 sold
We thought we wouldn’t have to ask this question ever again, but somehow the Motley Crue hits package no one needed has returned after a ten week absence. Thus, we must ask again: WHO KEEPS BUYING THIS ALBUM?!
Asking Alexandria, Life Gone Wild EP (Sumerian) 1,230 sold
Once again, they have two albums appearing on the charts back to back. Only difference is that…
Asking Alexandria, Stand up and Scream (Sumerian) 1,220 sold
This time the EP sold more than this release.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 1,190 sold
Let’s test something out: Name each member and their original band that’s in this supergroup (no cheating!). By now, you’d think that’s an easy question, but looking at how low this album is selling…maybe it isn’t?
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 900 sold
After being hospitalized with bacterial meningitis, We Came As Romans guitarist’s condition is improving.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 750 sold
Right around the same amount they sold last week.
Pierce the Veil, Selfish Machines (Equal Vision) 500 sold
Since no one will admit to buying this album, has anyone at least heard a song from these guys?
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 500 sold
They may be on tour with We Came As Romans, but certainly aren’t even close to them in overall sales.
Oceano, Contagion (Earache) 440 sold
A 15% increase isn’t much, but still welcoming news for any band nowadays.
Avantasia, Angel Of Babylon (Nuclear Blast) 440 sold
Though Tobias Sammet’s metal opera project released two albums last Spring, it’s the third and final album of Avantasia’s Scarecrow trilogy that makes an out of the blue return to the charts.
OFF!, The First Four EPs (Vice) 380 sold
Only a slight slip in sales this week for the punk/hardcore supergroup.
Agalloch, Marrow of the Spirit (Profound Lore) 380 sold
Though they experience a 35% decrease, Agalloch is proof that the NPR can even help out metal.
After the Burial, In Dreams (Sumerian) 360 sold
They may be confirmed for this year’s California Metalfest, but a 29% decrease sees After The Burial closer to being fully buried.
Kylesa, Spiral Shadow (Season Of Mist) 340 sold
A 26% for these sludge stand outs.
