Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
As you may have/hopefully noticed, we were unable to deliver Metal By Numbers to you last week. The only thing we missed were a few new releases, such as Times Of Grace (the new project from Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and ex KSE singer Jesse Leach). Nothing much has changed since then, with no new metal/hard rock releases charting in the top 200 this week, and sales are still in the dumps. Actually, it’s considerably worse than that…
If you recall, Cake’s Showroom Of Compassion sold above 44,000 copies in its first week, making it the worst sales week in chart history. Well, this week’s top seller, Amos Lee’s Mission Bell, has sold just a little more than 40,000. That’s right, we now have a new record breaker for worst sales week in chart history! This is especially sad considering it only took two weeks for another artist to break this record. It also doesn’t help that last week’s chart topping artist The Decemberists made a majority of its sales through selling their new album for just $3.99 at Amazon. The joy of getting their first #1 didn’t last, seeing that The Decemberists took a 69% decrease after the price went back up to $7.99. HitsDailyDouble.com is already predicting that Christian hard rock act Red will take the #1 with 45,000-50,000 sales next week. Calling that a slight improvement is the sad truth.
Notable Debuts:
Architects (UK), The Here and Now (Century Media) 880 sold
They may be doing really well over in the U.K., but not so well over here.
Ekotren, The Dead of Night (Burnhill Union) 340 sold
Proof that sounding like Five Finger Death Punch doesn’t guarantee chart success.
Notable Sales:
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #23, 16,700 sold
Mr. Rock has sold just under 715,000 copies of his latest album in eleven weeks. He may have lost his hard rock roots to become borderline country, but he’s currently doing way better than a majority of the hard rock bands that are mentioned in this column. Way better! Don’t believe us? Take a look at Linkin Park right below.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #53, 8,800 sold
In comparison, Linkin Park has sold just under 655,000 of their latest album in twenty weeks. Still better than most bands, but also a considerable blow for the one time shining stars of rap-metal.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #107, 4,650 sold
They’re certainly going to be doing a lot of touring behind this album.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #111, 4,460 sold
Despite a large slip down the charts, sales are slightly increasing. Could this be thanks in part to the Nightmare After Christmas tour?
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #112, 4,420 sold
We’ve probably made this corny joke far too many times, but seeing as how FFDP’s sales have been so steady after 71 weeks, could war actually be the answer to good sales? Not for Ekotron apparently.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #130, 3,900 sold
Looks like we’re not the only ones who barely remembered that they had a new album out. Their last album was a hit, pure and simple. This one might stick around, but it’s not taking off like the last one did.
Times of Grace, The Hymn of a Broken Man (Roadrunner) #145, 3,400 sold
The debut album from Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach’s new project actually debuted last week at #44, selling 10,000 copies. The good news is that at least Killswitch Engage fans bought the new album in its first week despite the leak. But their second week looks a lot worse, with sales decreasing by 66% and slipping down the charts by 111 spots. Ouch!
Stone Sour, Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner) #180, 2,600 sold
Only a slight boost from the Nightmare After Christmas tour can be seen so far.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #189, 2,430 sold
Maybe Vince Neil is the one buying so many copies of this unnecessary hits package. He will need something to keep him occupied while in jail and under house arrest.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 1,500 sold
Though they experience a 34% decrease this week, last week Metal By Number veterans We Came As Romans experienced a big increase in sales, going from selling around 900 copies to this.
Asking Alexandria, Stand up and Scream (Sumerian) 1,130 sold
Feels so weird not having their other release mentioned right below this one.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 1,020 sold
We’d like to say that at least The Damned Things are the top selling hard rock/metal supergroup this week, but technically Times Of Grace counts as a supergroup, right?
Asking Alexandria, Life Gone Wild EP (Sumerian) 760 sold
A 27% decrease for Asking Alexandria’s other chart appearance.
Electric Wizard, Black Masses (Metal Blade) 670 sold
Just like with Times Of Grace, this release also made its debut last week. After selling around 1,150 copies in their first week, Electric Wizard experience a 41% decrease.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 650 sold
Would Volbeat’s sales improve if they did a little more touring in the States?
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 560 sold
So….anyone want to explain their appeal? Anyone?
A Bullet For Pretty Boy, Revision Revise, (Artery) 530 sold
No idea what’s the cause for their sudden return to the charts. All we know is that they will be playing on the least attractive night of this year’s New England Metal & Hardcore Festival.
Oceano, Contagion (Earache) 430 sold
These guys will also be playing at the New England Metal & Hardcore Festival, but on the last day of it. Hope their set time isn’t at or around the same time as The Ocean’s. That might cause for some major confusion, and potentially annoyed fans.
Stratovarius, Elysium (Armoury/Fontana) 420 sold
Another debut from last week. Though they’ve experienced a 42% decrease after selling 730 copies in their first week, it’s still considerably good news for a band whose been through a lot these past few months.
Decoder, Decoder (Rise) 360 sold
Similar results as Stratovarius for another release that debuted last week……
Ghost, Opus Eponymous (Metal Blade)
…as well as for this release……look at all the new releases we missed last week!
