Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
This week, something we haven’t seen in a long time has happened: a lot of metal/hard rock debuts to report on! In fact, out of the thirteen new releases that charted, five of them made it into the top 200 (four whom making it into the top 100). While some of these artists may be bordering the hard rock/radio rock line, and other groups are just simply not liked by metal purists, it’s nice to see some metal friendly acts selling a nice chunk of albums. And also good to see the Grammys actually translate into record sales, especially considering how awful the past weeks have been regarding album sales. Since there’s so much to cover, let’s just get straight to it, starting with this week’s highest new debut Emmure:
Notable Debuts:
Emmure, Speaker of the Dead (Victory) #65, 10,360 sold
This marks the deathcore group’s biggest selling album in their career (with 2009’s Felony ranking in at #60 but selling roughly around 8,000 copies). Whether singer Frank Palmeri still emulates Fred Durst is up to you to decide.
Rev Theory, Justice (Interscope), #71, 9,330 sold
Slightly below in sales compared to 2008’s Light It Up (which sold around 10,200 copies in its first week), but still an all in all impressive first week for these hard rockers.
Mogwai, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (Sub Pop) #88, 7,300 sold
An impressive debut week for the Scottish post-rock group’s first release through Sub-Pop Records. Major props as well for their honest album title.
A Skylit Drive, Identity on Fire (Fearless) #89, 7,270 sold
As impressive as their first week sales are, the post-hardcore group’s previous album, 2009’s Adelphia, ranked in 25 spots higher in its first week.
Stryper, Covering (Big 3/Sony) #151, 4,550
The Christian hair metallers’ cover album doesn’t have as strong of a debut as 2009’s Murder By Pride, but nonetheless still an impressive debut. Plus, we can’t help but find the irony of them covering “Heaven & Hell” funny. Wonder what side they’re on?
Deicide, To Hell With God (Century Media) 2,200 sold
A solid debut for one of the best selling death metal acts, but you have to believe that if anyone would be upset that Stryper outsold them, it would be these guys.
Close to Home, Never Back Down (Razor & Tie) 1,120 sold
A nice debut for Artery Recordings’ most recent signings.
Dr. Acula, Slander (Victory) 1,100 sold
Can’t really take this deathcore group seriously after seeing this, but were we ever suppose to take them seriously?
Death, The Sound of Perseverance [2CD Reissue] (Relapse) 980 sold
A solid first week for this reissue of a classic death metal album.
Sirenia, The Enigma of Life (Nuclear Blast) 730 sold
Fun fact of the day: the Norwegian goth metal band’s current singer Ailyn was the winnder of the Spanish version of the TV talent Show The X Factor. Thanks Chris for that bit of weird knowledge.
Korpiklaani, Ukon Wacka (Nuclear Blast) 630 sold
Korpiklaani earn themselves the title of “best selling folk metal release of the week.” Congrats!
The Famine, The Architects of Guilt (Solid State) 580 sold
Might not be the only Christian metal group this week on the charts, but still a decent first week, especially with this being their first album with bassist Nick Nowell taking over vocal duties.
Neuraxis, Asylon (Prosthetic) 515 sold
The Canadian technical death metallers just make it onto the charts.
Notable Sales:
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #33, 17,900 sold
First time that the American Badass has not been in the top 30.
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #52, 12,100 sold
In case you’re interested, Linkin Park is offering a free live EP for download on their website, just in case you didn’t want to shell out money for the live iTunes EP.
Red, Until We Have Faces (Essential) #60, 10,830 sold
The Christian hard rockers fall another 48 spots down the charts in their third week.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #121, 5,710 sold
After thirty weeks on the charts, A7X have sold just over 478,000 copies of their latest release. Maybe they’ll sell even more copies after their upcoming Spring tour?
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #124, 5,500 sold
Not much is going on in the world of FFDP, yet they’re still selling albums! In fact, they’ve sold just under 450,000 copies in 74 weeks.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #126, 5,490 sold
So which tour are you planning to see Disturbed at this year (if at all): Music As A Weapon V or Mayhem Fest?
Motörhead, The Wörld Is Yours (Mötorhead Music) #172, 3,900 sold
Lemmy and the gang experience a poor second week, falling 86 spots down the charts with a 44% decrease. Maybe their upcoming performance on NBC’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon next Wednesday (March 2) will help increase sales.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #176, 3,830 sold
These guys have sold just under 167,000 copies in fourteen weeks. Seeing how well ADTR has done, as well as the success of other label mates that charted this week, you have to applaud the work of Victory Records’ artist development division.
Godsmack, Oracle (Universal) #191, 3,180 sold
They’re back after being absent from last week’s charts…much to the chagrin of one Metal Insider…
Stone Sour, Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner) #194, 3,090
Not out of the top 200 yet, but seeing how sales are steadily decreasing, their exit from the charts is bound to happen soon. Guess it goes to show that even rumors swirling about your frontman joining an already established super group can’t help sales.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #197, 3,060 sold
We’ll let you read this and come up with your own comments for Mr. Vince Neil.
Asking Alexandria, Stand up and Scream (Sumerian) 1,500 sold
A slight increase for one of Asking Alexandria’s two releases featured on the charts.
Crowbar, Sever the Wicked Hand (eOne Music) 1,200 sold
A major 66% decrease for the sludge metal kings in their second week. Luckily, the upcoming Metalliance Tour with Helmet and Saint Vitus should help spike interest in the album.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 980 sold
In ten weeks, this album has sold just above 18,700 copies. Somewhat disappointing considering that this supergroup features members from Anthrax, Fall Out Boy and Every Time I Die amongst its ranks, don’t you think?
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 780 sold
Both Volbeat and The Damned Things’ albums may not be selling so well, but we’d sure as hell would want to catch them on their tour together!
OFF!, The First Four EPs (Vice) 750 sold
The only heavy act worth mentioning that playing at this year’s Coachella Festival experiences a big bump in sales.
Asking Alexandria, Life Gone Wild EP (Sumerian) 710 sold
If this release had feelings, we bet it feel like the uglier twin out of Asking Alexandria’s two releases on the charts.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 700 sold
Somehow, the Metal By Numbers staple experienced a major 50% decrease after weeks of sales spikes. Could their reign on the charts come to an end soon? Doubtful.
Chelsea Grin, Desolation Of Eden (Razor & Tie/Artery) 500 sold
Once again playing the disappearing/reappearing game, selling around the same as they did back during their last chart appearance (January 5).
Woe, Is Me, Number[s] (Velocity/Rise) 440 sold
An 8% decrease for the group that’s recorded two of the worst covers we’ve ever heard (find them yourselves, we can’t stand to listen to them again).
