Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week as well as what’s getting played at Metal radio courtesy of radio trade magazine FMQB, whose metal panel consists of about 80 college and commercial stations that have metal shows, as well as SiriusXM, Music Choice, and more.
It’s a slow week all around, but even more so for metal. Not counting Hollywood Undead and Chickenfoot, the only thing remotely metal in the top 100 is Otep, who are #100. Meanwhile, chart mainstays like Metallica and Slipknot dropped off this week, meaning they sold less that 2,500. Guess everyone was too busy going back to school to buy shit. Or something. Still, Oh Sleeper and Municipal Waste are the big debuters of the week. Shadows Fall are the most-played band at metal radio, and Hatebreed top the adds.
Notable Debuts:
Oh, Sleeper, Son of the Morning (Solid State) #120, 4,000 sold
Those Christians love their metalcore. The band’s second album has a pretty decent showing, and the biggest metal debut of the week.
Municipal Waste, Massive Aggressive (Earache) 2,100 sold
This is a great debut for the old-school thrash-sounding band. Good to see all of the hype translate into some sales.
Caliban, Say Hello To Tragedy (Century Media) 550 sold
Caliban is a protagonist in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. That’s a pretty fruity thing to name your band after.
Korpiklaani, Karkelo (Nuclear Blast) 450 sold
Pagans and pirate metal go together. Do pirate metal fans pirate pagan and pirate metal CDs?
Notable Sales:
Hollywood Undead, Swan Songs (Octone) #80, 6,700 sold
A 10% drop from last week. Is their reign coming to an end? Or is that just wishful thinking?
Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (Redline/Fontana) #81, 6,600 sold
Once again, Sammy Hagar can drive 55. In the speed lane with a blinker on.
Otep, Smash the Control Machine (Victory) #100, 5,300 sold
With less than a 50% drop and a solid 16,000 or sold in two weeks, Otep is having the last laugh at her previous labels, Koch and Capitol.
Emmure, Felony (Victory) #123, 3,800 sold
Almost 12,000 sold in two weeks. Looks like a hit.
Killswitch Engage, Killswitch Engage (Roadrunner) #129, 3,700 sold
Everyone loves Killswitch, and while this is selling slower than their last two, it’s still moving steadily.
Various Arists, Monster Ballads: The Ultiimate Set (Razor & Tie) #138 3,400 sold
Why does every cowboy sing a sad, sad song? They should be pretty happy, all things considered.
Various Artists, Monster Ballads: The Ultiimate Set (Razor & Tie) #109 4,100 sold
KISS, Cinderella, Damn Yankees, Firehouse. Yeah, I already have all of these songs. I’ve said too much.
Disturbed, Indestructable (Reprise) #183, 2,700 sold
Wow guys, someone keeps buying Disturbed records.
Winds of Plague, The Great Stone War (Century Media) #188, 2,600 sold
Is it wrong that we wish these guys were still wiggers, throwing down hip hop lyrics over deathcore? Way to become another generic deathcore band.
Behemoth, Evangelion (Metal Blade) #200, 2,500 sold
Another great sales week – three weeks in the top 200 is amazing for a black metal band.
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 850 sold
This is the slowest sales week they’ve had in a while. It still crossed 70,000 sold though. They’re one of the few bands on this chart that has sold this consistently for almost a year.
Attack Attack!, Someday Came Suddenly (Rise) 820 sold
Then again, this is another one. BMTH have sold more, but 50,000 in 42 weeks is impressive. Much more impressive than their music, actually.
Bury Your Dead, It’s Nothing Personal (Victory) 600 sold
Victory wins again. They’ve got a ton of metal bands that are selling on the chart.
Darkest Hour, Eternal Return (Victory) 600 sold
Over 13,000 sold in a little over two months.
Divine Heresy, Bringer of Plagues (Century Media) 500 sold
Former singer Tommy Vext has been bounced out of another band since leaving Divine Heresy. It’d be great if Fear Factory put aside their differences and got back together though.
Iwrestledabearonce, It’s All Happening (Century Media) 480 sold
This will likely cross the 15,000 sold barrier next week, which is pretty solid for such an undefinable band.
FMQB Most Added
1. Hatebreed, Sampler (E1)
2. Kittie, In the Black sampler (E1)
3. 3 Inches of Blood, Here Waits Thy Doom (Century Media)
4. Oh, Sleeper, Son of the Morning (Solid State)
5. Dirge Within, Force Fed Lies (E1)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. Shadows Fall “King of Nothing/Still I Rise” single (Everblack Industries/Ferret)
2. Killswitch Engage, Killswitch Engage (Roadrunner)
3. Slayer, “Hate Worldwide” single (Columbia/American)
4. Behemoth, Evangelion (Metal Blade)
5. GWAR, Lust In Space (Metal Blade)
6. Municipal Waste, Massive Aggressive (Earache)
7. Five Finger Death Punch, “Hard To See”/”Burn It Down” (Prospect Park)
8. August Burns Red, Constellations (Solid State)
9. Otep, Smash the Control Machine (Victory)
10. Arkaea, Years in the Darkness (E1 Entertainment)
