Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Let’s get this out of the way: Yes, Linkin Park doesn’t fit in with the “metal category” so well, and their more recent releases have seen the band separate themselves even further from their rap/rock origins. Even we aren’t fans of what we’ve heard off the new album so far. However, it doesn’t change the fact that Linkin Park’s fourth album A Thousand Suns is not only the best selling rock release, but also the top selling album this week. Sure, we’ve seen bands like Disturbed and Avenged Sevenfold reach number one on the charts this past Summer, but Linkin Park has sold over 200,000 copies in their debut week, an amazing feat for any rock act to reach in this day in age. So dis on them all you want, but I don’t think Linkin Park could give a crap. They probably laugh and roll around in piles of money. It looks like they’ve even given up trying to make album covers. In addition, this week also saw a lot of awesome metal releases, five of whom made it into the top 200.
Notable Debuts:
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #1, 241,000
A Thousand Suns’ first week sales are nothing to take lightly. However, when you realize that their previous album Minutes To Midnight sold 625,000 copies in 2007, it makes you depressed at how bad albums sales are lately.
Sully Erna, Avalon (Republic) #24, 13,900
Might’ve not reached the same chart success of his other band, but Sully’s debut solo record is off to a very strong start. Also, he should be congratulated for finally doing something (a solo album) that Layne Staley didn’t do first.
Kamelot, Poetry for the Poisoned (Kamelot Media Group) #72, 6,100 sold
This is an extremely impressive first week for the power metallers, especially considering that the band hasn’t toured behind the album yet due to illness.
Pantera, Cowboys from Hell [Reissue] (Rhino) #117, 4,200 sold
According to the band’s Facebook page, the original release of Cowboys From Hell also debuted at #117. Freaky, eh?
Accept, Blood of the Nations (Nuclear Blast) #170, 2,900 sold
Accept’s first new album in fourteen years, and first with new singer Mark Tornillo, has their best first week on the charts since 1989’s Eat The Heat.
Death Angel, Relentless Retribution (Nuclear Blast) #188, 2,700 sold
The thrash legend’s first album with new members Will Carroll and Damien Sissom makes a strong debut in the top 200 as well.
Terror, Keepers of the Faith (Century Media) 2,400 sold
Very good first week for the hardcore giants. Their upcoming tour with The Acacia Strain and The Red Chord should further help as well.
Lordi, Babez for Breakfast (The End) 1,000 sold
Not bad for the strangest Eurovision winner ever.
The Absence, Enemy Unbound (Metal Blade) 800 sold
These guys will be opening for Firewind and Powerglove on their upcoming four date tour.
Flotsam and Jetsam, The Cold (Driven Music Group) 600 sold
The old-school Phoenix thrashers’ newest album is actually be released by ex-Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch’s label.
Valient Thorr, Stranger (Volcom) 480 sold
I got to see these guys at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival this past April. As I pretty much summed up in my review, so bizarre yet so awesome!
Beneath the Massacre, Marée Noire [EP] (Prosthetic) 430 sold
Small, but decent first week for the Canadian death metal band’s new EP.
Notable Sales:
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #11, 31,500 sold.
Last week, the band posted a video online thanking fans for helping make Asylum debut at #1. And it appears that the fans are still helping the band as the album remains in the top 15 in its third week.
Stone Sour, Audio Secrecy (Roadrunner) #19, 15,800 sold.
A 66% decrease in their second week sees Stone Sour remain in the top 20.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #30, 11,900 sold
After eight weeks, the band remains in the top 30, with only a 16% decrease from last week.
Iron Maiden, The Final Frontier (UMe) #86, 5,300 sold
A 31% decrease sees Maiden fall 41 spots down the charts, but they’ve still sold over 100,ooo.
Godsmack, Oracle (Universal) #87, 5,300 sold
Godsmack fall seventeen chart positions, even though they only experience a 1% decrease from last week.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #89, 5,200 sold
So apparently my comments regarding FFDP ranking higher than Godsmack last week caused a bit of a debate amongst people in the comment section. And in reaction to those comments, I say this: Justin Bieber is a legend damn it! 😉
10 Years, Feeding the Wolves (Universal) #123, 3,800 sold
10 Years falls 67 positions behind in their third week.
AC/DC, AC/DC: Iron Man 2 (Columbia) #134, 3,500 sold
I’m sure I’ve already proposed this question before, but I’ll ask again: is there an AC/DC hit you feel is missing from this package?
Ozzy Osbourne, Scream (Epic) #148, 3,200 sold
Did Slash let it slip that he might be touring with Ozzy this winter?
Papa Roach, Time for Annihilation…On the Road and On the Record (Eleven Seven) #155, 3,000 sold
Papa Roach falls down the charts by 83 spots. That makes 10 Years’ decrease look like good news.
Apocalyptica, 7th Symphony (Jive) #166, 2,900 sold
You still have time to enter for the chance to win an Apocalyptica prize pack from Metal Insider! Who loves you guys?
Hellyeah, Stampede (Epic) #168, 2,900 sold
Have you gotten your hell yeah on and bought Stampede for just $5 on Amazon yet? Any recommendations on how I can make that question sound more white trashy?
The Devil Wears Prada, Zombie EP (Ferret) #172, 2,800 sold
The band has just announced who won their “Zombiefied iPad Contest.”
Black Label Society, Order of the Black (E1) #175, 2,800 sold
It looks like BLS has already starting campaigning for an a slot on Mayhem Fest 2011.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #177, 2,800 sold
Even though the band fell 35 spots down the charts, it still doesn’t answer the important question: Who is still buying this hits package and why?!
Korn, Korn III: Remember Who You Are (Roadrunner) #187, 2,700 sold
It appears that Korn will be performing a free show in El Paso, Texas on October 30.
Bullet For My Valentine, Fever (Jive) #200, 2,500 sold
Just made it into the top 200. This might be the last week for Bullet For My Valentine. Thanks for the memories, Crab Girl.
Blind Guardian, At the Edge of Time (Nuclear Blast) 1,200 sold
After four weeks, the German power metallers have sold just over 8,500 copies of their latest release.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 800 sold
After 45 weeks, We Came As Romans are still selling. Wow!
Kataklysm, Heaven’s Venom (Nuclear Blast) 670 sold
Yay webisodes! Here’s a new one from everyone’s favorite Canadian extreme metallers.
