Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top sellers 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.
A very slow week for metal debuts. In fact, with the exception of Aiden, who debut at #95 selling about 5,000 copies of their latest, Big Business have the only other metal debut, selling about 750 copies of Mind the Drift. Got to give Green Day some credit though – the 215,000 copies of 21st Century Breakdown they moved was more than three times the #2 album, and that’s only on four days of sales, since the album was released on a Friday. Hatebreed takes #1 at FMQB, while the mighty Clutch is most-added at metal radio.
Notable Debuts:
Aiden, Knives (Victory) #95, 5,000 sold
The emo/metalish band’s fourth studio album sold a respectable 5,000, so there won’t be any tear and mascara-stained faces in their camp.
Big Business, Mind the Drift (Hydra Head) 750 copies sold
Half of the Melvins have the only other metal debut that we can see on the charts this week.
Notable Sales:
Hollywood Undead, Swan Songs (Octone) #44, 10,250 sold
Yeah, we still count them as metal because of a) the rap-rock sound that’s a big influence for them and b) the “Crazy Train” sample on “Undead,” their surprisingly still popular first single.
The Devil Wears Prada, With Roots Above and Branches Below (Ferret) #51, 9,400 sold
While they take a pretty steep 70% drop, the band’s already sold over 40,000 in two weeks. In other news, check out my new band, He’s Just Not That Into You.
Kid Rock, Rock N’ Roll Jesus (Atlantic) #68, 7,000 sold
By the end of the summer, this album will be triple platinum, which is like selling 10 million five years ago.
Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino) #80, 6,200 sold
This will have sold 50,000 by this time next week. Watch this space for a rad Heaven & Hell contest.
Lacuna Coil, Shallow Life (Century Media) #91, 5,100 sold
Cristina Scabbia and the other guys in her band have sold 40,000 so far.
Disturbed, Indestructable (Reprise) #98, 5,000 sold
A long time ago, I promised Metal Insider readers that I wouldn’t write about Disturbed until the album went platinum. 50 weeks after it came out, the album’s crossed the 1 million sold mark.
Metallica, Death Magnetic (Warner Bros.) #100, 4,800 sold
The only band on this chart to have their own Guitar Hero game.
Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner), #113, 4,400 sold.
Next week, this album will have sold 775,000, or three-quarters platinum.
Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise) #118, 4,200 sold
The band’s still selling consistently, even though their tour is finished. Must be the good buzz over the album, which is still dominating metal radio.
Hatebreed, For The Lions (E1) #132, 3,600 sold
They will be heard…
Isis, Wavering Radiant (Ipecac) #164, 3,000 sold
Not a bad second week dropoff for Isis, who have sold 9,500
Lamb of God, Wrath (Epic) #168, 3,000 sold
Three months in, LoG’s still moving 3,000 copies a week. Not bad at all.
AC/DC, Black Ice (Columbia) #181, 2,800 sold
Another 2,800 Wal Mart imbulse buyers jumped on the Rock N’ Roll Train this week.
All That Remains, Overcome (Prosthetic) #186, 2,700 sold
At about 160,000 sold, this is a solid artist development story.
Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret) #189, 2,700 sold
27,000 infected and counting…
Bring Me The Horizon, Suicide Season (Epitaph) 1,100 sold
It’s already been broughten!
Psychostick, Sandwich (Rock Ridge) 800 sold
“Beer” and “Sandwich” sounds like a good way to spend an afternoon, but they’re just two of the songs on this band’s album.
Oceano, Depths (Earache) 666 sold
There’s really nothing more to say!
Impending Doom, Serpent Servant (Facedown) 600 sold
They’ve sold 10,000 so far. Did I mention that He’s Just Not That Into You is a Christian band?
Kylesa, Static Tensions (Prosthetic) 500 sold
Their tour with Mastodon undoubtedly helped the 20 percent increase this week.
Earth Crisis, To the Death (Century Media) 500 sold
An ok second week for the reunited band.
Seventh Void, Heaven is Gone (Big Vin) 500 sold
Vinnie Paul’s label + half of Type O Negative = successful side project.
God Forbid, Earthsblood (Century Media) 500 copies sold
They’re still bringing it live, even without Dallas.
FMQB Most Added
1. Clutch, “Unstoppable Watts” sampler (Weathermaker Music)
2. Stratovarious, Polaris (Eagle Rock)
3. Susperia, Attitude (Candlelight)
4. Blood Tsunami, Grand Feast For Vultures (Candlelight)
5. Minsk, With Echoes in the Movement of Stone (Relapse)
FMQB Top Ten Albums
1. Hatebreed, For The Lions (E1)
2. Chimaira, The Infection (Ferret Music)
3. Heaven & Hell, The Devil You Know (Rhino)
4. Mastodon, Crack the Skye (Reprise)
5. Daath, The Concealers (Century Media)
6. Seventh Void, Heaven is Gone (Big Vin)
7. Lamb of God, Wrath (Epic)
8. Static-X, Cult of Static (Reprise)
9. Oceano, Depths (Earache)
10. Volbeat, Guitar Gangsters, and Cadillac Blood (Mascot)
