Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
The holiday shopping season is in full effect, as many of the artists on the chart have a nice uptick in sales. Whether it’s online shopping or people actually doing it the old fashioned way and going to a store, the retail season is in full swing. When AC/DC can sell nearly 100,000 copies in its second week ,that’s a sign of health for sure.
Notable Debuts:
Emigrate, Silent So Long (Spinefarm) 1,000 sold
Not a bad first week for the side project of Rammstein guitarist. It’s also pretty much the only debut of the week for anything heavy.
Lynch Mob, Sun Red Sun (Ratpak) Debut #115, 5,000 sold
This is an extremely impressive debut for the former Dokken guitarist. The EP is their second in as many years. They haven’t recorded a full length album since 2009.
Dir en Grey, Arche (Indie Recordings) 475 sold
Not sure if this is out in America, but the band’s ninth album sold 475 copies regardless.
Cretin, Stranger (Relapse) 320 sold
This is only the band’s second full length album in 22 years. If you’re not familiar with the changes that took place in the death/grind band in between albums, it’s worth reading about.
Notable Sales:
AC/DC, Rock or Bust (Columbia) #5, 93,500 sold
A second week drop of 43% isn’t that bad at all, and given that it’s still in the top five, that’s definitely solid. While their last album went platinum in two weeks, this one will at least be gold before too long.
Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways (RCA) #21, 25,600 sold
With the HBO series Sonic Highways over, all they have now is the album, which falls a bit in it’s fifth week.
Slipknot, .5: The Grey Chapter (Roadrunner) #71, 9,200 sold
Blame Christmas music. While falling 14 chart slots from last week, the album actually sold 7% more.
In This Moment, Black Widow (Atlantic) #98, 6,100 sold
10% less people bought this album than last week.
Black Veil Brides, Black Veil Brides (Republic) #160, 3,600 sold
The last week of their tour with Falling In Reverse combined with the holiday rush might have accounted for the modest 4% increase in sales in week 7.
Godsmack, 1000hp (Universal Republic) #172, 3,400 sold
The band that takes their name from an Alice In Chains song is hanging in around the same place it was last week.
Five Finger Death Punch, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 (Prospect Park) #193, 2,900 sold
This will cross the 450,000 sold barrier next week, which is bonkers considering that Vol. 2 isn’t all that far behind.
21st Century Goliath, Back With A Vengeance (Self-Released) 700 sold
This self-released band has sold 2,200 copies of their sophomore album in two weeks.
Fugazi, First Demo (Dischord) 675 sold
This sold more than it did in its second week than it did last week. And a hell of a lot more than it did when it was a cassette demo.
Amaranthe, Massive Addictive (Spinefarm) 600 sold
This could cross 10,000 sold by year’s end.
Antemasque, Antemasque (Nadie Sound) 400 sold
This had an impressive 26% increase.
Bloodbath, Grand Morbid Funeral (Peaceville) 420 sold
Crossing the 3,000 sold barrier in its fourth week.
Texas Hippie Coalition, Ride On (10 Spot) 375 sold
It’s pretty impressive that these guys keep selling records every week despite not being a household name outside of their home state just yet.
Rival Sons, Great Western Valkyrie (Earache) 340 sold
Not only did this jump back on the charts last week after a Scott Ian endorsement, but it had a 10% increase over last week.
Crobot, Something Supernatural (Wind-Up) 320 sold
An impressive 46% increase in sales causes the Pennsylvania band to jump back on the chart this week.
King 810, Memoirs of a Murderer (Roadrunner) 300 sold
As the band’s tour with Slipknot and Korn dies down, this drops 33% this week.
Rings of Saturn, Lugan Ki En (Unique Leader) 280 sold
This sells roughly the same as it did last year.
