Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.
Another week, another #1 album that didn’t even sell 100,000 copies. It’s more or less the new normal these days. However, Mastodon move over 7,000 of their first live album, proving that they’re definitely a core band at metal now. There are a handful of other metal debuts this week, cementing the fact that headbangers are loyal to the genre.
Notable Debuts:
Mastodon, Live at the Aragon (Reprise) #70, 7,000 sold
The first live album from Mastodon is somewhat of a risky proposition, considering that Crack the Skye – performed in its entirety here – features the most clean singing the band’s done. How much you like it depends on how big a fan of Brent Hinds’ voice you are. The DVD looks great though.
As Blood Runs Black, Instinct (Mediaskare) #104, 4,630 sold
The SoCal death metal band’s second album has a really solid showing.
The New York Dolls, Dancing Backward In High Heels (429 Records) 2,080 sold
The New York Dolls might be one of the last original badass punk bands, but considering frontman David Johansen is also responsible for wedding and cruise ship staple “Hot Hot Hot,” maybe not so much.
Funeral for a Friend, Welcome Home Armageddon (Good Fight) 1,100 sold
The post-hardcore band has been on several labels in America and their last few albums weren’t even on American labels, but judging from these perfectly adequate first week sales figures, there’s still an audience for them.
Weedeater, Jason… The Dragon (Southern Lord) 1,000 sold
The band’s second album for Southern Lord has a solid first week. Looks like they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot on this one.
Trap Them, Darker Handcraft (Prosthetic) 900 sold
The band’s third album overall and first since signing to Prosthetic in 2009.
Across the Sun, Before the Night Takes Us (Metal Blade) 400 sold
Are there many other metal bands in Oregon? Are there any other metal bands in Oregon?
Notable Sales:
Kid Rock, Born Free (Atlantic) #31, 11,960 sold
820,000 copies in 4 1/2 months isn’t bad. To paraphrase the chorus of the title track of his breakout album, he’s goin’ platinum!
Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns (Warner Bros.) #64, 7,330 sold
This will go platinum too, eventually… It’s almost 100k behind Kid Rock.
Five Finger Death Punch, War is the Answer (Prospect Park) #97, 4,950 sold
When almost 5,000 people are buting an album that’s been out for nearly a year and a half, that can’t be seen as anything less than a total success.
Red, Until We Have Faces (Essential) #105, 4,590 sold
At least the band’s admitting they’re pretty much faceless.
Avenged Sevenfold, Nightmare (Warner Bros.) #110, 4,430 sold
Mike Portnoy leaving hasn’t had any effect on the band’s sales – next week, it’ll go gold.
Children Of Bodom, Relentless, Reckless Forever (Spinefarm) #114, 4,230 sold
The Finnish metallers’ latest release drops down the charts by 73 spots and with a 60% decrease in sales.
Disturbed, Asylum (Reprise) #129, 3,700 sold
This only sold 2% less than it did last week. It’s another album on the cusp of gold.
A Day To Remember, What Separates Me from You (Victory) #161, 2,850 sold
Despite the slight 3% decrease, the band jumped eleven spots up the charts in their 18th week.
Motley Crue, Greatest Hits (Motley Records) #182, 2,500 sold
This album’s nearly halfway to gold. And when you combine the Elektra, Beyond, and box set numbers, the band’s made more off their greatest hits albums than many bands will ever make.
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Social Network Movie Soundtrack (The Null Corporation) #187, 2,480 sold
Another 25% decrease for the Oscar winning soundtrack.
We Came As Romans, To Plant A Seed (Equal Vision) 1,170 sold
The MBN staples somehow experienced a whopping 95% increase. WHAT THE HELL?!
The Human Abstract, Digital Veil (eOne) 970 sold
A 70% decrease sees the band falling off the top 200.
I See Stars, The End Of The World Party (Sumerian) 670 sold
This is the only Metal By Numbers band on the chart this week that features Bizzy Bone from Bone Thugs ‘n Harmony on a song.
Rival Schools, Pedals (Photo Finish) 660 sold
Another release from last week experiencing a major dip in sales, this time with 73%.
Volbeat, Beyond Hell/Above Heaven (Universal) 650 sold
After seeing them play a sold-out headlining show yesterday, it’s hard to believe that these guys have sold so little and are flying under the radar in America for the most part.
Darkest Hour, The Human Romance (eOne Music) 640 sold
With another 34% decrease this week, it doesn’t look like the label change had a positive effect for the band. Good thing they’re such a good live band.
Asking Alexandria, Life Gone Wild EP (Sumerian) 620 sold
At last, a band that can appreciate the classics, as proven by their two Skid Row covers.
The Damned Things, Ironiclast (Island) 500 sold
Maybe their tour with Volbeat will help goose album sales, but then, seeing what Volbeat’s sold, maybe not. They’ve actually sold more than Volbeat.
Deicide, To Hell With God (Century Media) 480 sold
God’s least favorite group experiences a hefty 37% decrease in their fifth week on the charts.
OFF!, The First Four EPs (Vice) 500 sold
This is the gift that keeps on giving, the punk/hardcore supergroup have sold over 8,000 so far.
Pierce the Veil, Selfish Machines (Equal Vision) 450 sold
I don’t know anything about this band.
