Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week.

Would you believe that one of the greater challenges of writing this column is coming up with a witty, punny title? Bram Teitelman was (still is) a master at the craft, and ever since I took over the column I’ve tried to follow his act. But sometimes I ended up with a headscratcher. For example, I stared at the computer this morning, mug of tea clutched in my hands, wondering how the hell can I make a pun out of 12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides and Rarities. Maybe not the most important use of my time, but I’m happy with the result.
There are 19 debuts this week, and as we close in on the end of the year we’re going to start seeing big numbers from the last of the noteworthy releases of 2018 before we enter the quiet period of record sales from the end of December through most of January.
 
Notable Debuts:
 
Chevelle, 12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides and Rarities (Epic)
Debut #27
5,400 sold
 
This contains various material from the band spanning 2003-2016.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fight The Fury, Still Breathing (Atlantic Records)
Debut #30
4,700 sold
 
This is the debut EP from  vocalist John Cooper’s (Skillet) side project.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Haken, Vector (InsideOut)
Debut #71
1,950 sold
 
The band’s fourth album is their highest charting yet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Daughters, You Won’t Get What You Want (Ipecac)
Debut #97
1,450 sold
 
This is the band’s first album in 8 years.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Westfield Massacre, Salvation (Nerve Strike)
Debut #101
1,400 sold
 
This is the band’s second album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Browning, Geist (Spinefarm)
Debut #106
1,350 sold
 
This the band’s fourth studio album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hate Eternal, Upon Desolate Sounds (Season Of Mist)
Debut #127
1,125 sold
 
This is the band’s highest charting album yet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bloodbath, The Arrow Of Satan Is Drawn (Peaceville)
Debut #167
860 sold
 
This is the first album to feature Joakim Karlsson on guitar.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unleashed, The Hunt For White Christ (Napalm)
580 sold
 
This is the the band’s thirteenth studio album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sirenia, Arcane Astral Aeons (Napalm)
580 sold
 
This is the band’s ninth album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Devour The Day, Signals (Razor & Tie)
560 sold
 
This is the band’s third album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fifth Angel, The Third Secret (Nuclear Blast)
410 sold
 
This is the band’s third album and first since 1989.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cryptopsy, The Book Of Suffering – Tome II (Self-Released)
380 sold
 
This is a follow up to the 2015 EP Tome I.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bodysnatcher, Death of Me (Stay Sick)
280 sold
 
This is the band’s debut album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Into Eternity, The Sirens (M-Theory Audio)
240 sold
 
This is the band’s sixth album and first in ten years.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Striker, Play to Win (Record Breaking)
210 sold
 
This is the band’s sixth album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Warrel Dane, Shadow Work (Century Media)
190 sold

This may pick up more numbers when the physical release happens this Friday.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Skull Fist, Way Of The Road (Napalm)
180 sold
 
This is the band’s third album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Black Tongue, Nadir (Self-Released)
170 sold
 
This is the band’s third album.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Notable Sales:

Disturbed, Evolution(Warner Bros.)
#4 (from 2)
21,600 sold
 
This dropped by 67%, but it’s still in the top 5 in week two.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Greta Van Fleet, Anthem of the Peaceful Army (Lava/Republic)
#9 (from 1)
14,825 sold
 
An 82% second week drop, but it’s still in the top 10.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody (Hollywood)
#17 (from 11)
8,375 sold
 
Only a 37% drop in week two.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ace Frehley, Spaceman (eOne)
#48 (from 9)
2,975 sold
 
A 77% drop in week two.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Greta Van Fleet, From the Fires EP (Lava)
#51 (from 29)
2,740 sold

A 36% drop, but I think the band’s doing just fine.

 

 

 

 

Ice Nine Kills, The Silver Scream (Fearless)
#74 (from 97)
1,925 sold
 
A boost of 64% is killer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Godsmack, Icon (Republic)
#116 (from 89)
1,200 sold

A 9% drop.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Shinedown, Attention Attention (Atlantic)
#119 (from 78)
1,175 sold

An 18% drop.

 

 

 

 

Five Finger Death Punch, And Justice For None (Prospect Park)
#121 (from 85)
1,550 sold

A 15% drop.

 

 

 

 

Soulfly, Ritual (Nuclear Blast)
#147 (from 34)
980 sold
 
A 73% drop in week two.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Alice In Chains, Rainier Fog (BMG)
#151 (from 117)
930 sold

A 14% drop with over 150,000 sold.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Five Finger Death Punch, A Decade Of Destruction(Prospect Park)
#153 (from 115)
930 sold

A 16% drop with just under 160,000 sold.

 

 

 

 

Godsmack, When Legends Rise (BMG)
#162 (from 148)
880 sold

A 5% drop.

 

 

 

 

 

Coheed And Cambria, Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures (Roadrunner)
#162 (from 54)
880 sold
 
A 59% drop is unheavenly indeed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, Living The Dream (Snakepit)
#169 (from 110)
840 sold
 
A 26% drop.

 

 

 

 

Behemoth, I Loved You At Your Darkest (Metal Blade)
#174 (from 126)
810 sold
 
A 22% drop.

 

 

 

 

High On Fire, Electric Messiah (eOne)
#176 (from 164)
780 sold
 
A 3% drop. Also, have you seen Matt Pike’s partially amputated toe?

 

 

 
 
 

Ghost, Prequelle (Loma Vista)
#180 (from 141)
770 sold

A 21% drop.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Clutch, Book of Bad Decisions (Weathermaker Music)
#184 (from 144)
760 sold
 
A 21% drop is a bad decision.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amaranthe, Helix (Spinefarm)
#192 (from 53)
730 sold
 
A 68% drop in week two.

 

 
 
 
 
Beartooth, Disease(Red Bull)
#197 (from 128)
720 sold
 
A 29% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Wasteland (Rise Above)
490 sold
 
A 38% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tom Morello, The Atlas Underground (Mom + Pop Music)
360 sold
 
An 52% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Windhand, Eternal Return (Relapse)
240 sold

A 44% drop.

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond Creation, Algorythm (Season Of Mist)
240 sold
 
A 22% drop.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Deicide, Overtures Of Blasphemy(Century Media)
190 sold

A 14% drop.

 

 

 

 

 

All Them Witches, ATW (New West)
170 sold

A 10% drop.