Metal by Numbers 9/27: Foos, Nothing More, The Contortionist debut high

Posted by on September 28, 2017

There’s been some debate about whether or not we should include Foo Fighters in Metal by Numbers. Are they metal? No, and we’re pretty sure they’d be the first to tell you that. However, Dave Grohl was responsible for his solo project Probot, which featured everyone from Max Cavalera and Lee Dorrian to Wino and Lemmy. He also compared the latest Foo album, Concrete and Gold, to “Motorhead’s version of Sergeant Pepper.” So they get a pass. Also, this album debuted at #1 overall, which is impressive for a rock record to do these days. Also, you might notice Matt isn’t here this week. He went and got married, so we’re proud of him.

Notable Debuts: 

Foo Fighters, Concrete and Gold (RCA/Roswell)
Debut #1
120,000 sold

The 120,000 copies of Concrete and Gold the band sold were mostly pure album sales. It’s also about the least amount of albums they sold first week since 2002’s One by One.

 

 

Prophets of Rage, Prophets of Rage (Caroline)
Debut #4
20,ooo sold
The supergroup’s debut full length has a pretty solid debut, although it pales in comparison both sales-wise and aurally to Rage Against the Machine. 

 

 

Nothing More, The Stories We Tell Ourselves (Better Noise/Eleven Seven)
Debut#5
20,000 sold
This is a solid story of artist development. While Nothing More have only been on the national scene since their last album, this is actually their fifth. And Eleven Seven has done a great job of touring them a lot and building up excitement for this new one.

 

 

The Contortionist, Clairvoyant (eOne)
Debut #31
5,250 sold
Another great artist development story. The band have matured from a somewhat generic djent band to writing what’s their most mature and experimental album to date, and it paid off with their highest debut to date. 

 

Myrkur, Mareridt (Relapse)
Debut #67
2,600 sold
Amelie Brunn’s sophomore full length sells nearly 1,000 more than her debut did, suggesting that her tour with Behemoth and increased cred in the metal world helped this do better.

 

 

Josh Todd & the Conflict, Year of the Tiger (Century Media)
Debut #111
1,700 sold
The Buckcherry frontman’s solo debut has a respectable debut.

 

 

 

Ensiferum, Two Paths (Metal Blade)
Debut #160
1,170 sold
The melodic folk-metallers’ second album for Metal Blade sells about 800 less than 2015’s One Man Army.

 

 

Belphegor, Totenritual (Nuclear Blast)
Debut #171
1,100 sold
This is about what the Australian blackened death metal band’s last album sold back in 2014. 

 

 

Steelheart, Through Worlds of Stardust (Frontiers)
85o sold
This is the 90’s hair metal band’s fifth album, and first in nine years.

 

 

 

Fleshkiller, Awaken (Facedown)
700 sold

According to Wikipedia, Fleshkiller are from Norway and Indiana, which is a pretty oddly specific combination. This is their debut album.

 

 

 

Wolves in the Throne Room, Thrice Woven (Artemesia Records)
630 sold
This is the second release through the black metal band’s own label.

 

 

 

Caligula’s Horse, In Contact (InsideOut)
400 sold
The Australian prog-metaller’s fourth album has a pretty solid debut.

 

 

 

 

Dyscarnate, With All Their Might (Unique Leader)
200 sold
The UK death metal band have been around since 2004, and have a pretty solid debut.

 

 

 

Notable Sales:
 
 

metallicahardwiredMetallica, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (Blackened)
#7 (from 32)
13,000 sold

This is a massive increase in sales, catapulting them back into the top ten.

 

 

 

Queens Of The Stone Age, Villains (Matador Records)
#23 (from 21)
5,600 sold

A modest decrease finds it falling only two numbers lower than last week in week #3

 

 

Incubus, 8 (Island)
Re-entry#35
5,000 sold

This sold 240 copies last week. That’s a pretty massive increase, eh? 

 

 

Linkin Park, One More Light (Warner Bros.)
#62 (from 68)
2,500 sold

This is up a bit, perhaps because of the band’s planned tribute concert.

 

 

Arch Enemy, Will To Power (Century Media)
#88 (from 17) 
2.000 sold 
A second week drop of 70% still finds this in the top 100, which is pretty solid. It’s sold 9,000 copies so far.
 
 

 

Greta Van Fleet, Black Smoke Rising EP (Republic)
#116 (from 98)
1,550 sold

This sold about the same number of albums as Arcade Fire’s new one this week, which I find amusing for some reason.

 

 

 

Nickelback, Feed the Machine (BMG)
#120 (from 89)
1,500 sold
This is close to breaking 100,000 in sales. 2008’s Dark Horse sold 323,350 copies in it’s FIRST WEEK.
 
 
 
 
Living Colour, Shade (MRI)
#163 (from 41)
1,150 sold
 
This is down 69% from it’s debut week.
 
 

 

Stone SourHydrograd (Roadrunner)
#164 (from 149)
1,150 sold

This actually sells more than it did last week. Guess that new single is hitting the right people

 

 

 
 
Alter Bridge, Live At The O2 Arena + Rarities (Napalm Records)
#183 (from 36)
1,000 sold
 
It’s amazing that this is the band’s second live album. But probably their first rarities one.  

 

In This Moment, Ritual (Atlantic/Roadrunner Records)
#192 (from 170)
950 sold

Seems like this one’s about to drop out of the top 200 after three weeks. It’s already sole a pretty respectable 35,000 copies though.

 

Royal Blood, How Did We Get So Dark (Warner Bros.)
Re-entry #199
920 sold

The band re-enters the chart, which is probably a result of them winning over Queens of the Stone Age fans on their tour.

 

 

 

Dead Cross, Dead Cross (Ipecac Recordings)
500 sold
 
This will probably cross the 10,000-sold mark next week. Way to go, guys.
 
 
 
 
Power Trip, Nightmare Logic (Southern Lord)
425 sold
 
This rebounds with an impressive 170% increase, likely due to crushing it on the Obituary/Exodus tour.

 

 

 
Septicflesh, Codex Omega (Prosthetic)
370 sold
 
Always nice to see a band rebound after a second week drop. They’re up 5%, but still… 
 
 
 

 

Epica, The Solace System (Nuclear Blast)
325 sold
 
This drops another 41% in week 3, but at least their tour should help things out a bit. 
 
 
 
 
Brendon Small, Galaktikon II: Become The Storm (Megaforce)
320 sold
 
This falls 37% this week, but is still hanging in there.

 

 

Cannabis Corpse, Left Hand Pass (Season of Mist)
275 sold
This has sold about 1,000, with a 60% drop in week two. Guess people passed on it. 
 
 
 
Paradise Lost, Medusa (Nuclear Blast)
250 sold
 
The band’s 15th album drops another 56%.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Categorised in: Columns, Metal By Numbers