SOUNDSCAN: A BIG WEEK FOR NEW RECORDS

Thursday, June 17th, 2010 at 11:00am by

behind the blackest tearsNevermore, Kingdom of Sorrow, Nachtmystium, Watain, Heaven Shall Burn, Whitechapel…. and, uh, Attack Attack!. All these bands released records last week, and after the jump we take a look at how all of those records performed. Metal Insider‘s Zach Shaw has done a fine job of collecting the data, but you’ll have to visit Metal Insider to get his cheeky commentary. The numbers — with my own cheeky commentary, naturally — after the jump.

#26 Attack Attack!, Attack Attack! (Rise), 15,130 sold

So is this the future of metal? Despite the incredibly high number for such an incredibly shitty band, I doubt it. As with most artists bought en masse by young kids, these guys will be a flash in the pan. Mark my words.

#42 Whitechapel, A New Era of Corruption (Metal Blade), 10,600 sold

I don’t like the band but I gotta respect the number. I guess deathcore hasn’t reached its tipping point yet.

#125 Nevermore, The Obsidian Conspiracy (Century Media), 4,000 sold

I think I read somewhere that this is their highest chart debut ever? Pretty good for such a nerd-tastic band to still be doing so well at this stage in their careers.

#130 Kingdom of Sorrow, Behind the Blackest Tears (Relapse), 3,800 sold

Metal Insider says this number is a little more than half their debut. I guess that would be disappointing for Relapse, but I think Relapse and the band should still be pretty satisfied with it as it’s got to be among the biggest records they’ve released this year. My explanation for the drop is the curiosity factor that likely fueled purchases of the band’s first album; the casual Hatebreed fans didn’t come out of the woodwork this time around because they realized this band isn’t for them.

#156 Mychildren Mybride, Lost Boy (Solid State), 3,200 sold

Uh…

#179 Eyes Set To Kill, Broken Frames (Break Silence), 2,800 sold

See #156, above.

Nachtmystium, Addicts: Black Meddle, Part 2 (Century Media) 1,190 sold

I think this is a pretty decent number for such an extreme (by most peoples’ standards) band. Wonder how this number stacks up against Assassins.

Watain, Lawless Darkness (Season of Mist) 990 sold

See Nachtmystium, above.

Heaven Shall Burn, Invictus (Century Media) 900 sold

I think this is one of those bands with a much bigger following in Europe. I’d doubt that Century cares much about the U.S. #; they really didn’t put a whole lot of marketing effort into this record over here.

  • Brian

    About you HSB comment…I totally agree, but with bands like As I Lay Dying, Unearth, etc so big in the US, there is no reason HSB couldn’t be a little bigger here with some promotion.

    I am a big fan of Century Media and Nuclear Blast, but their promotion is fucking terrible!

    • DecrystallizingReason

      They seem to have the European market pretty well dialed, but not so much in the States. I guess that’s why you see bands like Chimaira signing worldwide deals with Nuclear Blast and leaving the US market up to a label that knows it better.

      • mike

        I think Iconoclast did about 2,000 first week, so that’s a fairy disappointing drop off — but poor promotion no doubt. But they are HUGE in Europe.

        • KAH

          As far as I can tell, they don’t tour the US very much. I bet they could be at least Nevermore big if they hopped on with a huge band here (ie LoG). It’s more passive promotion like this that gets bands followings, look where opening for LoG 3 yrs ago has gotten Gojira.

  • http://www.kingdomofnoise.blogspot.com MetalMatt

    Huh, as the numbers go down, the bands get better. (except HSB. haven’t heard any of their stuff)
    Does that mean the Yakuza album sold like, 2 copies?

    • PHLP

      I don’t think the Yakuza album comes out till June 22. I bought a copy at the release party, though, and so did the two dudes in line in front of me, so that’s at least three already!

      • http://www.kingdomofnoise.blogspot.com MetalMatt

        The PRP has the release date as the 8th. That’s what I was going by. I haven’t tried to buy it anywhere yet. No $$

  • RayRay

    Well I have three of those albums and I was shocked to see how many Whitechapel sold. I mean for a death metal band to push over 10000 is pretty amazing considering the climate. Are people fucking retarted ? How are Kingdom of Sorrow not selling more than that?

    • http://www.kingdomofnoise.blogspot.com MetalMatt

      I hear ya on the KoS. It’s not incredible, but it’s a band with well established members. It should have sold more.

      I saw the Whitechapel cd in Walmart. I am sure accessibility has something to do with it.

    • jeff

      just got kingdom of sorrow, never heard of them but the album cover is so cool that i had to get it and i have to say this does not disappoint, this is really good.

  • http://thatdevilmusic.blogspot.com Rob Liz

    When Blabbermouth reported the sales figures on Nevermore it also said “That Godless Endeavor” debuted at 5000 sold. So if that’s correct then no this wasn’t the highest debut and pretty bad considering a 5 year layoff.

    • Anthony

      Vince probably means “higher debut” as in higher chart position, not most number of copies sold, which is very possible, and absolutely probable. Especially since that album came out in 2005. CD sales are even lower now than they were 5 years ago, so even a low number may catapult you up the charts.

      It also depends on competition I guess. Lamb of God’s Wrath debuted at #2 with 67,000 some odd copies sold, but AIC’s Black gives way to blue debuted at #5 and sold over 100,000.

      Chimaira’s Resurrection sold 16,000 copies in its first week in 2007, debuting at #42. But The Infection just two years later sold 15,000 in the first week, and debuted at #30

      You get the point now, i’m sure.

    • ian

      Keep in mind Nevermore was touring with Megadeth and Dream Theater when TGE came out and the band is in Europe right now when their new CD came out in the US. So no, 4,000 in one week is not bad at all.

  • vagoo

    Is there anywhere online where anyone can check album sales for this type of stuff? Like… a database of album sales…

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Carlos-Ramirez/631635101 Carlos Ramirez

      Yeah, know someone in the music industry. Soundscan is really expensive to get access to.

  • Mordecai 9000

    I honestly like a lot of the screamo shit everyone hates, even Attack Attack (however, that crab bullshit is inexcusable and fucking stupid). Well, at least all the groups had an okay opening week.

    I want an Addicts review up, ASAP. That would be so fucking beautiful.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Bisasky/100000329723796 Ryan Bisasky

    I’m sure everyone is going ape shit over what was number 1 this week

  • Ziltoid

    Seeing Attack Attack! this high on the charts has made my day.

  • Discipleofthewatch

    I bought one of the Nevermore albums. It was a bargain at $13.49, including shipping costs.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mark-Gavin/1396340262 Mark Gavin

      I’m so lucky to have a local record shop that sells most debuts at $9.99

  • King Cheezit

    Proud buyer of 1/900 of Heaven Shall Burn’s debut success! I owe it to metalsucks, just found out about them in the recent interview.

    • LD

      Me too (buyer).