SOUNDSCAN: BEHEMOTH VS. WINDS OF PLAGUE — WHO WON?
Behemoth vs. Winds of Plague; Poland vs. America; Corpsepaint vs. wigger hats; ugly men vs. hot chick; real metal vs. deathcore; substance vs. gimmick. Who won????
The answer, as well as more of this past week’s metal Soundscan chart positions and sales figures, after the jump.
49 THRICE – BEGGARS
This week: 10,416 (debut)
Considering the debacle that unfolded involving the super-early leak of this album, that’s a damn fine number. Especially taking into account that it’s digital only.
56 BEHEMOTH – EVANGELION
This week: 8,451 (debut)
It makes me so happy that a band that sounds the way Behemoth do can sell so well. As Eyal was saying, by the rest of the industry’s standards 8k is nothing, but for an extreme band like Behemoth to sell so many units first week is an accomplishment to be celebrated indeed.
57 CHICKENFOOT – CHICKENFOOT
This week: 8,446
Cume: 286,406
Still kinda flabbergasted this is selling so well — despite its all-star lineup — but on a recent trip through the Midwest I constantly heard “Oh Yeah” on the radio… so it makes sense.
73 WINDS OF PLAGUE – THE GREAT STONE WAR
This week: 6,336 (debut)
Not surprised this sold well, but I’m quite glad Behemoth did better. Score one for real metal. Sergeant D will no doubt be upset.
91 KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
This week: 5,018
Cume: 117,953
At this point it’s got to be considered something of a flop, no? Roadrunner better pray they can squeeze a crossover single out of this one.
98 HALESTORM – HALESTORM
This week: 4,464
Cume: 67,234
Good band. Lzzy’s got serious pipes. Decent number for a brand new band.
161 AUGUST BURNS RED – CONSTELLATIONS
This week: 2,667
Cume: 38,777
Pretty good number for this band, I think? I don’t keep close enough tabs on the Christian metalcore community to really know.
162 SLIPKNOT – ALL HOPE IS GONE
This week: 2,658
Cume: 814,578
51 weeks on the charts. Wow. Score another platinum record for Slipknot pretty soon (although I’m sure they’re already claiming it “shipped platinum”… huge bullshit number hi-jacking the industry engages in when they’ve manufactured and shipped out 1 million units, regardless of whether that many eventually sell).
164 METALLICA – DEATH MAGNETIC
This week: 2,642
Cume: 1,810,699
If the same record were released under a name other than “Metallica,” I promise this album would not be nearly double-platinum and on the charts 49 weeks after release. Do not try and argue this point with me because you will be wrong.
190 ASSJACK – ASSJACK
This week: 2,242
Cume: 7,096
What happens when major labels dabble in heavy music.
197 DREAM THEATER – BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS
This week: 2,178
Cume: 72,900
The Dream Theater formula: write and record, pump out album, sell 100,000 records. Done! Works every time.
-VN
