All Hail Has Norma Jean’s Lowest First-Week Sales in Seventeen Years

It would appear that Norma Jean fans’ initial reaction to the band’s new album, All Hail, has been somewhat underwhelming, at least in terms of sales. According to Lambgoat, the album “sold roughly 3,900 copies (pure album sales) in its first week of release in the United States, not enough (even including streaming activity) to crack the [Billboard 200] chart.” That’s an impressive number by the standards of many metal bands, and it was enough for All Hail to claim some notable chart postitions… specifically, it came in at #6 on the Hard Rock Album Sales chart, #12 on the Independent Albums chart, #29 on the Top Current Albums chart, and #30 on the Top Album Sales chart. But it’s the first time a Norma Jean release hasn’t landed on the Top 200 chart since their debut, Bless the Martyr and Kiss the Child, in 2002. It’s also a 50% drop from their last album, 2016’s Polar Similar, which sold 7,800 copies in its first week of release to land at #75 on the Billboard 200.

Now, it’s worth noting, as always, that most bands are seeing first-week sales dips from album to album. That’s just the state of the industry today. But there are bands, like The Black Dahlia Murder, whose hold on their audience has remained fairly consistent over the years, and a 50% drop is still pretty steep. Not as steep as the ones suffered recently by bands like Bring Me the Horizon and Suicide Silence, but, y’know, not fantastic.

All Hail is out now on Solid State, and can be purchased here. I’m sure the band appreciates your support. They’re also on tour tright now! Get tickets here.