Metal By Numbers is a weekly column in which we look at the top metal sellers and debuts of the week. The Tool news cycle over the past 2 to 3 weeks has progressed thusly: Tool’s new album is c oming out ; Tool’s new album is out ; Tool’s new album is great ; Tool are going on tour ; Tool’s new album might debut at #1 and knock Taylor Swift’s new album down to #2; Taylor Swift fans don’t know who Tool is; Tool’s album is #1. That’s the most varied press Tool have gotten in years.

Yes, Fear Inoculum is #1 on the charts and will likely stick around the Billboard for a while, and I’m happy about that. And yes, it’s pretty cool that it beat out Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, and Sheryl Crow for the #1 spot. I just have one small request of you all: please don’t go around the Internet (or real life for that matter) and start ripping into Taylor Swift fans. Look, I got a chuckle out of those posts from T-Swift fans freaking about about this old 90’s band called Tool with scary 10 minute songs, and I don’t much care for her or her music. But you don’t need to be a dick to teenage girls or anyone else in Swift’s fanbase. It’s fine if you can’t stand her, her music, or if you just hate pop in general. But people like her music, and it’s okay to just let people like it. Don’t be that metalhead.

Notable Debuts:

Debut #1

247,550 sold

What else is there to say? The album is finally here, it’s great, and it’s #1.

Wage War, Wage War, Pressure (Fearless)

Debut #15

5,175 sold

The band’s third album is its highest charting yet.

Debut #38

2,475 sold

This live album has been released on vinyl and streaming services.

Big Wreck, Big Wreck, …but for the sun (Warner Music Canada) Debut #110 910 sold

This is the band’s sixth album and the first release after the death of guitarist Brian Doherty.

Debut #116

830 sold

This is Tarja’s fifth album not counting her classical and Christmas albums.

Hesitation Wounds, Hesitation Wounds, Chicanery (Deathwish Inc.)

Debut #144

680 sold

This is the second album from the hardcore punk supergroup.

640 sold

This is the supergroup’s first live album, which features several covers in addition to original material.

Dance Gavin Dance, Dance Gavin Dance, Acceptance Speech 2.0 (Rise) Debut #200

530 sold

This is a remaster of the band’s 2013 album.

410 sold

This is the band’s second album.

Visions Of Atlantis, Visions Of Atlantis, Wanderers (Napalm)

360 sold

This is the band’s seventh album, releasing only a year and a half after its predecessor.

Portrayal Of Guilt, Portrayal Of Guilt, Suffering Is A Gift (Closed Casket Activities)

360 sold

This EP is a follow-up to the band’s debut album from last year.

350 sold

This is the band’s third album.

This is the Italian band’s tenth album.

140 sold

This is the band’s first live album under the moniker Riot V and their first live album in 20 years.

Notable Sales: Slipknot, Slipknot, We Are Not Your Kind (Roadrunner) #8 (from #9) 8,000 sold Still in the top 10 in week 3.

Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody (Hollywood) #29 (from 25) 3,550 sold This only dropped 1%.

Killswitch Engage, Killswitch Engage, Atonement (Metal Blade) #31 (from 13) 3,350 sold A 47% drop. Skillet, Skillet, Victorious (Atlantic) #44 (from 31) 2,050 sold A 29% drop.

Knocked Loose, Knocked Loose, A Different Shade Of Blue (Pure Noise) #70 (from 5) 1,325 sold A 91% second week drop.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Infest The Rats’ Nest (Flightless) #77 (from 58) 1,225 sold A 30% drop.

Breaking Benjamin, Breaking Benjamin, Ember (Hollywood) #86 (from 84) 1,125 sold A 2% drop.

I Prevail, I Prevail, Trauma (Fearless) #102 (from 185) 960 sold This got a big boost of 70%.

Disturbed, Disturbed, Evolution (Warner Bros.) #106 (fr0m 34)

940 sold After a few big boosts, this drops by 65%.

Godsmack, Godsmack, Icon (Republic) #135 (from 174) 720 sold A 18% boost.

Sacred Reich, Sacred Reich, Awakening (Metal Blade) #174 (from 48) 600 sold A 70% drop in week two.

Five Finger Death Punch, And Justice For None (Prospect Park)

#192 (from 187)

550 sold Just under 200,000 sold.

#193 (from 196)

540 sold

A 2% boost.

400 sold

This got boosted back up after dropping off last week.

Ceremony, Ceremony, In The Spirit World Now (Relapse) 250 sold A drop of 80% in week two.

Russian Circles, Russian Circles, Blood Year (Sargent House) 250 sold A 4% drop.

Crobot, Crobot, Motherbrain (Mascot) 230 sold A 75% second week drop.

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Fishing For Fishies (ATO) 230 sold A 41% drop.

200 sold

A big boost back up after dropping off a week ago.

Tomb Mold, Tomb Mold, Planetary Clairvoyance (20 Buck Spin)

200 sold

A 50% boost back up.

The Dead Daisies, The Dead Daisies, Locked and Loaded: The Covers Album (Steamhammer) 200 sold A 57% drop in week two.

180 sold

Another album that got boosted back up this week.

A 33% boost back up.

150 sold

A 76% boost back onto the charts.

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Flying Microtonal Banana (ATO) 150 sold A 8% drop.

This came out late last year, but has only just now come across my radar.