PARIS — Heavy metal fans revel in their image as outcasts. For the music industry, however, followers of the British metal band Iron Maiden have become model citizens.

As music sales plunge and record companies face the future with angst, so-called Maiden heads are still flocking to record stores. Like the band’s zombie mascot, Eddie the Head, Iron Maiden refuses to die, and its continued vitality may offer the troubled music industry some tips on survival.

Iron Maiden’s 15th studio album, “The Final Frontier,” shot straight to the top of Billboard magazine’s European album chart when it was released in late August and held that spot for a second week. The record also made its debut at No. 1 in other countries from Saudi Arabia to Japan, giving a much-needed lift to EMI Music, which owns the international rights. In the United States, where it was released by Universal Music Enterprises, “The Final Frontier” opened at No. 4.

By the end of last week, more than 800,000 copies of “The Final Frontier” had been shipped to retailers around the world, said Rod Smallwood, Iron Maiden’s longtime manager. That is a far cry from the 12 million-plus sales of Lady Gaga’s first album, “The Fame.” But Iron Maiden has a longevity that many pop acts can only envy; in its 30-year career, the band has sold about 85 million records.