Last week was huge for album sales in the United States, as Record Store Day preceded the tracking period. Dozens of musicians and bands participated, dropping new albums, live sets, and special editions of popular projects on collectible vinyl. The promotion encouraged fans to visit local shops, support small businesses, and pick up a limited edition release.
The week after Record Store Day, the Billboard charts are typically filled with these one-off titles, which often debut high and then quickly vanish. The effects of the music industry initiative are largely gone from the rankings this period, as many classics and continual bestsellers make their way back onto various tallies. Several superstars return to multiple rankings, particularly those based on pure purchases.
One of the biggest winners is Metallica, as a pair of the band’s full-lengths reappear on the Top Album Sales chart. The list only accounts for pure purchases, and the fact that multiple releases from the act – none of which are new – sold well enough to appear on this roster again underlines the hard rock outfit’s appeal.
Metallica’s Two Comeback Bestsellers
Of the two re-entries, Master of Puppets ranks higher, landing at No. 42 with a little more than 2,200 pure sales, according to Luminate. The self-titled Metallica narrowly makes the cut, appearing at No. 50 with approximately 2,100 copies sold across the U.S.
Metallica’s Sales Dipped
Both albums actually experienced a slight dip in pure sales — less than 5% — from the prior frame. But thanks to a less competitive landscape this week, there was more room for these kinds of longstanding releases to return, even without sales increases.
Metallica’s Self-Titled Album Rises Everywhere
Master of Puppets only appears on the Top Album Sales chart, while Metallica is performing well enough to appear on multiple rankings this week. The self-titled effort climbs to No. 11 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, No. 42 on the Top Rock & Alternative Albums roster, and it ascends on the Billboard 200 from No. 187 to No. 170.
Metallica’s Self-Titled Vs. Master of Puppets
Between the two, Metallica is the higher-rising and longer-charting release on the Top Album Sales list. It has previously reached No. 1 and has now spent 738 weeks on the ranking. Master of Puppets, meanwhile, has racked up 219 total appearances and peaked at No. 7.
