New Meshuggah album charts high with debut!

In this age of diminished sales expectations, nobody expects a CD by an extreme metal band on an independent label to make waves on the charts, but that exactly what Meshuggah has done with their ground-breaking new album obZen.

The disc, released by Nuclear Blast Records, entered the Billboard Top 200 at a very respectable #59. That's not all that obZen achieved, either – the album clinched the #14 spot on the iTunes Top Rock Albums chart; it was the #1 "Most Added" metal album on both the CMJ Loud Rock and FMQB radio charts; and it set a new Swedish My Space pre-listening promotion record with over a quarter of a million album streams in seven days. Quite respectable, indeed, for a band whose name most non-metal fans can't even pronounce!

Of the album's early success, Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake says, "we are SUPER-STOKED! With a diminishing market for CD sales, we didn’t quite know what to expect for obZen, but reaching a place on the Billboard charts is truly AWESOME! Of course, we feel that we have a strong album and all that, but kudos where it’s due. This would not have been possible without the tremendous work of all the gents and gals at EMI & Caroline, our label Nuclear Blast, and of course, our fans. Thank you ALL for helping us reach new levels!"

The band will hit the road next week in support of obZen, touring with Ministry and Hemlock.

(Click on the CD cover to buy obZen through Amazon.com)