AFTER THE BURIAL Hits #1 on iTunes Metal Chart

Twin Cities metalcore band After The Burial released their third album, Wolves Within, through Sumerian Records this week, and it promptly soared to the #1 position on the iTunes Metal Album Chart. Wolves Within also currently sits at #7 on the Rock Album Chart and #106 on the Album Chart (all genres).

After The Burial joins the Twin Cities' Reflections in the feat of hitting #1 on the iTunes Metal Album Chart in 2013. I think the question can legitimately be asked: Is the Twin Cities the metalcore capital of the planet?

Watch the lyric video for "A Wolf Amongst Ravens" from Wolves Within.

The Cities are also home of other widely recognized metalcore/grindcore bands like The Crinn, Ambassador Gun, and Blue Ox as well as a burgeoning crop of young talent featuring the likes of Don't Worry I'm A Doctor, The Broken Are Crowned, and From Concept To Chronicle. Is there another city that can match of the quantity and quality of metalcore output? I'm not sure, and perhaps it is time that the Twin Cities is recognized for music other than Prince and the "Minneapolis sound" developed by the likes of The Replacements, Soul Asylum, and Hüsker Dü.

After The Burial plays two album release shows at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis this weekend. Tonight's show (Saturday, December 21) with Your Memorial and I Am Vengeance is SOLD OUT. A second show with Your Memorial and Thira has been added on Sunday, December 22.

Twin Cities' REFLECTIONS Hit #1 on iTunes Metal Chart

It's no big secret that Twin Cities technical metalcore band Reflections is poised to have a big impact during the coming year (see my previous post here), and that prediction is already being borne out with the release this past Tuesday, October 22 of their debut eOne/Good Fight album Exi(s)t. Today, Exi(s)t held the #1 spot on the iTunes Metal Album Sales Chart (screenshots are below). Here's how the album was ranked today on other iTunes Charts:

iTunes Metal Album Chart: #1
iTunes Rock Album Chart: #15
iTunes Album Chart (all genres): #122

Reflections has tour dates lined up throughout the Eastern half of the U.S. into December supporting the likes of Born Of Osiris and Within The Ruins following their recently commenced co-headlining tour with Erra (the full list of dates is here).

Click to enlarge.