Whitechapel album 'Mark of the Blade' debuts in Top 100

Mark of the Blade, the new album from Tennessee deathcore act Whitechapel, sold roughly 8,000 copies in the United States in its debut week, landing at No. 72 on the Billboard 200 chart. Meanwhile, the record debuted at No. 1 on the Hard Rock Albums chart and No. 3 on the Independent Albums chart. Guitarist Alex Wade comments: "A big thank you to all the Chapel fans who have picked up this record or plan to - supporting music by buying records is how to keep your favorite bands alive." Whitechapel's previous album, Our Endless War (2014), sold 16,200 copies in its first week, good enough for a No. 10 debut on the Billboard 200. The band's 2012 self-titled release landed at No. 47 on the Billboard 200, on the strength of 9,200 units in first-week sales. In 2010, their A New Era of Corruption sold 10.700 in its initial week and debuted at No. 43 on the aforementioned chart. Finally, Whitechapel's second studio album and Metal Blade Records debut, This Is Exile, peaked at No. 118 on the Billboard 200, selling roughly 6,000 copies in its first week of release in the United States.