AMARANTHE: 'The Nexus' First-Week Sales Revealed

"The Nexus", the sophomore album from Swedish melodic metallers AMARANTHE, sold around 1,700 copies in the United States in its first week of release. The CD landed at position No. 12 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Comments AMARANTHE guitarist/composer Olof Mörck: "To finally have a proper release in the USA is awesome in itself, but to see it hit number ONE on the iTunes metal charts is mindblowing! We just recently learned that we are at #12 on the Soundscan Heatseeker charts, which is a really good indication for things to come as well.

"Right now we are looking at every possible opportunity to come back to the U.S. and perform over there again; our first and only show at the ProgPower festival in Atlanta was a great experience indeed! So watch out, as 'The Nexus' live machine will hit American shores this year!"

"The Nexus" was released on March 26 (one day earlier internationally) via Spinefarm. The cover artwork was created by Gustavo Sazes and can be seen below. The album was once again recorded at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen.

"The Nexus" track listing:

01. Afterlife
02. Invincible
03. The Nexus
04. Theory Of Everything
05. Stardust
06. Burn With Me
07. Mechanical Illusion
08. Razorblade
09. Future On Hold
10. Electroheart
11. Transhuman
12. Infinity

The album's title track was released as the first single single via iTunes and the video the track was directed by Patric Ullaeus of Revolver Film Company, who has previously worked with DIMMU BORGIR, LACUNA COIL, IN FLAMES, SONIC SYNDICATE and KAMELOT, among others. Check out the clip below.

Comments AMARANTHE guitarist/composer Olof Mörck: "This time we went all the way with our futuristic dream-nightmare — a no-compromise vision steeped in deep contrast between the mechanically ultra-heavy and shimmering serene melody. 'The Nexus' is everything we dreamed about doing with our debut album; we laboured to make this offering as diverse as it is direct and catchy… and remember, no-one can be told what 'The Nexus' is — you have to hear it for yourself!"

He added: "Our main inspiration behind the ['The Nexus'] video was to create a decidedly cinematic feel, in the vein of a Hollywood action movie, with a slightly darker angle than our previous videos. We wanted to have lots of extras and explosive action scenes, and we wanted it to be done well; we knew Patric Ullaeus was the right man for the job. The end result is a dynamic, intense and entertaining music video with an original flair."

The guitarist previously stated about the new CD: "We have lived and breathed the same 12 songs from the first album every day for a year now, and to introduce a number of completely fresh tracks will really lift AMARANTHE to the next level!
"The theme and atmosphere of the album is futuristic and ultra modern, [and] the music itself [is] instantly recognizable as AMARANTHE, but there is definitely a new and unique twist to the songs.

"People often ask us if there is a big pressure to follow up such a successful album, and always say 'no, not one bit.' Not when you sit down and listen to new tracks such as 'Invincible', 'Burn With Me' and 'Stardust'. We simply cannot wait to hit the road all over the world with these new babies!"

AMARANTHE's self-titled debut album was released in Europe in April 2011 via Spinefarm Records.

AMARANTHE vocalist Elize Ryd has been filling the female singer spot on KAMELOT's European, South and North American tours.