IRON MAIDEN's 'Frontier' Dominates Norwegian Chart For Third Consecutive Week

"The Final Frontier", the brand new studio album from British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN, has topped the official Norwegian chart for the third consecutive week. According to the Norwegian music blog Lydverket, this ties the best chart stretch IRON MAIDEN has enjoyed in any country during the band's 30-year recording career.

"'The Final Frontier' is IRON MAIDEN's first chart-topper in Norway, so it is unique, but three weeks at No. 1. is probably only tied by Finland, where 'The Final Frontier' has remained at the top of the chart for three consecutive weeks, and Sweden, where 'Dance Of Death' spent three weeks at No. 1," said Asbjørn Slettemark, who wrote the article for NRK.no/Lydverket.

Bjorn Rogstad, the general manager of EMI Norway, told Lydverket that "The Final Frontier" has already been certified gold in Norway for sales in excess of 15,000 copies.

"It's hectic here right now," Rogstad said. "We've sold 20,000 copies of 'The Final Frontier', and the next goal is to reach 25,000."

He continued, "Norway is well on its way to become an equally important market for IRON MAIDEN as Sweden and Finland, which traditionally have been IRON MAIDEN's strongest territories out of the Nordic countries. This is partially because IRON MAIDEN have increased the frequency of their visits to Norway, and partially because their previous album — 'A Matter of Life And Death' — made them relevant for an older generation of IRON MAIDEN fans who stopped buying their records. They are now back. But the main reason is, of course, that IRON MAIDEN still delivers albums of high quality; it's all about the music."

He added, "I talked to people at EMI's international office, and they told me three weeks in a row at No. 1 for IRON MAIDEN is unique."

Tord Krogtoft, the head music buyer at Platekompaniet, Norway's largest retail chain with more than 20 outlets across the country, explained IRON MAIDEN's success in Norway in the following way: "There are few bands in the world that are as hard-working and treat their fans as well as IRON MAIDEN. In addition to their work ethic and close relationship with their fans, IRON MAIDEN has a back catalogue that just keeps on selling. Eddie [IRON MAIDEN's mascot] has also been an important element in getting interest from new and increasingly younger fans. They also deliver a good package live, and the band appear as down to earth and solid.

"In a world where KISS suddenly took off their masks — and luckily put them back on again — and METALLICA painted their fingernails and bought contemporary art, Bruce [Dickinson, vocals] and co. wear the same jeans, have the same haircut and sport the same shoes as when they started."