SYSTEM OF A DOWN: 'Mezmerize' Enters Billboard Chart At No. 1

SYSTEM OF A DOWN's "Mezmerize", the Columbia band's follow-up to the six-times-platinum 2002 breakthrough "Toxicity", has sold 452,990 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 1 on next week's The Billboard 200 chart.

"Mezmerize" is Disc One of the 2-disc set "Mezmerize/Hypnotize". Disc Two, "Hypnotize", is expected to be released late this fall.

"Mezmerize" first-week chart positions around the world:

#1: USA
#1: France
#1: Switzerland
#1: New Zealand
#2: U.K.
#2: Norway
#2: Ireland
#5: Holland

In other news, the following are notable heavy metal/hard rock U.S. sales debuts for the week ending May 24, 2005, as reported by Nielsen SoundScan (The Billboard 200 chart position included, where applicable):

DEF LEPPARD – "Rock of Ages: 65,652 (#10)
THE RED CHORD – "Clients": 4,148
SHORTIE – "Without A Promise": 227

(Thanks: Rockdetector.com)