Pearl Jam’s Dark Matter rules all four Billboard rock-related album charts, debuting atop all four lists dated May 4.
The band’s 12th studio LP bows with 60,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. April 19-25, according to Luminate, with 52,000 in album sales.
It’s the band’s fifth No. 1 on Top Rock & Alternative Albums, which began in 2006. The Eddie Vedder-fronted veterans first reigned with 2009’s Backspacer, followed by commands for 2013’s Lightning Bolt, 2020’s Gigaton and a reissued Rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991-2003 in 2022. The same five sets have also led Top Rock Albums.
On Top Alternative Albums, which began in 2007, the band boasts six leaders, with the five above joined by the Pearl Jam Twenty soundtrack in 2011. On Top Hard Rock Albums, which also launched in 2007, Pearl Jam has notched eight No. 1s, adding to its haul Ten in 2009 (following a rerelease that year) and Let’s Play Two: Live at Wrigley Field in 2017.
With eight No. 1s on Top Hard Rock Albums, Pearl Jam ties Linkin Park for the most. As the latter’s Papercuts debuted on top week earlier, Linkin Park held sole possession of the mark for one week.
Most No. 1s, Top Hard Rock Albums:
- 8, Linkin Park
- 8, Pearl Jam
- 7, Five Finger Death Punch
- 7, Foo Fighters
- 6, Disturbed
- 6, Korn
Dark Matter’s 60,000-unit first week marks the biggest frame for any hard rock album in 2024, surpassing Linkin Park’s 44,000-unit sum with Papercuts the week before. It’s the best such sum since Foo Fighters’ But Here We Are opened with 62,000 (June 17, 2023).
On the all-genre Billboard 200, Dark Matter debuts at No. 5, becoming Pearl Jam’s 12th top five title and first since Gigaton debuted and peaked at No. 5 in 2020. Of those, five have reached No. 1, starting with 1993’s Vs.
Multiple tracks from Dark Matter dot Billboard’s song-based charts dated May 4, led by “Wreckage,” which bows atop the Hot Hard Rock Songs survey. It starts with 1.9 million radio audience impressions, 1.8 million official U.S. streams and 1,000 sold. Pearl Jam adds its second No. 1 on the tally, which began in 2020, following the new collection’s lead single and title track, which led for a week in March (and now ranks at No. 4).
Nine songs from Dark Matter make Hot Hard Rock Songs. Following “Wreckage” and “Dark Matter,” both of which have been promoted as radio singles, the next best is “Scared of Fear,” which begins at No. 6 with 1.1 million streams.
“Wreckage” also debuts on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs at No. 28, while “Dark Matter” re-enters at No. 33.
“Dark Matter” led the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for four weeks beginning in March. “Wreckage” follows by starting at No. 36 on the May 4 list. “Dark Matter” also peaked at No. 6 on Alternative Airplay, with “Wreckage” now beginning at No. 34. On Adult Alternative Airplay, “Dark Matter” reached No. 19, while “Wreckage” debuts at No. 40.
