Most Popular Symphonic Metal Bands (2003 - 2023)

Timeline History of the Most Popular Symphonic metal bands from 2003 to 2023 month by month. The numbers represent the internet searches per month for band (not for representative band members). This infographic highlights the most popular symphonic metal bands from 2003 to 2023, based on YouTube views.

Metallica Top Albums Ranked by Sales

According to Universal Music Japan, METALLICA sold over 120,000,000 albums worldwide, including 64,018,000 in the United States and 2,600,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by METALLICA is METALLICA, which sold over 33,000,000 copies.

Led Zeppelin Top Albums Ranked by Sales

According to Warner Music Germany and Billboard, LED ZEPPELIN sold over 300,000,000 albums worldwide, including 94,643,667 in the United States and 7,880,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by LED ZEPPELIN is LED ZEPPELIN IV, which sold over 37,000,000 copies.

According to Warner Music Germany and Billboard, LED ZEPPELIN has sold over 300,000,000 albums worldwide, including 94,643,667 in the United States and 7,880,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by LED ZEPPELIN is LED ZEPPELIN IV, which sold over 37,000,000 copies.

1. LED ZEPPELIN IV (1971)

Sales: 37,000,000

Rank in 1971: 1

Rank in the 1970s: 7

Overall rank: 13

2. LED ZEPPELIN II (1969)

Sales: 15,915,072

Rank in 1969: 3

Rank in the 1960s: 6

Overall rank: 116

3. LED ZEPPELIN III (1970)

Sales: 13,000,000

Rank in 1970: 2

Rank in the 1970s: 30

Overall rank: 171

4. HOUSES OF THE HOLY (1973)

Sales: 12,451,004

Rank in 1973: 6

Rank in the 1970s: 32

Overall rank: 178

5. LED ZEPPELIN I (1969)

Sales: 10,343,893

Rank in 1969: 4

Rank in the 1960s: 9

Overall rank: 246

6. PHYSICAL GRAFFITI (1975)

Sales: 9,295,130

Rank in 1975: 2

Rank in the 1970s: 43

Overall rank: 299

7. IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR (1979)

Sales: 6,618,161

Rank in 1979: 8

Rank in the 1970s: 66

Overall rank: 485

8. REMASTERS (1990)

Sales: 4,881,667

Rank in 1990: 22

Rank in the 1990s: 290

Overall rank: 797

9. THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME (1976)

Sales: 4,797,394

Rank in 1976: 17

Rank in the 1970s: 101

Overall rank: 808

10. MOTHERSHIP (2007)

Sales: 3,712,716

Rank in 2007: 17

Rank in the 2000s: 236

Overall rank: 1090

…and so on, continuing through 21. THE COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS (1993).

LED ZEPPELIN total sales by country (selected examples):

Argentina: 420,000

Australia: 2,655,000

Austria: 70,000

Belgium: 15,000

Brazil: 440,000

Canada: 4,230,000

France: 2,050,000

Germany: 3,500,000

Italy: 360,000

Japan: 1,212,801

United Kingdom: 7,880,000

United States: 94,643,667

Detailed sales by country (examples):

Argentina:

LED ZEPPELIN III: 60,000 (1× Platinum)

LED ZEPPELIN IV: 60,000 (1× Platinum)

REMASTERS: 120,000 (2× Platinum)

Australia:

REMASTERS: 730,000 (10× Platinum)

LED ZEPPELIN IV: 630,000 (9× Platinum)

Canada:

LED ZEPPELIN IV: 2,000,000 (2× Diamond)

LED ZEPPELIN I: 1,000,000 (1× Diamond)

Germany:

REMASTERS: 500,000 (1× Platinum)

LED ZEPPELIN IV: 750,000 (3× Gold)

…and so on for each country.

Rolling Stones Top Albums Ranked by Sales

The Rolling Stones sold over 85,060,583 albums, including 59,131,001 in the United States and 6,220,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by The Rolling Stones is HOT ROCKS 1964-1971, which sold over 6,917,540 copies.

The Rolling Stones: Album Sales & Top 50 Best-Selling Records

The Rolling Stones, the legendary rock band, have sold over 85 million albums worldwide, with 59 million in the United States and 6.2 million in the United Kingdom. Their best-selling album is HOT ROCKS 1964-1971 with 6.9 million copies sold, followed by their top-selling studio album, SOME GIRLS (6.3 million).

With over 50 successful albums spanning every decade from the 1960s to the 2010s, the Stones have proven themselves as the “kings of rock.” Other notable albums include FORTY LICKS, TATTOO YOU, and VOODOO LOUNGE, each achieving millions in sales.

This incredible legacy highlights their timeless music and demonstrates why The Rolling Stones continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

Iron Maiden Top Albums Ranked By Sales

According to BMG Records, Iron Maiden sold over 80,000,000 albums worldwide, including 6,928,000 in the United States and 2,880,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by Iron Maiden is THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST, which sold over 2,200,380 copies.

Guns N' Roses Top Albums Ranked by Sales

Guns N' Roses sold over 86,025,723 albums, including 46,187,000 in the United States and 5,045,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by Guns N' Roses is APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION, which sold over 30,000,000 copies.

Guns N’ Roses have sold over 86 million albums worldwide, with 46 million in the United States and 5 million in the United Kingdom. Their top-selling album is “Appetite for Destruction” (1987), with over 30 million copies sold.

Their best-selling albums include:

“Appetite for Destruction” (1987): 30 million

“Use Your Illusion II” (1991): 15 million

“Use Your Illusion I” (1991): 15 million

“Greatest Hits” (2004): 11.6 million

“G N’ R Lies” (1988): 5.9 million

“The Spaghetti Incident?” (1993): 5 million

“Chinese Democracy” (2008): 2.2 million

Other notable releases include the live albums “Live Era ‘87-’93” (1.2 million), “Live from the Jungle” (15,000), and the limited box set “Limited Edition Box Set I” (11,910).

Top Countries for Album Sales:

United States: 46 million

United Kingdom: 5 million

Canada: 4.2 million

Germany: 3.5 million

Australia: 2 million

Japan: 1.7 million

Argentina: 1 million

France, Brazil, Italy, Sweden: around 1 million each

Certifications by Country:

In the United States, “Appetite for Destruction” achieved 18x Platinum status, with 18.4 million sales, followed by “Use Your Illusion I” and “II” (7 million each) and “Greatest Hits” (6 million).

In Canada, “Appetite for Destruction” reached Diamond certification (1.4 million), and “Use Your Illusion I” also went Diamond (1 million).

In the UK, “Appetite for Destruction” sold nearly 2 million (4x Platinum), while “Greatest Hits” sold 2.1 million (7x Platinum).

In Australia, “Greatest Hits” reached 9x Platinum, while “Appetite for Destruction” was 7x Platinum.

Overall, “Appetite for Destruction” remains their biggest success globally, often certified multi-Platinum in major markets. “Use Your Illusion I & II” are also highly successful, while “Greatest Hits” achieved significant multi-Platinum sales in several countries.

Deep Purple Top Albums Ranked by Sales

According to Deep Purple official site, Universal Music Germany, Deep Purple sold over 100,000,000 albums worldwide, including 8,328,000 in the United States and 1,000,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by Deep Purple is MACHINE HEAD (1972), which sold over 2,821,000 copies.

Deep Purple: A Legendary Legacy in Music Sales

Deep Purple, one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, has achieved remarkable global success with over 100 million albums sold worldwide. Their top-selling record, MACHINE HEAD (1972), has reached 2.8 million copies, making it a cornerstone of their legendary status.

The band's popularity spans decades, with notable albums like MADE IN JAPAN (1972) selling 2 million copies and PERFECT STRANGERS (1984) achieving 1.5 million in sales. Other standout releases include DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK (1970) and BURN (1974), both of which continue to resonate with rock fans globally.

Impressive Sales Across Countries

Deep Purple's influence extends worldwide, with significant sales figures in the United States (8.3 million), the United Kingdom (1 million), and countries like Germany, France, Japan, and Canada. Their albums have earned Gold and Platinum certifications in many regions, solidifying their place in rock history.

The band’s timeless classics, including “Smoke on the Water” and “Highway Star,” are loved by fans across generations. Deep Purple's continued presence in the music scene, along with their loyal fanbase, showcases their lasting impact and relevance in rock music.

Pink Floyd Top Albums Ranked by Sales

According to Pink Floyd official site and BMG, Pink Floyd sold over 250,000,000 albums worldwide, including 72,247,000 in the United States and 8,980,000 in the United Kingdom. The best-selling album by Pink Floyd is DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, which sold over 50,000,000 copies.

Pink Floyd, the iconic progressive rock band, has sold over 250 million albums worldwide, with 72 million albums sold in the United States and nearly 9 million in the United Kingdom. Their most successful album, "The Dark Side of the Moon" (1973), remains a global phenomenon, selling over 50 million copies and ranking #3 among all-time best-selling albums.

Other landmark albums include:

"The Wall" (1979) with 33 million copies sold, ranking #16 globally.

"Wish You Were Here" (1975) with 23 million sales.

"The Division Bell" (1994) selling 12 million worldwide.

"Animals" (1977) with over 6.5 million copies sold.

Live albums like "Pulse" (1995) and compilations such as "Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd" (2001) also showcase the band's enduring popularity.

Notably, Pink Floyd's influence spans continents:

In Australia, 14x Platinum for "The Dark Side of the Moon" and 11x Platinum for "The Wall".

In Germany, "The Wall" reached 4x Platinum and "Wish You Were Here" achieved Platinum status.

In Canada, "The Dark Side of the Moon" was 2x Diamond, while "The Wall" also hit 2x Diamond.

With a catalog that transcends generations, Pink Floyd's legacy is not only in the sheer number of albums sold, but also in the timeless resonance of their music across the globe.