‘FOLD HAS HOLD ON #1

Warner Bros. Huntington Beach hardcore veterans Avenged Sevenfold debut at #1 this week with their fifth album, and first since the sudden death of drummer The Rev last December. The release tops the chart with 157k, less than 1,000 more than Shady/ Aftermath/Interscope hip-hop icon Eminem’s Recovery, which is #2 at 156k.

Def Jam/IDJ’s Rick Ross (#3), Island./IDJ’s Justin Bieber (#4) and Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown’s Drake (#5) round out the leaders, giving L.A Reid’s IDJ two and UMG four of the Top 5.

Capitol Nashville/EMI’s Lady Antebellum (#6), Razor & Tie’s Kidz Bop 18 (#7), Interscope’s Lady Gaga (#8), A&M’s Sheryl Crow (#9) and Capitol/EMI’s Now 34 (#10) complete the Top10.

Strange Music’s Tech N9ne Collabos (#14), E1 Music’s Fat Joe (#30), Kedar Entertainment’s Dru Hill (#34), Glassnote’s Mumford & Sons (#35) and Monkeywrench’s Eat Pray Love soundtrack (#37, featuring music by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder) are the newcomers to this week’s Top 50, while Universal Republic’s Godsmack (#43) and Capitol/EMI’s Now 33 (#48) are both re-entries.

Interscope’s Black Eyed Peas (#22-12, +13%) are the week’s only double-digit gainer, followed by Columbia’s Train (#38-028, +8%) and 19/Arista Nashville’s Carrie Underwood (#39-31, +8%).

Hitting stores today are Merge’s Arcade Fire, Rap-a-Lot/Fontana’s Bun B, Seven Eleven’s Buckcherry, Interscope’s Lady Gaga remixes album, Silver Arrow’s Black Crowes and Glassnote’s Secondhand Serenade.