AVERY BELIEVES IN GODSMACK

That’s something Republic President/Universal Records Sr. VP Avery "Breath You Take" Lipman set out to correct with a massive, six-month-long push that will deliver a chart-topping record next week.

"I hate to put it this way, but it’s been like a military campaign," says Lipman. "The TV and radio appearances are the air attack, and the grassroots retail and street teams are the ground troops."

With 1.1 million albums on the streets, some retailers are predicting that first-week sales could reach as high as 400k, thanks to an aggressive pricing policy that will see the new album sell for under $10 in some places.

"We wouldn’t have been able to do that without the participation of the band," says Lipman. "That’s the cherry on top of that plan."

Carl Mello "Yellow," a Newbury Comics buyer in the band’s hometown of Boston, says: "Our stores are excited about what will surely be our #1 release of the week and, more than likely, the biggest-selling local artist release of the year for us."

Pointing to the continuing strength of the Godsmack catalog—which includes the band’s self-titled, four-times-platinum ’98 debut and 2000’s double-platinum Awake, Lipman insists he didn’t have to push retailers to take product. "The demand was already there."

That demand has been stoked by the first single, "Straight Out of Line," Most Added and now comfortably ensconced in the Top 10 at PoMo and Active Rock radio, with the video currently Top 20 at MTV and MTV2 and Top 10 at MuchMusic. Also included on the album is "I Stand Alone," which was on the gold-plus Universal Scorpion King soundtrack, earning a pair of Grammy nominations for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for singer/writer Sully Erna.

The label has lined up a series of press opportunities for the band to ensure they won’t remain Faceless much longer.

"We had a comprehensive plan that included any and all media," says Lipman. "We haven’t forgotten about the band’s initial fan base, handing out stickers, postcards and snipes at shows. We made a conscious decision to go back to the folks who made the group what they are. We took nothing for granted."

Highlights of the rollout include:

Leno (4/8), Jimmy Kimmel Live (4/11), Mad TV (4/26).

World premiere of album on 72 FMQB radio network stations (4/7).

MTV News announces tour (4/9).

MTV Voodoo Tribe Party Sweepstakes, with winner flown to Boston for concert.

MSN chat (4/10).

Covers of Guitar One, Metal Edge, Circus, Hit Parader and Entertainment Today.

Stories in Billboard, Guitar World, Revolver Now, Request, Buzzine, Drum, Modern Drummer.

More than 1.5 million online streams of the video.

Tour starting 4/25 in Miami, ending 6/10 in Morrison, CO.