Pennsylvania hard rock band August Burns Red debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart (dated Oct. 28) with its eighth studio full-length, as Phantom Anthem arrives with 19,000 equivalent album units (17,000 in traditional sales), according to Nielsen Music.
The set marks the band's fifth Top Christian Albums No. 1 and fourth to arrive in the penthouse. Its most previous set, Found in Far Away Places, notched the group's strongest sales week, opening at No. 1 with 29,000 sold on the chart dated July 18, 2015. The act's other leaders: Leveler (2011), Constellations(2009) and debut entry The Messengers (2007).
At No. 2 on Top Christian Albums, The Answer, the new set from singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp, enters with 13,000 units (12,000 in pure album sales). Camp's 10th LP grants the 39-year-old Lafayette, Indiana, native his 11th Top Christian Albums top 10, a total that includes six leaders. He reached the top 10 in his first chart appearance, with the No. 10-peaking Stay in 2004.
"Word of Life," the first single from The Answer, lifts to new highs on Christian Airplay 5-4 (up 5 percent to 8 million audience impressions) and Hot Christian Songs (11-8, after having become the band's 21st top 10 on the Sept. 23-dated tally, the fourth-highest total in the chart's history).
