Loudwire reported last week that the Bay Area metal veterans were on track to top the pop singer on the Billboard 200 album chart for the week ending Sept. 12. Both Metallica's S&M2 and Perry's Smile were released Aug. 28. Industry projections accounting for both albums' first full weeks out had Metallica edging out Perry with a few thousand more in physical sales. The prediction had the metal act at No. 4, Perry at No. 5. (All higher entries were estimated as previously charting albums released in July.)
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