In the race for #1 on the Billboard 200 this week, Slipknot’s “All Hope is Gone” edged out The Game’s “LAX” to claim the top spot.  The album moved 239,516 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, only 1,134 more than the rapper’s Geffen album at 238,382. Score one for heavy music as the genre of metal’s most recognizable outfit has come through in a big way, once again.

The debut marks the first No. 1 for the masked men of metal, who scored a No. 2 with 2004’s “Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses” and a No. 3 with 2001’s “Iowa“. The Game’s last two efforts, 2006’s “Doctor’s Advocate” and 2005’s “The Documentary,” both debuted at No. 1.

While “All Hope is Gone” is far from Slipknot’s heaviest disc, it has some gems on it, and generally comes through in a sincere way for heavy music. Sure, there are a few crappy acoustic songs that the band should leave to those who do it best, but the heavy stuff is good, and the band is still making brutal music accessible to the mainstream, which all heavy bands should be grateful for.