Linkin Park set to knock Justin Bieber off the top of the Official Alb

According to today’s Official Chart Update, Linkin Park are on course to knock Justin Bieber off the top of the Official Albums Chart on Sunday.

The Los Angeles-based band, who released their fifth studio album, Living Things, on Monday, have taken an early lead in the race to this week’s Number 1. And, if they can maintain it going into the weekend, it will give Linkin Park their sixth Top 10 album and third UK Number 1. However, they face tough competition from fellow US rockers Maroon 5 whose latest release, Overexposed (Number 2), is a mere 5,000 copies behind them on today’s Official Chart Update. The Official Charts Company expects it to be a closely fought battle right up to Sunday’s final whistle.

Buoyed by his performance at Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend, Jay-Z’s collaboration with Kanye West, Watch The Throne, climbs 17 places from Number 20 to Number 3, while Justin Bieber’s Believe slides three places to Number 4. Ed Sheeran’s +, which has sold over 1.2 million copies since its release last September, completes this week’s Top 5.

New Entries

In addition to Linkin Park’s Living Things (1) and Maroon 5’s Overexposed (2), there are six other new entries in today’s Official Albums Chart Update.

Flo Rida, who shot to the top of the Official Streaming Chart earlier this week with his latest track Whistle, is new in at Number 8 with his fourth album, Wild Ones. The Wildhearts’ frontman Ginger could score his first Top 10 solo album on Sunday with new release 100 Percent looking set to debut at Number 9.

Belgian drum and bass producer Netsky is on course to for his debut UK Top 40 album with new release, 2, currently sitting at Number 21, with The Levellers’ Static On The Airwaves one place behind at Number 22. Canadian indie rockers Metric are at Number 24 with Synthetica, while The Offspring’s Days Go By is at Number 27.

This week’s new entries are completed by French metallers Gojira’s L'enfant Sauvage (which translates as 'The Wild Child') is at 28, while Jedward’s Young Love is at 33.

The Official Albums Chart Update Top 40 is as follows:

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