Ed Sheeran scores fifth ARIA #1 album with =

English pop superstar Ed Sheeran scores his fifth #1 album on the ARIA Charts as he debuts in the top spot with =. Pronounced “equals”, the follow-up to the collaborative album No.6 Collaborations Project (#1 Jul. ‘19) is the singer-songwriter’s fifth studio album and the fourth in his symbol series after + (#1 Aug. ‘12), x (#1 Jun. ‘14) and ÷ (#1 Mar. ‘17). = features the Top Ten tracks ‘Bad Habits’ (#1 Jul. ’21), ‘Visiting Hours’ (3 Aug. ’21), ‘Shivers’ (#2 Nov. ’21) and ‘Overpass Graffiti’ (#8 Nov. ’21). This week, Sheeran has three previous albums in the Top 50: ÷ (#19), x (#47) and No.6 Collaborations Project (#48).

Dami Im takes out her fifth ARIA Top 50 entry as she debuts at #12 with My Reality. It’s the X Factor winner and Eurovision runner-up’s sixth album, coming more than three years on from I Hear A Song (#3 Apr. ’18). Im topped the Albums Chart with her self-titled second album (#1 Nov. ’13). She recently competed on Celebrity Masterchef.

Releasing Hushed And Grim, their first album in four years, American metal band Mastodon claim their sixth ARIA Top 50 entry at #16. The group’s eighth album is a double album and serves as the follow-up to Emperor of Sand (#3 Apr. ’17), which gave them their highest peak in Australia.

Debuting at #18, Melbourne indie rock legends Even take out their highest ever chart peak and their first Top 50 appearance in 20 years with Reverse Light Years. The trio’s eighth album comes three years on from 2018’s Satin Returns and marks their first double album. Even last appeared in the ARIA Top 50 with their third album, A Different High (#48 May ’01).

American indie rockers The War On Drugs take out their third career chart entry as they debut at #21 with I Don't Live Here Anymore. The fifth album from the Philadelphia group is their first studio release since A Deeper Understanding (#5 Sept. ’17) four years ago, Between albums, The War On Drugs released the live LP LIVE DRUGS in November 2020.

The Spice Girls’ debut album returns to the Top 50 at #31 on the back of its 25th anniversary reissue. Debuting at #50 in November 1996, Spice peaked at #3 for six weeks in April-June 1997. Spice 25 includes remixes, demos and unreleased tracks, plus multiple versions on vinyl and cassette. The re-entry gives the album its 92nd week in the Top 50.

American nu-metal band Limp Bizkit hit the ARIA Top 50 for the first time in a decade as Still Sucks debuts at #35. The group’s sixth album is their first since Gold Cobra (#12 Jul. ’11) and includes a cover of INXS’ ‘Don’t Change’.

Debuting at #46 with Ocean To Ocean, Tori Amos hits the Top 50 for the first time in a decade. The legendary American singer-songwriter’s 16th studio album is the follow-up to 2017’s Native Invader. It’s Amos’ first chart entry since Night Of Hunters (#42 Oct. ’11) and was written and recorded while she was lockdown in Cornwall, England.