Metallica’s The Black Album led the US Billboard 200 for four consecutive weeks.
The album debuted at number one in the United States after its August 1991 release and maintained the top position for four straight weeks. That run confirmed the scale of Metallica’s breakthrough and made the record one of the most successful heavy-metal albums in American chart history.
The performance followed a first-week sale of 598,000 copies. It also made Metallica the band’s first album to top the Billboard 200, surpassing the chart achievements of Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All.
The Black Album’s chart life extended far beyond its initial run. Its singles kept the record visible, while continued sales and later reissues repeatedly returned it to the Billboard 200. The album became particularly notable during the SoundScan era for its exceptional longevity and sales. The four-week figure refers to its original consecutive reign at number one, not the total number of weeks it appeared anywhere on the chart.