Metallica's self-titled album sold 598,000 copies in its first U.S. week.
That opening-week figure helped the album debut at number one on the Billboard 200. It was a striking result for a heavy-metal group whose earlier records had built their reputation largely through touring, devoted fans, and word of mouth.
The number refers to the album's initial U.S. sales week, not its eventual worldwide total or its later certification figures. Those different measurements are often mixed together when people discuss The Black Album's enormous commercial impact.
The record continued to sell for decades rather than fading after its initial release. Its singles received sustained radio and music-video exposure, while the album's accessible production and memorable hooks made it a gateway record for many new listeners. In the United States, it ultimately became one of the best-selling albums tracked in the SoundScan era.