Metallica’s 1991 self-titled record was the band’s fifth studio album.
Before it arrived, Metallica had released Kill ’Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. Those albums traced the group’s rise from underground speed metal to internationally influential thrash metal.
The fifth album simplified the band’s public presentation by using the single-word title Metallica. Fans and journalists commonly call it The Black Album because of its predominantly black packaging, so it is sometimes mistakenly treated as a separate release. It is not: the two names refer to the same record.
The album’s position in the catalog is especially significant because it represented both continuity and change. James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich remained the central songwriting partnership, while Bob Rock’s production brought a larger, more polished sound. Jason Newsted was the bassist, and Kirk Hammett supplied lead guitar.