The Metallica Blacklist contains 53 tracks honoring The Black Album.
Released on September 10, 2021, the collection assembled cover versions of songs from Metallica’s 1991 album. More than 50 artists participated, interpreting the material in different styles and bringing the record to performers outside traditional heavy metal.
The project formed part of the 30th-anniversary celebration of The Black Album. It was paired with an expanded anniversary reissue of Metallica that included remastered material, demos, live recordings, and other archival content. The covers collection offered a separate way to revisit the album through new performances.
The number 53 refers to the track total on The Metallica Blacklist, not to the original 1991 album. The standard Black Album has 12 tracks, while the tribute project includes many versions of the same songs. Profits from the project were directed to Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and charities selected by participating artists.