Metallica's 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album, was the band's fifth studio album.
It followed Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. The self-titled record therefore occupies the fifth position in Metallica's studio-album chronology, even though many listeners identify it mainly by its informal nickname.
The record marked a stylistic and commercial turning point. Producer Bob Rock helped shape a more streamlined sound, and songs such as “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” and “Nothing Else Matters” brought the band to a much wider audience.
A common mix-up is calling it Metallica's fourth album because ...And Justice for All was the immediately preceding release. Another is treating The Black Album as a separate sixth record. The Black Album is not an additional album: it is the common name for the self-titled fifth studio album.