Metallica's 1991 album became the band's first release to top the U.S. Billboard 200.
The album debuted at number one and remained at the summit for four consecutive weeks. It was the first Metallica album to reach the top position on the main U.S. albums chart, following the strong performances of Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All.
Its first-week result was especially notable: the album sold 598,000 copies in the United States during its debut week. The figure helped establish the group as a mainstream force without removing its heavy-metal identity.
The Billboard 200 measures album performance, so it should not be confused with the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks individual songs. “Enter Sandman,” the album's lead single, peaked at number 16 on that separate singles chart.