Metallica's 1991 album Metallica, commonly called The Black Album, was released on August 12, 1991.
Elektra Records issued the album after recording sessions that stretched from October 1990 to June 1991. Its arrival followed the July 29 release of “Enter Sandman,” the album’s lead single, which helped introduce the new material before the full record appeared.
The album became a major turning point for Metallica. Compared with the longer, more intricate thrash-metal arrangements on ...And Justice for All, it used a slower, heavier, more polished sound and shorter, more direct songs. That change helped the band reach a much larger international audience.
The date is sometimes confused with the release dates of the singles. “Enter Sandman” came out first, while “The Unforgiven” followed in October 1991. The album itself was Metallica’s fifth studio release and became the group’s best-selling record.