On Metallica's 1991 album Metallica, what was the official release date?

Metallica's 1991 album Metallica was officially released on August 12, 1991.

The record was issued by Elektra Records and became Metallica's fifth studio album. It is commonly called The Black Album because its nearly black cover features a subtly embossed band logo and coiled snake.

The release followed recording sessions at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles, which ran from October 1990 to June 1991. Producer Bob Rock helped shape a slower, heavier, more polished sound than the band's earlier thrash-oriented albums.

The album quickly became a major commercial breakthrough. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, the first Metallica album to do so, and ultimately became the band's best-selling studio release. Its anniversary editions and companion projects have kept the 1991 release date central to celebrations of the album's legacy.