On Metallica's 1991 album, what was the exact release date of The Black Album?

Metallica's 1991 album, commonly called The Black Album, was released on August 12, 1991.

The record was Metallica's fifth studio album and appeared through Elektra Records. Its formal title is simply Metallica, matching the band's name, while the nickname comes from its mostly black cover featuring the band's logo and a coiled snake. The release followed the band's earlier albums Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All.

The album arrived after recording sessions at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles, with additional work in Vancouver and Hollywood. Producer Bob Rock helped shape a more polished and spacious sound than the band's earlier thrash-metal recordings. The release date is sometimes confused with the dates of later singles or anniversary editions, including the 2021 remastered version.

Metallica immediately became a major commercial success. It debuted at number one in several national markets and became the band's first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Its long chart life and enormous sales made the 1991 release one of the defining heavy-metal albums of its era.