On what date did Metallica release its self-titled 1991 album, known as The Black Album?

Metallica released its self-titled album, commonly called The Black Album, on August 12, 1991.

Elektra Records issued the album during a major turning point for the band. Its release followed 1988's ...And Justice for All and introduced a more streamlined, slower, and heavier sound that reached far beyond Metallica's thrash-metal audience.

The date is sometimes confused with July 29, 1991, which was the release date of “Enter Sandman,” the album's lead single. The album itself arrived about two weeks later. It debuted at number one in the United States and several other countries.

The August 1991 release began an exceptionally successful period for Metallica. The album became the band's best-selling studio record and remained a major chart presence for decades through reissues and renewed interest in the group's catalog.