On what date did Metallica's The Black Album first appear in the United States?

Metallica's The Black Album was first released in the United States on August 12, 1991.

The album was officially titled Metallica, matching the band's name, and was issued by Elektra Records. Its nearly black cover, featuring a barely visible band logo and coiled snake, quickly inspired the nickname The Black Album.

Recording had begun in October 1990, mainly at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The sessions lasted for months and involved producer Bob Rock, who pushed the band toward a more polished and collaborative studio sound.

The release date is sometimes confused with the dates of its singles. “Enter Sandman,” the lead single, arrived in July 1991, before the full album. The album itself followed in August and became Metallica's mainstream breakthrough. Its 35th anniversary falls in 2026, making the original release date a useful anchor for the milestone.