On what date did Metallica’s The Black Album receive its original U.S. release?

Metallica’s The Black Album received its original U.S. release on August 12, 1991.

The record is officially titled Metallica, but fans and the music industry widely call it The Black Album because of its nearly black cover. Elektra Records issued it in the United States, while Vertigo handled many international releases. It was the band’s fifth studio album and followed ...And Justice for All, released in 1988.

The date is sometimes confused with the release dates of the album’s singles. “Enter Sandman,” the lead single, arrived on July 29, 1991, shortly before the album. Other singles followed in 1991 and 1992, including “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True.” The album’s release began a major commercial breakthrough for Metallica, which had previously been associated mainly with the thrash-metal scene.