On what date was Metallica's 1991 album Metallica, known as The Black Album, released?

Metallica's 1991 album Metallica, known as The Black Album, was released on August 12, 1991.

The album arrived through Elektra Records and became a major turning point in the band's career. It followed ...And Justice for All, released in 1988, and presented a more streamlined, slower, and heavier sound than Metallica's earlier thrash-metal records.

The album's release date is sometimes confused with the date of its lead single, “Enter Sandman,” which came out several weeks earlier on July 29, 1991. The music video premiered shortly afterward, helping build anticipation for the full record.

Metallica was recorded between October 1990 and June 1991, mainly at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Its nearly black cover led listeners and retailers to nickname it The Black Album, although its official title is simply Metallica.