Metallica's 2021 remastered edition of the album commonly called The Black Album was released on September 10, 2021.
The reissue marked the record's 30th anniversary era and expanded the original album into a much larger archival project. It included remastered versions of the studio tracks alongside demos, live recordings, rough mixes, interviews, and other material documenting the album's creation and promotion.
Bob Ludwig handled the remastering at Gateway Mastering, while Greg Fidelman served as executive producer overseeing the content. This is separate from the original 1991 production, which was led by Bob Rock. The distinction matters because “producer,” “remastering engineer,” and “executive producer” describe different roles.
The anniversary project was also connected to The Metallica Blacklist, a 53-track covers album released on the same date. That companion release featured more than 50 artists covering songs associated with Metallica, with proceeds directed to charitable causes. The 2021 date is therefore linked to both an expanded reissue and a major covers project.