On what date was Metallica's The Black Album released?

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

The album is formally titled Metallica, although its nearly all-black cover led fans and media to call it The Black Album. Elektra Records issued it in the United States, while Vertigo handled many international releases.

The release followed recording sessions that began in October 1990 at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. The band worked with producer Bob Rock, whose approach encouraged a more polished, collaborative studio sound than on Metallica's earlier records.

The album became a major commercial breakthrough. It debuted at number one in ten countries and eventually became Metallica's best-selling album. Its release date is sometimes confused with the July 29, 1991 release of its lead single, "Enter Sandman," or with later anniversary editions.