Metallica’s fifth studio album, widely known as The Black Album, is officially titled Metallica.
The self-titled record was released in 1991 and became the band’s best-selling album. Its official title follows a tradition of self-titled releases, while the informal name came from its predominantly black cover artwork. The cover features a nearly invisible band logo and a coiled snake associated with the album’s imagery.
The nickname is useful because Metallica is also the name of the band. Without the phrase The Black Album, references to “Metallica” can mean either the group or the record. The official title, however, remains simply Metallica.
The album followed ...And Justice for All and preceded the band’s later Load era. Its more accessible production and focused arrangements helped songs such as “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” and “Nothing Else Matters” become enduring staples of the band’s catalog.