What is Metallica’s self-titled 1991 album, widely known by its nickname?

Metallica’s self-titled 1991 album is widely known as The Black Album.

The official title is simply Metallica, matching the name of the American heavy metal band that recorded it. Fans and journalists adopted “The Black Album” because of its minimalist, predominantly black cover design.

The cover includes a dark version of the band’s logo in the upper-left corner and a faint snake in the lower-right. The snake was inspired by the Gadsden flag, although the design is intentionally understated and easy to miss.

“The Black Album” is a nickname, not the formal title printed on the record. This distinction can cause confusion in discographies, where the release is generally listed as Metallica. The album was also the first Metallica studio album since Kill ’Em All not to be named after one of its songs.