Metallica is the fifth studio album by the band Metallica and is commonly known as The Black Album.
The record is officially self-titled, meaning its title is the same as the band’s name. Fans and music writers commonly use “The Black Album” because of its nearly black cover, which features a subtle snake and the band’s logo in dark lettering.
It followed Kill ’Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice for All. The album’s self-titled design helped distinguish it from those earlier records while also signaling a streamlined presentation. Its formal title is still Metallica; “The Black Album” is the widely used nickname.
This naming detail causes occasional confusion with later Metallica releases. The album should not be called Load, Reload, or Master of Puppets. It is the 1991 self-titled record that contains “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and other major songs.