Metallica's The Black Album has a total running time of 62 minutes and 40 seconds.
That length covers the album's twelve original tracks, beginning with “Enter Sandman” and ending with “The Struggle Within.” The running time is longer than many conventional rock albums, yet the individual songs generally use direct structures and memorable recurring riffs rather than the extended, multipart forms heard on some of Metallica's earlier work.
The record's pacing helped balance variety with consistency. It moves from the ominous opening of “Enter Sandman” through songs such as “Sad but True,” “The Unforgiven,” and “Wherever I May Roam,” before closing with “The Struggle Within.”
Different physical formats can present minor timing variations because of mastering, track gaps, or bonus material. The 62:40 figure refers to the standard album as listed in its core release details, not later anniversary editions that add demos, live recordings, and covers.